Zambia birth & fertility rate charts by year

Fertility rate in Zambia by year

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Zambia is 4.1, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 6.3 — a 34.9% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Zambia (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.87% annually. On average, 523,379 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.79% — 577,660 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Zambia ranks 34/196 for absolute natural population change and 14/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates by women's age

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Zambia by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 20.3% will be to women under age 20, 48.3% to women ages 20-29, and 31.3% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 18.7%, 50.7%, and 30.6%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
	Zambia	World
2100	21.6%	16.5%
2099	21.7%	16.6%
2098	21.9%	16.6%
2097	22%	16.7%
2096	22.2%	16.8%
2095	22.3%	16.8%
2094	22.5%	16.9%
2093	22.7%	17%
2092	22.8%	17%
2091	23%	17.1%
2090	23.1%	17.2%
2089	23.3%	17.2%
2088	23.5%	17.3%
2087	23.6%	17.4%
2086	23.8%	17.4%
2085	24%	17.5%
2084	24.2%	17.5%
2083	24.3%	17.6%
2082	24.5%	17.7%
2081	24.7%	17.7%
2080	24.9%	17.8%
2079	25.1%	17.8%
2078	25.3%	17.9%
2077	25.5%	17.9%
2076	25.7%	18%
2075	25.9%	18%
2074	26.1%	18.1%
2073	26.4%	18.2%
2072	26.6%	18.2%
2071	26.8%	18.3%
2070	27%	18.3%
2069	27.2%	18.4%
2068	27.5%	18.5%
2067	27.7%	18.6%
2066	27.9%	18.6%
2065	28.1%	18.7%
2064	28.4%	18.8%
2063	28.6%	18.9%
2062	28.9%	19.1%
2061	29.1%	19.2%
2060	29.3%	19.3%
2059	29.6%	19.4%
2058	29.8%	19.5%
2057	30.1%	19.6%
2056	30.4%	19.8%
2055	30.6%	19.9%
2054	30.9%	20%
2053	31.2%	20.1%
2052	31.5%	20.2%
2051	31.8%	20.3%
2050	32.2%	20.4%
2049	32.5%	20.5%
2048	32.8%	20.6%
2047	33.2%	20.7%
2046	33.5%	20.8%
2045	33.9%	20.9%
2044	34.2%	20.9%
2043	34.6%	21%
2042	34.9%	21.1%
2041	35.3%	21.2%
2040	35.6%	21.2%
2039	36%	21.3%
2038	36.3%	21.4%
2037	36.6%	21.5%
2036	37%	21.6%
2035	37.3%	21.8%
2034	37.6%	22%
2033	38%	22.2%
2032	38.3%	22.4%
2031	38.7%	22.7%
2030	39%	23%
2029	39.4%	23.3%
2028	39.8%	23.6%
2027	40.3%	23.9%
2026	40.7%	24.2%
2025	41.2%	24.6%
2024	41.5%	24.7%
2023	42%	25%
2022	42.4%	25.3%
2021	42.9%	25.6%
2020	43.3%	25.8%
2019	43.8%	26%
2018	44.1%	26.2%
2017	44.5%	26.4%
2016	44.9%	26.5%
2015	45.2%	26.6%
2014	45.5%	26.8%
2013	45.7%	26.9%
2012	45.9%	27%
2011	46.1%	27.1%
2010	46.3%	27.3%
2009	46.4%	27.5%
2008	46.6%	27.6%
2007	46.8%	27.9%
2006	47%	28.1%
2005	47.1%	28.5%
2004	47.3%	28.8%
2003	47.4%	29.2%
2002	47.6%	29.6%
2001	47.8%	30%
2000	48%	30.4%
1999	48.1%	30.8%
1998	48.2%	31.1%
1997	48.2%	31.5%
1996	48.2%	31.8%
1995	48.2%	32.1%
1994	48.2%	32.3%
1993	48.2%	32.5%
1992	48.2%	32.7%
1991	48.3%	32.9%
1990	48.4%	33%
1989	48.5%	33.2%
1988	48.6%	33.4%
1987	48.7%	33.6%
1986	48.8%	33.8%
1985	48.9%	34%
1984	49%	34.3%
1983	49.1%	34.6%
1982	49.3%	34.9%
1981	49.4%	35.2%
1980	49.5%	35.5%
1979	49.5%	35.9%
1978	49.4%	36.3%
1977	49.2%	36.7%
1976	49.1%	36.9%
1975	48.8%	37.1%
1974	48.6%	37.2%
1973	48.3%	37.3%
1972	48%	37.5%
1971	47.7%	37.6%
1970	47.4%	37.7%
1969	47.2%	37.8%
1968	47.1%	37.9%
1967	47%	38%
1966	46.9%	38%
1965	46.9%	38%
1964	46.7%	38%
1963	46.5%	37.8%
1962	46.3%	37.6%
1961	46.2%	37.5%
1960	46%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Zambia was 46% in 1960, 48.2% in 1992, and 41.5% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Zambia.

