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Population in Burundi compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burundi was 14,047,786 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burundi's population is 14,833,763 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.53 times bigger than Burundi's.
  • Burundi is ranked the 78th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.18% for Burundi vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Burundi has had an average growth rate of +2.74% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burundi has increased from 7.87M people to 14.8M (88.6% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Burundi vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burundi Zambia
2100 38,293,853 65,217,429
2099 38,174,358 64,871,545
2098 38,032,126 64,515,891
2097 37,893,681 64,148,736
2096 37,756,449 63,777,313
2095 37,614,540 63,393,169
2094 37,436,871 62,992,652
2093 37,274,132 62,590,327
2092 37,108,508 62,175,930
2091 36,942,857 61,750,591
2090 36,771,082 61,321,399
2089 36,563,987 60,880,148
2088 36,355,008 60,434,676
2087 36,164,606 59,970,107
2086 35,954,669 59,499,234
2085 35,713,632 59,023,040
2084 35,484,958 58,535,857
2083 35,263,538 58,040,512
2082 35,009,446 57,538,672
2081 34,736,107 57,027,491
2080 34,490,976 56,506,421
2079 34,213,139 55,983,242
2078 33,926,177 55,449,777
2077 33,614,120 54,906,771
2076 33,328,275 54,361,075
2075 33,008,877 53,806,856
2074 32,701,037 53,246,777
2073 32,376,989 52,677,348
2072 32,052,692 52,101,139
2071 31,745,266 51,519,691
2070 31,397,738 50,931,614
2069 31,057,284 50,334,700
2068 30,714,517 49,737,479
2067 30,354,696 49,135,488
2066 30,003,347 48,530,443
2065 29,629,671 47,918,592
2064 29,285,762 47,299,740
2063 28,949,355 46,677,439
2062 28,601,048 46,048,819
2061 28,250,749 45,416,657
2060 27,902,252 44,777,347
2059 27,548,599 44,137,306
2058 27,202,405 43,494,451
2057 26,854,783 42,851,923
2056 26,488,466 42,206,898
2055 26,128,941 41,558,284
2054 25,749,289 40,906,492
2053 25,370,938 40,255,629
2052 24,991,164 39,603,888
2051 24,616,398 38,949,958
2050 24,248,417 38,294,607
2049 23,841,324 37,634,194
2048 23,457,774 36,971,309
2047 23,054,780 36,309,749
2046 22,680,495 35,645,868
2045 22,268,462 34,981,812
2044 21,845,832 34,316,981
2043 21,428,437 33,652,420
2042 20,996,812 32,990,657
2041 20,590,106 32,329,447
2040 20,174,211 31,664,262
2039 19,754,227 31,001,305
2038 19,337,942 30,335,662
2037 18,919,404 29,668,561
2036 18,507,313 29,000,264
2035 18,115,077 28,333,498
2034 17,727,651 27,671,195
2033 17,339,180 27,011,974
2032 16,953,330 26,356,580
2031 16,569,289 25,702,812
2030 16,198,007 25,055,216
2029 15,827,843 24,414,405
2028 15,445,059 23,780,809
2027 15,084,625 23,151,479
2026 14,740,747 22,529,742
2025 14,397,864 21,918,187
2024 14,047,786 21,314,956
2023 13,689,450 20,723,965
2022 13,321,097 20,152,938
2021 12,965,481 19,603,607
2020 12,617,036 19,059,395
2019 12,255,336 18,513,839
2018 11,859,446 17,973,569
2017 11,506,762 17,441,320
2016 11,239,451 16,914,423
2015 11,047,580 16,399,089
2014 10,799,785 15,895,315
2013 10,439,341 15,398,997
2012 10,071,028 14,913,629
2011 9,717,978 14,437,796
2010 9,376,444 13,965,594
2009 8,947,646 13,490,389
2008 8,505,637 13,021,324
2007 8,161,874 12,565,085
2006 7,865,547 12,129,553
2005 7,587,299 11,718,819
2004 7,310,656 11,338,198
2003 7,043,154 10,983,595
2002 6,824,132 10,647,949
2001 6,634,365 10,325,185
2000 6,470,194 10,017,631
1999 6,337,155 9,740,005
1998 6,187,108 9,482,408
1997 6,070,042 9,237,063
1996 6,070,506 9,004,053
1995 6,066,316 8,785,763
1994 5,713,854 8,576,269
1993 5,676,843 8,373,921
1992 5,858,407 8,176,680
1991 5,703,857 7,981,650
1990 5,587,052 7,786,169
1989 5,471,706 7,589,216
1988 5,365,327 7,391,440
1987 5,247,787 7,191,282
1986 5,129,414 6,986,471
1985 5,034,042 6,780,953
1984 4,926,465 6,580,490
1983 4,808,528 6,381,038
