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Population density: United Kingdom vs Zambia compared

Updated on by Georank team

The United Kingdom has a population density of 750 people per square mile compared to 78.5 people in Zambia. The United Kingdom has 37,705 sq ft of land per person vs 380,067 sq ft in Zambia. The United Kingdom and Zambia rank 35th and 157th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. The United Kingdom has 0.85% of the world's population and 0.16% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.26% of the population and 0.5% of the land area for Zambia, making the population density in the United Kingdom 855% higher than in Zambia.

Population density by year

United Kingdom
Zambia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
United Kingdom Zambia
2026 750 78.5
2025 746 76.4
2024 741 74.3
2023 733 72.2
2022 724 70.2
2021 717 68.3
2020 715 66.4
2019 713 64.5
2018 710 62.6
2017 706 60.8
2016 702 58.9
2015 697 57.1
2014 692 55.4
2013 687 53.7
2012 682 52
2011 677 50.3
2010 672 48.7
2009 667 47
2008 662 45.4
2007 656 43.8
2006 651 42.3
2005 647 40.8
2004 642 39.5
2003 639 38.3
2002 636 37.1
2001 633 36
2000 630 34.9
1999 628 33.9
1998 626 33
1997 624 32.2
1996 623 31.4
1995 621 30.6
1994 619 29.9
1993 618 29.2
1992 616 28.5
1991 615 27.8
1990 613 27.1
1989 611 26.4
1988 609 25.8
1987 608 25.1
1986 607 24.3
1985 605 23.6
1984 604 22.9
1983 603 22.2
1982 603 21.5
1981 603 20.8
1980 603 20.2
1979 602 19.6
1978 602 19
1977 602 18.5
1976 602 17.9
1975 602 17.4
1974 602 16.9
1973 602 16.4
1972 600 15.9
1971 598 15.5
1970 596 15.1
1969 594 14.6
1968 591 14.2
1967 588 13.7
1966 585 13.3
1965 582 12.9
1964 578 12.5
1963 574 12.1
1962 570 11.7
1961 565 11.3

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/united-kingdom/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in the United Kingdom increased by 15.1%, compared to a 85.7% growth in Zambia.

In 2006, the United Kingdom ranked 35th by population density and is 35th still. Zambia was 164th in 2006 and ranks 157th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

United Kingdom
Zambia
1x
Year Urban population
United Kingdom Zambia
2024 83.2% 45.5%
2023 83.2% 45%
2022 83.1% 44.6%
2021 83% 44.2%
2020 82.9% 43.9%
2019 82.7% 43.5%
2018 82.4% 43.1%
2017 82.2% 42.7%
2016 82% 42.3%
2015 81.8% 42%
2014 81.6% 41.6%
2013 81.5% 41.2%
2012 81.3% 40.8%
2011 81.1% 40.4%
2010 81% 40%
2009 80.9% 39.5%
2008 80.8% 39%
2007 80.6% 38.4%
2006 80.5% 37.8%
2005 80.4% 37.3%
2004 80.3% 36.8%
2003 80.2% 36.4%
2002 80.1% 36.1%
2001 80% 35.9%
2000 79.8% 35.9%
1999 79.6% 36.2%
1998 79.4% 36.7%
1997 79.1% 37.4%
1996 78.9% 38%
1995 78.7% 38.4%
1994 78.4% 38.7%
1993 78.3% 38.9%
1992 78.2% 39.1%
1991 78.1% 39.3%
1990 78.1% 39.4%
1989 78.1% 39.5%
1988 78.2% 39.5%
1987 78.3% 39.6%
1986 78.3% 39.7%
1985 78.4% 39.7%
1984 78.5% 39.8%
1983 78.5% 39.8%
1982 78.6% 39.9%
1981 78.6% 39.9%
1980 78.6% 39.9%
1979 78.5% 39.7%
1978 78.3% 39.3%
1977 78.1% 38.6%
1976 77.8% 37.8%
1975 77.5% 36.8%
1974 77.3% 35.6%
1973 77.1% 34.4%
1972 77% 33.2%
1971 76.9% 31.9%
1970 76.9% 30.7%
1969 77% 29.4%
1968 77.1% 28%
1967 77.2% 26.4%
1966 77.4% 24.6%
1965 77.6% 22.9%
1964 77.8% 21.3%
1963 78% 20.1%
1962 78.2% 19.1%
1961 78.4% 18.1%
1960 78.6% 17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/united-kingdom/zambia | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 80.3% to 83.2% in the United Kingdom and from 36.8% to 45.5% in Zambia.

Densely populated cities

United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/united-kingdom/zambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2010–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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