Population density in Zambia
Zambia: Population density was 27.88 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
27.88 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
174th
of 215 countries
All-time high
27.88 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
4.38 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Zambia, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 27.88 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Zambia peaked at 27.88 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.38 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Zambia ranks 174th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.38 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 4.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 4.66 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 4.81 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 4.97 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 5.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 5.3 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 5.47 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 5.65 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 5.81 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 5.98 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 6.15 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 6.33 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 6.51 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 6.71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 6.92 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 7.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 7.35 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 7.58 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 7.81 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 8.05 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 8.31 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 8.58 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 8.85 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 9.12 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 9.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 9.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 9.94 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 10.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 10.47 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 10.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 11.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 11.54 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 11.82 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 12.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 12.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 12.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 13.1 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 13.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 13.89 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 14.32 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 14.78 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 15.25 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 15.76 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 16.32 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 16.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 17.52 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 18.15 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 18.79 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 19.42 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 20.06 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 20.71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 21.38 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 22.06 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 22.75 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 23.46 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 24.18 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 24.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 25.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 26.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 27.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 27.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.99 people per sq. km of land area | 4.38 people per sq. km of land area | 5.65 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 6.65 people per sq. km of land area | 5.81 people per sq. km of land area | 7.58 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.99 people per sq. km of land area | 7.81 people per sq. km of land area | 10.21 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.72 people per sq. km of land area | 10.47 people per sq. km of land area | 13.1 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.64 people per sq. km of land area | 13.48 people per sq. km of land area | 18.15 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.77 people per sq. km of land area | 18.79 people per sq. km of land area | 24.9 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.75 people per sq. km of land area | 25.64 people per sq. km of land area | 27.88 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 171 Somalia 29.26 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 172 Eritrea 28.64 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 173 Solomon Islands 28.58 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 175 Sudan 26.79 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 176 Chile 26.46 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 177 Peru 26.44 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Zambia
- Population in the largest city 34.5% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1584 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 3.47 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 4.28 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 3.47 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.1 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 83.1 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Zambia?
- Population density in Zambia was 27.88 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.88 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.38 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Zambia rank for population density?
- Zambia ranks 174th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.