1982 4,681,390 6,178,637
1981 4,566,014 5,983,289
1980 4,383,706 5,802,833
1979 4,203,530 5,631,728
1978 4,100,338 5,465,374
1977 3,983,582 5,302,480
1976 3,882,626 5,143,842
1975 3,796,612 4,990,086
1974 3,703,590 4,842,746
1973 3,611,991 4,702,693
1972 3,617,128 4,569,309
1971 3,617,289 4,442,525
1970 3,530,432 4,321,718
1969 3,454,590 4,197,116
1968 3,380,387 4,065,593
1967 3,300,690 3,936,343
1966 3,217,960 3,812,003
1965 3,141,367 3,692,086
1964 3,055,650 3,577,017
1963 2,969,841 3,465,907
1962 2,907,943 3,358,099
1961 2,835,119 3,254,086
1960 2,764,258 3,153,729

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burundi increased by 3,373,904 people (a 42.9% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burundi gained 3,594,312 people (a 32% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Burundi was ranked 93rd most populous country in 2006 and is 78th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Burundi's population will grow by 63.5% to 24,248,417 people with a rank change from 78th to 69th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Burundi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 38.3M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Burundi
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burundi Zambia
2100 0.31% 0.53%
2099 0.37% 0.55%
2098 0.37% 0.57%
2097 0.36% 0.58%
2096 0.38% 0.61%
2095 0.47% 0.64%
2094 0.44% 0.64%
2093 0.45% 0.67%
2092 0.45% 0.69%
2091 0.47% 0.7%
2090 0.57% 0.72%
2089 0.57% 0.74%
2088 0.53% 0.77%
2087 0.58% 0.79%
2086 0.67% 0.81%
2085 0.64% 0.83%
2084 0.63% 0.85%
2083 0.73% 0.87%
2082 0.79% 0.9%
2081 0.71% 0.92%
2080 0.81% 0.93%
2079 0.85% 0.96%
2078 0.93% 0.99%
2077 0.86% 1%
2076 0.97% 1.03%
2075 0.94% 1.05%
2074 1% 1.08%
2073 1.01% 1.11%
2072 0.97% 1.13%
2071 1.11% 1.15%
2070 1.1% 1.19%
2069 1.12% 1.2%
2068 1.19% 1.23%
2067 1.17% 1.25%
2066 1.26% 1.28%
2065 1.17% 1.31%
2064 1.16% 1.33%
2063 1.22% 1.37%
2062 1.24% 1.39%
2061 1.25% 1.43%
2060 1.28% 1.45%
2059 1.27% 1.48%
2058 1.29% 1.5%
2057 1.38% 1.53%
2056 1.38% 1.56%
2055 1.47% 1.59%
2054 1.49% 1.62%
2053 1.52% 1.65%
2052 1.52% 1.68%
2051 1.52% 1.71%
2050 1.71% 1.75%
2049 1.64% 1.79%
2048 1.75% 1.82%
2047 1.65% 1.86%
2046 1.85% 1.9%
2045 1.93% 1.94%
2044 1.95% 1.97%
2043 2.06% 2.01%
2042 1.98% 2.05%
2041 2.06% 2.1%
2040 2.13% 2.14%
2039 2.15% 2.19%
2038 2.21% 2.25%
2037 2.23% 2.3%
2036 2.17% 2.35%
2035 2.19% 2.39%
2034 2.24% 2.44%
2033 2.28% 2.49%
2032 2.32% 2.54%
2031 2.29% 2.58%
2030 2.34% 2.62%
2029 2.48% 2.66%
2028 2.39% 2.72%
2027 2.33% 2.76%
2026 2.38% 2.79%
2025 2.49% 2.83%
2024 2.62% 2.85%
2023 2.77% 2.83%
2022 2.74% 2.8%
2021 2.76% 2.86%
2020 2.95% 2.95%
2019 3.34% 3.01%
2018 3.07% 3.05%
2017 2.38% 3.12%
2016 1.74% 3.14%
2015 2.29% 3.17%
2014 3.45% 3.22%
2013 3.66% 3.25%
2012 3.63% 3.3%
2011 3.64% 3.38%
2010 4.79% 3.52%
2009 5.2% 3.6%
2008 4.21% 3.63%
2007 3.77% 3.59%
2006 3.67% 3.5%
2005 3.78% 3.36%
2004 3.8% 3.23%
2003 3.21% 3.15%
2002 2.86% 3.13%
2001 2.54% 3.07%
2000 2.1% 2.85%
1999 2.43% 2.72%
1998 1.93% 2.66%
1997 -0.008% 2.59%
1996 0.07% 2.48%
1995 6.17% 2.44%
1994 0.65% 2.42%
1993 -3.1% 2.41%
1992 2.71% 2.44%
1991 2.09% 2.51%
1990 2.11% 2.6%
1989 1.98% 2.68%
1988 2.24% 2.78%
1987 2.31% 2.93%
1986 1.89% 3.03%
1985 2.18% 3.05%
1984 2.45% 3.13%
1983 2.72% 3.28%
1982 2.53% 3.26%
1981 4.16% 3.11%
1980 4.29% 3.04%
1979 2.52% 3.04%
1978 2.93% 3.07%
1977 2.6% 3.08%
1976 2.27% 3.08%
1975 2.51% 3.04%
1974 2.54% 2.98%
1973 -0.14% 2.92%
1972 -0.004% 2.85%
1971 2.46% 2.8%
1970 2.2% 2.97%
1969 2.2% 3.24%
1968 2.41% 3.28%
1967 2.57% 3.26%
1966 2.44% 3.25%
1965 2.81% 3.22%
1964 2.89% 3.21%
1963 2.13% 3.21%
1962 2.57% 3.2%
1961 2.56% 3.18%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burundi grew by 2.62%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Burundi Zambia
Current population
14833763
22697916
Population rank 78/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.27%
One net population change
