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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 132,059,767 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 139,917,664 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 6.16 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.96% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.71% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 140M (73.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Ethiopia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Zambia
2100 371,192,732 65,217,429
2099 369,452,188 64,871,545
2098 367,626,914 64,515,891
2097 365,680,268 64,148,736
2096 363,648,440 63,777,313
2095 361,707,589 63,393,169
2094 359,642,227 62,992,652
2093 357,570,752 62,590,327
2092 355,499,462 62,175,930
2091 353,327,595 61,750,591
2090 351,068,287 61,321,399
2089 348,859,203 60,880,148
2088 346,624,222 60,434,676
2087 344,268,493 59,970,107
2086 341,777,395 59,499,234
2085 339,272,558 59,023,040
2084 336,753,372 58,535,857
2083 334,186,307 58,040,512
2082 331,503,693 57,538,672
2081 328,816,892 57,027,491
2080 326,114,551 56,506,421
2079 323,382,593 55,983,242
2078 320,521,381 55,449,777
2077 317,590,857 54,906,771
2076 314,615,353 54,361,075
2075 311,583,813 53,806,856
2074 308,511,275 53,246,777
2073 305,477,711 52,677,348
2072 302,351,806 52,101,139
2071 299,211,554 51,519,691
2070 296,054,535 50,931,614
2069 292,847,034 50,334,700
2068 289,612,061 49,737,479
2067 286,279,975 49,135,488
2066 282,992,981 48,530,443
2065 279,662,528 47,918,592
2064 276,283,161 47,299,740
2063 272,866,834 46,677,439
2062 269,424,014 46,048,819
2061 265,885,347 45,416,657
2060 262,350,260 44,777,347
2059 258,772,570 44,137,306
2058 255,284,371 43,494,451
2057 251,733,988 42,851,923
2056 248,079,002 42,206,898
2055 244,501,471 41,558,284
2054 240,868,686 40,906,492
2053 237,228,269 40,255,629
2052 233,551,340 39,603,888
2051 229,804,463 38,949,958
2050 226,124,819 38,294,607
2049 222,420,063 37,634,194
2048 218,694,640 36,971,309
2047 214,950,242 36,309,749
2046 211,226,920 35,645,868
2045 207,525,986 34,981,812
2044 203,812,674 34,316,981
2043 200,097,321 33,652,420
2042 196,411,774 32,990,657
2041 192,749,114 32,329,447
2040 189,081,695 31,664,262
2039 185,422,958 31,001,305
2038 181,789,129 30,335,662
2037 178,179,942 29,668,561
2036 174,569,201 29,000,264
2035 170,957,061 28,333,498
2034 167,367,920 27,671,195
2033 163,813,895 27,011,974
2032 160,216,774 26,356,580
2031 156,638,324 25,702,812
2030 153,070,380 25,055,216
2029 149,507,684 24,414,405
2028 145,989,372 23,780,809
2027 142,463,827 23,151,479
2026 138,973,582 22,529,742
2025 135,513,842 21,918,187
2024 132,059,767 21,314,956
2023 128,691,692 20,723,965
2022 125,384,287 20,152,938
2021 122,138,588 19,603,607
2020 118,917,671 19,059,395
2019 115,737,383 18,513,839
2018 112,664,152 17,973,569
2017 109,666,481 17,441,320
2016 106,718,162 16,914,423
2015 103,867,135 16,399,089
2014 101,115,610 15,895,315
2013 98,438,751 15,398,997
2012 95,798,767 14,913,629
2011 93,149,970 14,437,796
2010 90,538,514 13,965,594
2009 88,007,636 13,490,389
2008 85,543,668 13,021,324
