The population of Zambia is expected to grow by 611,000 in 2025 and reach 22,219,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 5,000 people yearly. On average there are 764,622 births and 141,009 deaths in Zambia per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.89 percent per year. The population density of Zambia has changed from 7.9 in 1980 to 27.4 in 2023.
| Current population | 21,910,781 people at present (Friday 4th of July 2025) | |
| Median Age | 22.2 years |
| Life expectancy | 64.8 years | |
| Population density | 29.0 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21,594,000 | 611,000 (2.8%) | -5,000 | 22.2 | 4.50 | 29 | 9,868,000 (45.7%) |
| 2024 | 20,983,000 | 597,000 (2.9%) | -8,000 | 22.1 | 28 | 9,485,000 (45.2%) | |
| 2023 | 20,386,000 | 582,000 (2.9%) | -8,000 | 22.0 | 27 | 9,114,000 (44.7%) | |
| 2022 | 19,804,000 | 569,000 (2.9%) | -8,000 | 21.9 | 27 | 8,757,000 (44.2%) | |
| 2021 | 19,235,000 | 556,000 (2.9%) | -8,000 | 21.8 | 26 | 8,412,000 (43.7%) | |
| 2020 | 18,679,000 | 542,000 (2.9%) | -8,000 | 21.7 | 4.76 | 25 | 8,080,000 (43.3%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 21.6 | 4.82 | 24 | 7,759,000 (42.8%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 21.5 | 4.87 | 24 | 7,450,000 (42.3%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 21.3 | 4.93 | 23 | 7,152,000 (41.8%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 21.2 | 4.98 | 22 | 6,865,351 (41.4%) |
| 2015 | 16,100,587 | 479,613 (3.0%) | -8,000 | 21.1 | 5.04 | 22 | 6,588,682 (40.9%) |
| 2010 | 13,850,033 | 393,616 (2.8%) | -6,898 | 20.7 | 5.40 | 19 | 5,363,425 (38.7%) |
| 2005 | 12,052,156 | 320,410 (2.7%) | -24,809 | 20.6 | 5.79 | 16 | 4,412,535 (36.6%) |
| 2000 | 10,531,221 | 291,507 (2.8%) | -18,603 | 20.8 | 6.04 | 14 | 3,665,076 (34.8%) |
| 1995 | 9,137,077 | 240,968 (2.6%) | 15,889 | 20.9 | 6.19 | 12 | 3,390,221 (37.1%) |
| 1990 | 8,027,253 | 213,445 (2.7%) | -4,590 | 21.1 | 6.44 | 11 | 3,163,300 (39.4%) |
| 1985 | 6,955,212 | 216,447 (3.1%) | 564 | 21.1 | 6.75 | 9 | 2,758,089 (39.7%) |
| 1980 | 5,889,230 | 197,481 (3.4%) | 11,697 | 21.1 | 7.09 | 8 | 2,344,797 (39.8%) |
| 1975 | 4,964,831 | 170,077 (3.4%) | 3,515 | 21.2 | 7.36 | 7 | 1,734,414 (34.9%) |
| 1970 | 4,173,928 | 135,005 (3.2%) | 5,332 | 21.4 | 7.37 | 6 | 1,266,829 (30.4%) |
| 1965 | 3,563,407 | 110,465 (3.1%) | -849 | 21.5 | 7.29 | 5 | 832,839 (23.4%) |
| 1960 | 3,044,846 | 95,418 (3.0%) | 500 | 21.8 | 7.12 | 4 | 552,487 (18.1%) |
In 2024 the population of Zambia was 20,983,000 and the average age increased from 21.8 in 1960 to 22.1. Urban population has increased from 3,665,076 (34.8%) in 2000 to 9,868,000 (45.7%) in the current year. The population density of Zambia has changed from 7.9 in 1980 to 27.4 in 2023.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 21.7 | 4.76 | 25 | 8,080,000 (43.3%) |
| 2025 | 21,594,000 | 611,000 (2.8%) | -5,000 | 22.2 | 4.50 | 29 | 9,868,000 (45.7%) |
| 2030 | 24,859,000 | 679,000 (2.7%) | -5,000 | 22.9 | 4.25 | 33 | 11,989,000 (48.2%) |
| 2035 | 28,441,000 | 740,000 (2.6%) | -5,000 | 23.6 | 4.03 | 38 | 14,443,000 (50.8%) |
| 2040 | 32,327,000 | 802,000 (2.5%) | -5,000 | 24.3 | 3.83 | 44 | 17,230,000 (53.3%) |
| 2045 | 36,517,000 | 862,000 (2.4%) | -5,000 | 25.1 | 3.64 | 49 | 20,376,000 (55.8%) |
| 2050 | 41,001,000 | 920,000 (2.2%) | -5,000 | 26.0 | 3.48 | 55 | 23,892,000 (58.3%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 71.8 (69.7 years for male and 74.0 years for females). Population density will go up to 55.2 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Zambia constitutes of 10,880,000 women and 10,714,000 men, which means there are 985 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 53.6% of population (11,570,065) is 19 or younger, 43.9% of population (9,488,404) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.5% of population (529,053) is over 65.