1.47 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
1.14 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
5.72 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +982 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +358,336 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 21/197
One migration net change every
15.2 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -34,727 +6,562
Net migration rank 169/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 387,101 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 90/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 119/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burundi
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burundi Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -34,727 - 6,562
2024 - -27,074 - 7,381
2023 368,917 1,995 577,660 9,521
2022 363,786 1,995 563,456 -8,566
2021 359,844 -14,415 535,629 8,143
2020 361,654 -10,189 536,484 8,156
2019 357,672 14,253 528,089 18,385
2018 351,704 68,141 515,644 18,431
2017 353,879 -68,349 504,630 25,789
2016 358,393 -109,296 497,521 25,860
2015 370,856 -236,207 491,021 16,261
2014 367,797 -6,856 483,663 16,574
2013 362,224 -2,285 476,846 15,542
2012 354,068 22,617 469,406 8,958
2011 348,934 -19,513 459,743 13,569
2010 341,808 11,845 448,337 22,761
2009 319,583 184,359 434,458 44,867
2008 300,750 79,319 419,560 39,249
2007 285,323 22,129 403,729 49,945
2006 269,874 15,322 387,891 29,517
2005 253,401 17,905 368,756 35,316
2004 234,891 47,091 349,352 7,819
2003 216,295 36,719 331,189 20,845
2002 201,892 -16,871 316,041 3,206
2001 184,541 9,967 302,682 23,582
2000 173,867 -40,032 293,186 -4,338
1999 166,699 -34,465 283,297 -16,888
1998 154,010 13,840 275,568 -26,796
1997 150,404 -84,126 268,198 -26,276
1996 158,920 -226,317 262,468 -38,358
1995 160,284 -84,697 257,897 -45,423
1994 112,968 516,373 252,023 -45,504
1993 128,898 -684,261 245,917 -47,739
1992 156,420 35,769 239,953 -43,656
1991 156,148 -39,236 237,957 -44,203
1990 156,617 -39,926 235,835 -38,619
1989 157,547 -43,561 233,429 -36,736
1988 145,234 -46,464 230,118 -31,270
1987 157,481 -21,179 227,813 -26,338
1986 156,170 -55,742 224,768 -16,610
1985 156,896 -66,574 221,351 -18,474
1984 154,366 -29,534 216,695 -18,652
1983 152,801 -41,756 212,712 -11,849
1982 147,090 -3,844 207,621 -3,676
1981 146,231 -58,723 202,822 -16,072
1980 127,746 149,361 198,817 -24,664
1979 123,377 -40,126 197,578 -29,515
1978 114,884 8,247 194,933 -30,284
1977 108,488 1,884 191,557 -30,423
1976 104,396 -12,848 186,762 -30,612
1975 101,172 -20,693 182,258 -30,886
1974 95,486 10,065 174,484 -31,178
1973 74,805 2,843 168,258 -31,472
1972 30,532 -118,457 161,648 -31,672
1971 95,153 -7,569 155,249 -31,651
1970 92,476 -6,346 149,380 -31,370
1969 90,852 -25,292 142,660 -11,469
1968 88,765 -5,917 137,315 -5,447
1967 86,373 -9,821 131,938 -5,298
1966 83,651 5,262 127,164 -5,129
1965 78,208 -13,947 122,814 -5,023
1964 77,528 29,639 117,197 -4,851
1963 75,962 -11,502 114,555 -4,676
1962 74,710 -15,378 110,173 -4,428
1961 71,216 15,094 106,318 -4,043
1960 70,032 -14,620 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/zambia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91% of the population change in Burundi is from natural causes (a gain of 3,614,502 people) and 9.03% is from migration (a loss of 358,928 people). In Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 387,101 residents or 2.8% of the population were not native-born in Burundi, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Burundi
City Population
Bujumbura 659K
Gitega 136K
Ngozi 39.9K
Bubanza 20K
Muyinga 9.61K
Makamba 9.4K
Ruyigi 7.14K
Rutana 5.86K
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
Mansa 45.4K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/burundi/zambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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