Population · Africa · 2025 data
Zambia Population
Zambia had a population of 21.91 million in 2025, ranking #61 of 216 countries and territories (0.27% of the world). The population grew by 33.6% over the past ten years.
Population of Zambia, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21,913,874 | +2.81% |
| 2024 | 21,314,956 | +2.85% |
| 2023 | 20,723,965 | +2.83% |
| 2022 | 20,152,938 | +2.80% |
| 2021 | 19,603,607 | +2.86% |
| 2020 | 19,059,395 | +2.95% |
| 2019 | 18,513,839 | +3.01% |
| 2018 | 17,973,569 | +3.05% |
| 2017 | 17,441,320 | +3.12% |
| 2016 | 16,914,423 | +3.14% |
| 2015 | 16,399,089 | +3.17% |
| 2014 | 15,895,315 | +3.22% |
| 2013 | 15,398,997 | +3.25% |
| 2012 | 14,913,629 | +3.30% |
| 2011 | 14,437,796 | +3.38% |
| 2010 | 13,965,594 | +3.52% |
| 2009 | 13,490,389 | +3.60% |
| 2008 | 13,021,324 | +3.63% |
| 2007 | 12,565,085 | +3.59% |
| 2006 | 12,129,553 | +3.50% |
| 2005 | 11,718,819 | +3.36% |
| 2004 | 11,338,198 | +3.23% |
| 2003 | 10,983,595 | +3.15% |
| 2002 | 10,647,949 | +3.13% |
| 2001 | 10,325,185 | +3.07% |
| 2000 | 10,017,631 | +2.85% |
| 1999 | 9,740,005 | +2.72% |
| 1998 | 9,482,408 | +2.66% |
| 1997 | 9,237,063 | +2.59% |
| 1996 | 9,004,053 | +2.48% |
| 1995 | 8,785,763 | +2.44% |
| 1994 | 8,576,269 | +2.42% |
| 1993 | 8,373,921 | +2.41% |
| 1992 | 8,176,680 | +2.44% |
| 1991 | 7,981,650 | +2.51% |
| 1990 | 7,786,169 | +2.60% |
| 1989 | 7,589,216 | +2.68% |
| 1988 | 7,391,440 | +2.78% |
| 1987 | 7,191,282 | +2.93% |
| 1986 | 6,986,471 | +3.03% |
| 1985 | 6,780,953 | +3.05% |
| 1984 | 6,580,490 | +3.13% |
| 1983 | 6,381,038 | +3.28% |
| 1982 | 6,178,637 | +3.26% |
| 1981 | 5,983,289 | +3.11% |
| 1980 | 5,802,833 | +3.04% |
| 1979 | 5,631,728 | +3.04% |
| 1978 | 5,465,374 | +3.07% |
| 1977 | 5,302,480 | +3.08% |
| 1976 | 5,143,842 | +3.08% |
| 1975 | 4,990,086 | +3.04% |
| 1974 | 4,842,746 | +2.98% |
| 1973 | 4,702,693 | +2.92% |
| 1972 | 4,569,309 | +2.85% |
| 1971 | 4,442,525 | +2.80% |
| 1970 | 4,321,718 | +2.97% |
| 1969 | 4,197,116 | +3.24% |
| 1968 | 4,065,593 | +3.28% |
| 1967 | 3,936,343 | +3.26% |
| 1966 | 3,812,003 | +3.25% |
| 1965 | 3,692,086 | +3.22% |
| 1964 | 3,577,017 | +3.21% |
| 1963 | 3,465,907 | +3.21% |
| 1962 | 3,358,099 | +3.20% |
| 1961 | 3,254,086 | +3.18% |
| 1960 | 3,153,729 | — |
Demographics of Zambia
Ethnic groups
Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages
Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
Religions
Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023).
Frequently asked questions about the population of Zambia
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).