Zambia Demographics: Median age, Gender, Race, Religion

Median age in Zambia, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Zambia was 17 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 18.8 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 170th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Zambia ranks 182nd currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Zambia is expected to increase to 35.3 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Zambia

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Zambia
	Male	Female
80+	0.06%	0.12%
75-79	0.11%	0.18%
70-74	0.22%	0.34%
65-69	0.39%	0.53%
60-64	0.63%	0.77%
55-59	0.94%	1.06%
50-54	1.38%	1.47%
45-49	1.94%	1.97%
40-44	2.45%	2.44%
35-39	2.96%	2.97%
30-34	3.42%	3.46%
25-29	3.99%	4.06%
20-24	4.67%	4.74%
15-19	5.61%	5.66%
10-14	6.35%	6.37%
5-9	6.85%	6.85%
0-4	7.52%	7.51%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Zambia has high demographic potential with 77.1% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 13/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Zambia	World
2100	64.3%	59.6%
2099	64.4%	59.6%
2098	64.4%	59.7%
2097	64.5%	59.7%
2096	64.6%	59.7%
2095	64.7%	59.7%
2094	64.7%	59.7%
2093	64.8%	59.8%
2092	64.8%	59.8%
2091	64.9%	59.8%
2090	65%	59.8%
2089	65%	59.8%
2088	65%	59.8%
2087	65.1%	59.8%
2086	65.1%	59.8%
2085	65.1%	59.9%
2084	65.1%	59.9%
2083	65.2%	60%
2082	65.2%	60.1%
2081	65.2%	60.3%
2080	65.2%	60.4%
2079	65.2%	60.6%
2078	65.2%	60.7%
2077	65.2%	60.9%
2076	65.3%	61%
2075	65.3%	61.1%
2074	65.3%	61.3%
2073	65.3%	61.4%
2072	65.3%	61.5%
2071	65.3%	61.6%
2070	65.2%	61.7%
2069	65.2%	61.8%
2068	65.1%	61.9%
2067	65.1%	62%
2066	65%	62%
2065	65%	62.1%
2064	64.9%	62.1%
2063	64.8%	62.1%
2062	64.7%	62.2%
2061	64.6%	62.2%
2060	64.5%	62.3%
2059	64.4%	62.3%
2058	64.3%	62.4%
2057	64.2%	62.4%
2056	64%	62.5%
2055	63.9%	62.7%
2054	63.8%	62.8%
2053	63.6%	62.9%
2052	63.5%	63.1%
2051	63.3%	63.2%
2050	63.1%	63.4%
2049	62.9%	63.5%
2048	62.8%	63.6%
2047	62.6%	63.8%
2046	62.4%	63.9%
2045	62.1%	64%
2044	61.9%	64.1%
2043	61.7%	64.2%
2042	61.5%	64.3%
2041	61.3%	64.4%
2040	61.1%	64.5%
2039	60.9%	64.7%
2038	60.7%	64.8%
2037	60.5%	64.9%
2036	60.2%	65.1%
2035	60%	65.2%
2034	59.8%	65.3%
2033	59.5%	65.4%
2032	59.3%	65.4%
2031	59%	65.4%
2030	58.7%	65.4%
2029	58.4%	65.4%
2028	58%	65.4%
2027	57.6%	65.4%
2026	57.2%	65.2%
2025	56.8%	65.1%
2024	56.6%	65.1%
2023	56.1%	65%
2022	55.7%	64.9%
2021	55.3%	64.9%
2020	54.9%	64.8%
2019	54.5%	64.9%
2018	54.1%	64.9%
2017	53.7%	65%
2016	53.4%	65.1%
2015	53.1%	65.1%
2014	52.8%	65.2%
2013	52.5%	65.2%
2012	52.3%	65.2%
2011	52.1%	65.2%
2010	51.9%	65.1%
2009	51.7%	65%
2008	51.5%	64.9%
2007	51.3%	64.7%
2006	51%	64.5%
2005	50.8%	64.3%
2004	50.6%	64%
2003	50.4%	63.7%
2002	50.1%	63.4%
2001	49.9%	63.1%
2000	49.6%	62.8%
1999	49.4%	62.5%
1998	49.3%	62.2%
1997	49.2%	61.9%
1996	49.2%	61.7%
1995	49.1%	61.5%
1994	49.1%	61.3%
1993	49%	61.2%
1992	49%	61.1%
1991	48.8%	61%
1990	48.7%	60.9%
1989	48.6%	60.8%
1988	48.5%	60.7%
1987	48.3%	60.5%
1986	48.2%	60.4%
1985	48%	60.1%
1984	47.9%	59.9%
1983	47.8%	59.6%
1982	47.6%	59.3%
1981	47.4%	59%
1980	47.4%	58.7%
1979	47.4%	58.4%
1978	47.5%	58%
1977	47.6%	57.7%
1976	47.8%	57.5%
1975	48%	57.4%
1974	48.3%	57.3%
1973	48.6%	57.3%
