Zambia Population History
1960 - 2026
Zambia's population has grown from 3,153,729 in 1960 to 20,723,965 in 2023, a total increase of 557.1% (6.57x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
3.2M
2023 Population
20.7M
Total Growth
557.1%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
3.2M
1970
4.3M
1980
5.8M
1990
7.8M
2000
10.0M
2010
14.0M
2020
19.1M
2023
20.7M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+3.20%
1965-1970
+3.20%
1970-1975
+2.92%
1975-1980
+3.06%
1980-1985
+3.16%
1985-1990
+2.80%
1990-1995
+2.45%
1995-2000
+2.66%
2000-2005
+3.19%
2005-2010
+3.57%
2010-2015
+3.26%
2015-2020
+3.05%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20,723,965 | +571,027 |
| 2022 | 20,152,938 | +549,331 |
| 2021 | 19,603,607 | +544,212 |
| 2020 | 19,059,395 | +545,556 |
| 2019 | 18,513,839 | +540,270 |
| 2018 | 17,973,569 | +532,249 |
| 2017 | 17,441,320 | +526,897 |
| 2016 | 16,914,423 | +515,334 |
| 2015 | 16,399,089 | +503,774 |
| 2014 | 15,895,315 | +496,318 |
| 2013 | 15,398,997 | +485,368 |
| 2012 | 14,913,629 | +475,833 |
| 2011 | 14,437,796 | +472,202 |
| 2010 | 13,965,594 | +475,205 |
| 2009 | 13,490,389 | +469,065 |
| 2008 | 13,021,324 | +456,239 |
| 2007 | 12,565,085 | +435,532 |
| 2006 | 12,129,553 | +410,734 |
| 2005 | 11,718,819 | +380,621 |
| 2004 | 11,338,198 | +354,603 |
| 2003 | 10,983,595 | +335,646 |
| 2002 | 10,647,949 | +322,764 |
| 2001 | 10,325,185 | +307,554 |
| 2000 | 10,017,631 | +277,626 |
| 1999 | 9,740,005 | +257,597 |
| 1998 | 9,482,408 | +245,345 |
| 1997 | 9,237,063 | +233,010 |
| 1996 | 9,004,053 | +218,290 |
| 1995 | 8,785,763 | +209,494 |
| 1994 | 8,576,269 | +202,348 |
| 1993 | 8,373,921 | +197,241 |
| 1992 | 8,176,680 | +195,030 |
| 1991 | 7,981,650 | +195,481 |
| 1990 | 7,786,169 | +196,953 |
| 1989 | 7,589,216 | +197,776 |
| 1988 | 7,391,440 | +200,158 |
| 1987 | 7,191,282 | +204,811 |
| 1986 | 6,986,471 | +205,518 |
| 1985 | 6,780,953 | +200,463 |
| 1984 | 6,580,490 | +199,452 |
| 1983 | 6,381,038 | +202,401 |
| 1982 | 6,178,637 | +195,348 |
| 1981 | 5,983,289 | +180,456 |
| 1980 | 5,802,833 | +171,105 |
| 1979 | 5,631,728 | +166,354 |
| 1978 | 5,465,374 | +162,894 |
| 1977 | 5,302,480 | +158,638 |
| 1976 | 5,143,842 | +153,756 |
| 1975 | 4,990,086 | +147,340 |
| 1974 | 4,842,746 | +140,053 |
| 1973 | 4,702,693 | +133,384 |
| 1972 | 4,569,309 | +126,784 |
| 1971 | 4,442,525 | +120,807 |
| 1970 | 4,321,718 | +124,602 |
| 1969 | 4,197,116 | +131,523 |
| 1968 | 4,065,593 | +129,250 |
| 1967 | 3,936,343 | +124,340 |
| 1966 | 3,812,003 | +119,917 |
| 1965 | 3,692,086 | +115,069 |
| 1964 | 3,577,017 | +111,110 |
| 1963 | 3,465,907 | +107,808 |
| 1962 | 3,358,099 | +104,013 |
| 1961 | 3,254,086 | +100,357 |
| 1960 | 3,153,729 | — |