The population of Zambia is expected to grow by 625,000 in 2026 and reach 22,859,000 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 5,000 people yearly. The population density of Zambia has changed from 7.9 in 1980 to 28.2 in 2024.
| Current population | 22,290,890 people at present (Tuesday 10th of February 2026) | |
| Median Age | 22.4 years |
| Population density | 29.9 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22,219,000 | 625,000 (2.8%) | -5,000 | 22.4 | 30 | 10,265,000 (46.2%) | |
| 2025 | 21,594,000 | 611,000 (2.8%) | -5,000 | 22.2 | 4.50 | 29 | 9,868,000 (45.7%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 22.1 | 28 | 9,485,000 (45.2%) | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 22.0 | 27 | 9,114,000 (44.7%) | |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -8,000 | 21.9 | 27 | 8,757,000 (44.2%) | |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -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 2025 the population of Zambia was 21,594,000 and the average age increased from 21.8 in 1960 to 22.2. Urban population has increased from 3,665,076 (34.8%) in 2000 to 10,265,000 (46.2%) in the current year. The population density of Zambia has changed from 7.9 in 1980 to 28.2 in 2024.
| 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 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -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 11,195,000 women and 11,024,000 men, which means there are 985 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 53.3% of population (11,840,505) is 19 or younger, 44.2% of population (9,829,686) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.5% of population (544,366) is over 65.