Population of Zambia

As of May 2026, the population of Zambia is 22.2 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 583 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.67%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 16.1 years in 2016 to 17.9 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 64 years and population density is 30 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Zambia peaked in 2007, reaching around 3.61% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.62% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 583.24 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Zambia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 51.8 years in 2006 to 64 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 12 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Zambia

Zambia has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there are also some large ones. The most populous city is Lusaka, Lusaka Province, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 2.2 million inhabitants. It is followed by Kitwe, Copperbelt with 666 thousand and Ndola, Copperbelt with 627.5 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Zambia: