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Zambia in figures

A profile of Zambia from official statistics: 19 figures in 4 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Zambia was 21.91 million in 2025, up 2.8% from 2024, and the 61st highest of 215 countries.

Population21.91 million2025Up 2.8% from 2024The 61st highest of 215 countries
Population growth rate2.79%2023Up 0.03 percentage points from 2022The 22nd highest of 215 countries
Median age, July 1 estimate17.49 years2023, estimatedUp 0.2 years from 2022The 16th lowest of 236 countries
Population aged 65 and over1.9%2023Up less than 0.1 percentage points from 2022
Population density28.7 inhabitants per km²2024Up 2.9% from 2023
Net migration9,5212023Compared with -8,566 in 2022
10M12.5M15M17.5M20M22.5M20012005200920132017202120252001: 10,325,185 persons2002: 10,647,949 persons2003: 10,983,595 persons2004: 11,338,198 persons2005: 11,718,819 persons2006: 12,129,553 persons2007: 12,565,085 persons2008: 13,021,324 persons2009: 13,490,389 persons2010: 13,965,594 persons2011: 14,437,796 persons2012: 14,913,629 persons2013: 15,398,997 persons2014: 15,895,315 persons2015: 16,399,089 persons2016: 16,914,423 persons2017: 17,441,320 persons2018: 17,973,569 persons2019: 18,513,839 persons2020: 19,059,395 persons2021: 19,603,607 persons2022: 20,152,938 persons2023: 20,723,965 persons2024: 21,314,956 persons2025: 21,913,874 persons
Population, 2001 to 2025. persons. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL).

Sources: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); World Bank, Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW); United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded; World Bank, Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS); World Bank, Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST); World Bank, Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Zambia was 5.67% in 2024, down 0.19 percentage points from 2023.

Unemployment rate5.67%2024Down 0.19 percentage points from 2023
Employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over58.3%2025Up less than 0.1 percentage points from 2024The 88th highest of 181 countries
Poverty rate at the national poverty line60%2022No 2021 figure to compare
Labor force participation rate, ages 15 and over61.9%2025Up less than 0.1 percentage points from 2024
Gini index (World Bank, income or consumption)51.52022No 2021 figure to compare
051015201991199820102017202020241991: 19.4 %1993: 19.7 %1996: 15.3 %1998: 12 %2005: 15.9 %2008: 7.93 %2010: 13.19 %2012: 7.86 %2015: 11.89 %2017: 4.53 %2018: 5.03 %2019: 5.54 %2020: 6.03 %2021: 5.2 %2022: 5.99 %2023: 5.86 %2024: 5.67 %
Unemployment rate, 1991 to 2024. %. Source: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT).

Sources: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT); World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS); World Bank, Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines, % of population (SI.POV.NAHC); World Bank, Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS); World Bank, Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in Zambia was $28.88 billion in 2025, up 14.1% from 2024, and the 83rd lowest of 199 countries in 2024.

Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars$28.88 billion2025Up 14.1% from 2024The 83rd lowest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, US dollars$1,3182025Up 11% from 2024The 23rd lowest of 199 countries in 2024
Real GDP growth3.8%2025Down 0.1 percentage points from 2024The 78th highest of 199 countries in 2024
GDP per capita, PPP (international dollars)4,379 international $2025Up 3.7% from 2024
Trade as a share of GDP62.5%2024Down 15.7 percentage points from 2023
010K20K30K20012005200920132017202120252001: 4,094.4 USD million2002: 4,193.9 USD million2003: 4,901.9 USD million2004: 6,221.1 USD million2005: 8,331.9 USD million2006: 12,756.9 USD million2007: 14,057 USD million2008: 17,910.9 USD million2009: 15,328.3 USD million2010: 20,265.6 USD million2011: 23,459.5 USD million2012: 25,503.1 USD million2013: 28,037.2 USD million2014: 27,141 USD million2015: 21,251.2 USD million2016: 20,958.4 USD million2017: 25,873.6 USD million2018: 26,311.5 USD million2019: 23,308.7 USD million2020: 18,137.8 USD million2021: 22,096.4 USD million2022: 29,163.8 USD million2023: 27,578 USD million2024: 25,303.2 USD million2025: 28,879.8 USD million
Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD).

Sources: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD); World Bank, GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD); World Bank, GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG); World Bank, GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD); World Bank, Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). Economy statistics and rankings

Health

Life expectancy in Zambia was 66.35 years in 2023, up 1.07 years from 2022, and the 38th lowest of 215 countries.

Life expectancy at birth66.35 years2023Up 1.07 years from 2022The 38th lowest of 215 countries
Infant mortality rate34.6 per 1,000 live births2024Down 0.4 per 1,000 live births from 2023Tied for the 34th highest of 195 countries
Adult obesity rate, age-standardized11.6%2024Up 0.5 percentage points from 2023The 35th lowest of 199 countries
45505560657019992003200720112015201920231999: 45.92 years2000: 46.58 years2001: 47.41 years2002: 48.46 years2003: 49.62 years2004: 50.54 years2005: 51.62 years2006: 52.69 years2007: 53.73 years2008: 54.84 years2009: 55.89 years2010: 56.9 years2011: 57.84 years2012: 58.7 years2013: 59.45 years2014: 60.11 years2015: 60.73 years2016: 61.13 years2017: 61.56 years2018: 62.14 years2019: 62.91 years2020: 63.36 years2021: 62.36 years2022: 65.28 years2023: 66.35 years
Life expectancy at birth, 1999 to 2023. years. Source: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN).

Sources: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN); World Bank, Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A). Health statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded. Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-10. CC BY 3.0 IGO.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  5. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  6. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  7. International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT. Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT). https://data.ilo.org/vis?df%5Bds%5D=ds-production&df%5Bid%5D=DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT&df%5Bag%5D=ILO (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  8. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  9. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines, % of population (SI.POV.NAHC). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC. Retrieved 2026-10-12. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  11. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  12. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  13. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  14. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  15. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  16. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Trade, % of GDP (NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.TRD.GNFS.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  17. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  18. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  19. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/C6262EC/BEFA58B (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.

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