Maternal mortality by year

Chart Table

Zambia

World's average

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Zambia	World
2023	85	197
2022	89	203
2021	140	242
2020	99	211
2019	103	207
2018	117	211
2017	141	215
2016	158	220
2015	154	228
2014	174	231
2013	213	235
2012	256	239
2011	291	247
2010	332	253
2009	406	258
2008	394	264
2007	324	269
2006	262	276
2005	264	283
2004	260	291
2003	250	301
2002	274	311
2001	306	321
2000	340	328
1999	378	340
1998	392	360
1997	403	358
1996	433	366
1995	466	371
1994	507	382
1993	532	389
1992	581	395
1991	611	395
1990	625	391
1989	635	401
1988	635	414
1987	630	429
1986	619	438
1985	596	460

The maternal mortality rate in Zambia was 85 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.09% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 75% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Chart Table

Zambia

World's average

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Zambia	World
2023	4.47%	2.49%
2022	4.67%	2.59%
2021	4.92%	2.66%
2020	5.24%	2.75%
2019	5.41%	2.86%
2018	5.52%	2.97%
2017	5.61%	3.11%
2016	5.9%	3.22%
2015	6.15%	3.35%
2014	6.38%	3.48%
2013	6.72%	3.61%
2012	7.04%	3.77%
2011	7.31%	3.97%
2010	7.57%	4.11%
2009	8%	4.31%
2008	8.62%	4.5%
2007	9.14%	4.7%
2006	9.71%	4.92%
2005	10.5%	5.16%
2004	11.4%	5.43%
2003	12.4%	5.65%
2002	13.4%	5.94%
2001	14.4%	6.21%
2000	15.3%	6.48%
1999	15.9%	6.75%
1998	16.3%	7.05%
1997	16.7%	7.28%
1996	17%	7.52%
1995	17.3%	7.76%
1994	17.7%	7.98%
1993	17.9%	8.19%
1992	18.1%	8.46%
1991	18.1%	8.66%
1990	18.1%	8.81%
1989	17.9%	9.02%
1988	17.7%	9.31%
1987	17.3%	9.47%
1986	17%	9.81%
1985	16.6%	10.1%
1984	16.2%	10.4%
1983	15.9%	10.6%
1982	15.7%	10.8%
1981	15.6%	11%
1980	15.5%	11.4%
1979	15.4%	11.7%
1978	15.3%	12.2%
1977	15.3%	12.6%
1976	15.4%	13%
1975	15.5%	13.4%
1974	15.9%	13.8%
1973	16.3%	14.1%
1972	16.9%	14.5%
1971	17.4%	15.1%
1970	17.9%	15.2%
1969	18.3%	15.4%
1968	18.5%	15.6%
1967	18.7%	15.9%
1966	18.9%	16.1%
1965	19%	16.4%
1964	19.2%	16.6%
1963	19.5%	16.5%
1962	19.8%	16.7%
1961	20.1%	17%
1960	20.5%	17.2%

The under-5 mortality rate in Zambia was 44.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 4.47% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 152.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.