Zambia

Country in Africa

In brief

Population growth per year: +2.8% (2025). World rank 19 of 216; in Africa, 11 of 54. Aged 0–14: 41% (2025). World rank 18 of 216; in Africa, 16 of 54. Aged 65 and over: 2% (2025). World rank 214 of 216; in Africa, 54 of 54. From 2015 to 2025: population 16.4M → 21.9M, population growth per year +3.1% → +2.8%, and living in cities 42% → 45.9%.

Population and migration

Population: 21,913,874 2025
Population density: 29.1 per km² 2025
Population growth per year: +2.8% 2025
Living in cities: 45.9% 2025
Net migration per year: +6.6K 2025
Born in another country: 1.2% 2024

Age and life expectancy

Aged 0–14: 41% 2025
Aged 15–64: 57% 2025
Aged 65 and over: 2% 2025
Life expectancy: 66.5 years 2024
Life expectancy, women: 68.9 years 2024
Life expectancy, men: 64.1 years 2024

Births and deaths

Children per woman: 4 2024
Births per 1,000 people: 32.7 2024
Deaths per 1,000 people: 5.2 2024

Society

Languages: English
Religions: Protestant 75.3%, Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7%, and no religion 1.8% (2010)