Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia
Zambia: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 3.47 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia is 3.47 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 58.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia peaked at 3.47 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 90,942, in 1960.
That places Zambia 64th out of 121 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 90,942 | — |
| 1961 | 101,204 | +11.3% |
| 1962 | 112,640 | +11.3% |
| 1963 | 125,639 | +11.5% |
| 1964 | 141,668 | +12.8% |
| 1965 | 159,690 | +12.7% |
| 1966 | 180,034 | +12.7% |
| 1967 | 202,970 | +12.7% |
| 1968 | 228,866 | +12.8% |
| 1969 | 257,980 | +12.7% |
| 1970 | 277,523 | +7.6% |
| 1971 | 296,229 | +6.7% |
| 1972 | 316,224 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 337,509 | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 360,259 | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 384,542 | +6.7% |
| 1976 | 410,498 | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 438,128 | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 467,660 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 499,183 | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 532,878 | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 553,203 | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 572,857 | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 593,210 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 614,316 | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 636,111 | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 658,712 | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 682,115 | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 706,384 | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 731,445 | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 757,433 | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 784,302 | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 812,155 | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 840,918 | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 870,740 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 901,621 | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 933,641 | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 966,706 | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 1.00 million | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 1.04 million | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 1.07 million | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 1.12 million | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 1.18 million | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 1.23 million | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.29 million | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 1.36 million | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 1.42 million | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 1.49 million | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 1.57 million | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 1.64 million | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 1.72 million | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 1.81 million | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 1.90 million | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 1.99 million | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 2.09 million | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 2.19 million | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 2.29 million | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 2.41 million | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 2.52 million | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 2.65 million | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 2.77 million | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 2.91 million | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 3.04 million | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 3.18 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 3.32 million | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 3.47 million | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 160,163 | 90,942 | 257,980 | 10 |
| 1970s | 378,776 | 277,523 | 499,183 | 10 |
| 1980s | 628,123 | 532,878 | 731,445 | 10 |
| 1990s | 890,500 | 757,433 | 1.04 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.34 million | 1.07 million | 1.64 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.16 million | 1.72 million | 2.65 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.12 million | 2.77 million | 3.47 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More urban development data for Zambia
- Population in the largest city 34.5% (2025)
- Population density 27.88 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Zambia was 3.47 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.47 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 90,942 in 1960.
- How does Zambia rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Zambia ranks 64th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.