Population growth in Zambia
Zambia: Population growth was 2.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Population growth in Zambia, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, population growth in Zambia stood at 2.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Zambia peaked at 3.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1993.
That places Zambia 19th out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 16 Tanzania 2.9% compare
- 17 Mozambique 2.8% compare
- 18 Mauritania 2.8% compare
- 20 Afghanistan 2.8% compare
- 21 Uganda 2.7% compare
- 22 Cameroon 2.6% compare
More climate change data for Zambia
- Population, total 21.91 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.7% (2025)
- Urban population 10.06 million (2025)
- Urban population 45.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 15.8% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 1.57 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 2.0% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 41.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 41.3% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 3 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Zambia?
- Population growth in Zambia was 2.8% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for population growth?
- Zambia ranks 19th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.