Zambia Demographics

Population of Zambia (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Zambia

Zambia Population
22,521,915
see live
Yearly Change
+2.77%
Global Share
0.27%
Global Rank
63

Median Age

The median age in Zambia is 18.2 years (2026).

Fertility in Zambia

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
3.91
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Zambia

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
66.9
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
69.3
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
64.4
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Zambia


Infant Mortality
35.7
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
48.7
(per 1,000 live births)


Zambia Urban Population

Currently, 46.4% of the population of Zambia is urban (10,443,296 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Zambia is 30 people per km² (78 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 743,398 km² (287,028 sq. miles).

Largest Cities and Urban Centers in Zambia

The 30 largest of 88 cities and urban centers, ranked by population at the census of August 18, 2022 (by Central Statistical Office, Zambia).

RankCity or Urban CenterPopulation
1Lusaka2,212,301
2Kitwe665,961
3Ndola627,503
4Solwezi301,370
5Kabwe288,598
6Chingola256,560
7Luanshya193,293
8Chipata188,020
9Kasama179,636
10LivingstoneMaramba178,361
11Mansa170,965
12Mufulira169,136
13Chungaincl. Katuba, Mungule115,539
14Chililabombwe113,876
15Mongu111,450
16Mazabuka104,412
17Kafue104,174
18Kalulushi104,046
19Choma98,974
20Namalombweincl. Kalundu, New Farms, Kasupe97,758
21Nakonde91,107
22Kapiri Mposhi83,211
23Madidoincl. Kapwayambale, Ngwerere80,782
24Nchelenge77,746
25Mpika63,740
26Monze60,281
27Petauke58,156
28Chongwe57,443
29Mpulungu55,405
30Chilanga54,046
See all 88 cities and urban centers in Zambia

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.