1972	48.9%	57.2%
1971	49.2%	57.1%
1970	49.6%	57%
1969	49.8%	56.9%
1968	50%	56.9%
1967	50%	56.9%
1966	50.1%	56.8%
1965	50.2%	56.9%
1964	50.3%	57%
1963	50.6%	57.2%
1962	50.8%	57.4%
1961	51%	57.5%
1960	51.1%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Zambia changed from 50.6% to 56.6% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Zambia decreased from 97.6% to 76.7% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an decreased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	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 decreased from 47.3% to 41.5% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Zambia	World
2100	14.1%	23.9%
2099	13.9%	23.8%
2098	13.7%	23.7%
2097	13.4%	23.6%
2096	13.2%	23.5%
2095	13%	23.4%
2094	12.8%	23.4%
2093	12.6%	23.3%
2092	12.3%	23.2%
2091	12.1%	23.1%
2090	11.9%	23.1%
2089	11.7%	23%
2088	11.5%	22.9%
2087	11.3%	22.8%
2086	11.1%	22.7%
2085	10.9%	22.6%
2084	10.7%	22.5%
2083	10.5%	22.4%
2082	10.3%	22.2%
2081	10.1%	22%
2080	9.9%	21.8%
2079	9.69%	21.6%
2078	9.47%	21.4%
2077	9.25%	21.2%
2076	9.03%	21%
2075	8.81%	20.8%
2074	8.58%	20.6%
2073	8.36%	20.4%
2072	8.15%	20.3%
2071	7.94%	20.1%
2070	7.74%	19.9%
2069	7.56%	19.8%
2068	7.38%	19.6%
2067	7.22%	19.5%
2066	7.06%	19.3%
2065	6.89%	19.2%
2064	6.74%	19.1%
2063	6.58%	18.9%
2062	6.44%	18.8%
2061	6.29%	18.6%
2060	6.15%	18.5%
2059	6.01%	18.3%
2058	5.87%	18.1%
2057	5.73%	17.9%
2056	5.6%	17.7%
2055	5.46%	17.5%
2054	5.31%	17.2%
2053	5.17%	17%
2052	5.02%	16.7%
2051	4.87%	16.4%
2050	4.72%	16.2%
2049	4.57%	16%
2048	4.43%	15.8%
2047	4.28%	15.5%
2046	4.13%	15.3%
2045	3.99%	15.1%
2044	3.85%	14.9%
2043	3.7%	14.8%
2042	3.56%	14.6%
2041	3.42%	14.4%
2040	3.28%	14.2%
2039	3.15%	14%
2038	3.03%	13.8%
2037	2.91%	13.5%
2036	2.8%	13.3%
2035	2.7%	13%
2034	2.61%	12.7%
2033	2.52%	12.4%
2032	2.44%	12.2%
2031	2.36%	11.9%
2030	2.29%	11.6%
2029	2.22%	11.3%
2028	2.15%	11%
2027	2.09%	10.7%
2026	2.03%	10.5%
2025	1.97%	10.3%
2024	1.95%	10.2%
2023	1.9%	9.98%
2022	1.86%	9.74%
2021	1.83%	9.53%
2020	1.81%	9.33%
2019	1.79%	9.1%
2018	1.77%	8.88%
2017	1.75%	8.65%
2016	1.74%	8.45%
2015	1.74%	8.26%
2014	1.74%	8.08%
2013	1.76%	7.92%
2012	1.78%	7.78%
2011	1.81%	7.66%
2010	1.83%	7.58%
2009	1.87%	7.52%
2008	1.91%	7.47%
2007	1.96%	7.41%
2006	2.01%	7.34%
2005	2.06%	7.26%
2004	2.12%	7.18%
2003	2.18%	7.1%
2002	2.24%	7.01%
2001	2.3%	6.92%
2000	2.36%	6.84%
1999	2.43%	6.76%
1998	2.49%	6.68%
1997	2.55%	6.61%
1996	2.61%	6.53%
1995	2.66%	6.45%
1994	2.71%	6.37%
1993	2.76%	6.29%
1992	2.8%	6.21%
1991	2.84%	6.14%
1990	2.88%	6.07%
1989	2.92%	6.01%
1988	2.95%	5.95%
1987	2.98%	5.91%
1986	3.01%	5.86%
1985	3.04%	5.82%
1984	3.07%	5.8%
1983	3.1%	5.79%
1982	3.12%	5.8%
1981	3.14%	5.81%
1980	3.15%	5.81%
1979	3.15%	5.77%
1978	3.14%	5.71%
1977	3.13%	5.65%
1976	3.12%	5.59%
1975	3.1%	5.53%
1974	3.09%	5.47%
1973	3.07%	5.42%
1972	3.05%	5.37%
1971	3.03%	5.32%
1970	3%	5.28%
1969	2.98%	5.24%
1968	2.97%	5.2%
1967	2.95%	5.16%
1966	2.94%	5.12%
1965	2.92%	5.08%
1964	2.91%	5.04%
1963	2.89%	5.02%
1962	2.87%	5.01%
1961	2.86%	4.99%
1960	2.85%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Zambia decreased from 2.12% to 1.95% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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1x