2007 83,103,217 12,565,085
2006 80,703,490 12,129,553
2005 78,367,470 11,718,819
2004 76,077,206 11,338,198
2003 73,832,663 10,983,595
2002 71,635,517 10,647,949
2001 69,487,762 10,325,185
2000 67,411,494 10,017,631
1999 65,374,561 9,740,005
1998 63,363,524 9,482,408
1997 61,404,539 9,237,063
1996 59,467,635 9,004,053
1995 57,537,335 8,785,763
1994 55,611,508 8,576,269
1993 53,708,891 8,373,921
1992 51,853,747 8,176,680
1991 49,717,198 7,981,650
1990 47,609,755 7,786,169
1989 45,879,690 7,589,216
1988 44,150,825 7,391,440
1987 42,460,039 7,191,282
1986 41,037,656 6,986,471
1985 39,842,136 6,780,953
1984 38,735,722 6,580,490
1983 37,740,817 6,381,038
1982 36,701,290 6,178,637
1981 35,304,012 5,983,289
1980 34,428,514 5,802,833
1979 34,238,652 5,631,728
1978 33,734,592 5,465,374
1977 33,167,272 5,302,480
1976 32,534,418 5,143,842
1975 31,723,252 4,990,086
1974 30,957,273 4,842,746
1973 30,166,785 4,702,693
1972 29,374,608 4,569,309
1971 28,600,106 4,442,525
1970 27,829,128 4,321,718
1969 27,072,571 4,197,116
1968 26,337,930 4,065,593
1967 25,620,276 3,936,343
1966 24,952,689 3,812,003
1965 24,310,612 3,692,086
1964 23,666,548 3,577,017
1963 23,051,637 3,465,907
1962 22,465,126 3,358,099
1961 21,906,102 3,254,086
1960 21,376,693 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/ethiopia/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th 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) Ethiopia's population will grow by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Zambia
2100 0.47% 0.53%
2099 0.5% 0.55%
2098 0.53% 0.57%
2097 0.56% 0.58%
2096 0.54% 0.61%
2095 0.57% 0.64%
2094 0.58% 0.64%
2093 0.58% 0.67%
2092 0.61% 0.69%
2091 0.64% 0.7%
2090 0.63% 0.72%
2089 0.64% 0.74%
2088 0.68% 0.77%
2087 0.73% 0.79%
2086 0.74% 0.81%
2085 0.75% 0.83%
2084 0.77% 0.85%
2083 0.81% 0.87%
2082 0.82% 0.9%
2081 0.83% 0.92%
2080 0.84% 0.93%
2079 0.89% 0.96%
2078 0.92% 0.99%
2077 0.95% 1%
2076 0.97% 1.03%
2075 1% 1.05%
2074 0.99% 1.08%
2073 1.03% 1.11%
2072 1.05% 1.13%
2071 1.07% 1.15%
2070 1.1% 1.19%
2069 1.12% 1.2%
2068 1.16% 1.23%
2067 1.16% 1.25%
2066 1.19% 1.28%
2065 1.22% 1.31%
2064 1.25% 1.33%
2063 1.28% 1.37%
2062 1.33% 1.39%
2061 1.35% 1.43%
2060 1.38% 1.45%
2059 1.37% 1.48%
2058 1.41% 1.5%
2057 1.47% 1.53%
2056 1.46% 1.56%
2055 1.51% 1.59%
2054 1.53% 1.62%
2053 1.57% 1.65%
2052 1.63% 1.68%
2051 1.63% 1.71%
2050 1.67% 1.75%
2049 1.7% 1.79%
2048 1.74% 1.82%
2047 1.76% 1.86%
2046 1.78% 1.9%
2045 1.82% 1.94%
2044 1.86% 1.97%
2043 1.88% 2.01%
2042 1.9% 2.05%
2041 1.94% 2.1%
2040 1.97% 2.14%
2039 2% 2.19%
2038 2.03% 2.25%
2037 2.07% 2.3%
2036 2.11% 2.35%
2035 2.14% 2.39%
2034 2.17% 2.44%
2033 2.25% 2.49%
2032 2.28% 2.54%
2031 2.33% 2.58%
2030 2.38% 2.62%
2029 2.41% 2.66%
2028 2.47% 2.72%
2027 2.51% 2.76%
2026 2.55% 2.79%
2025 2.62% 2.83%
2024 2.62% 2.85%
2023 2.64% 2.83%
2022 2.66% 2.8%
2021 2.71% 2.86%
2020 2.75% 2.95%
2019 2.73% 3.01%
2018 2.73% 3.05%
2017 2.76% 3.12%
2016 2.74% 3.14%
2015 2.72% 3.17%
2014 2.72% 3.22%
2013 2.76% 3.25%
2012 2.84% 3.3%
2011 2.88% 3.38%
2010 2.88% 3.52%
2009 2.88% 3.6%
2008 2.94% 3.63%
2007 2.97% 3.59%
2006 2.98% 3.5%
2005 3.01% 3.36%
2004 3.04% 3.23%
2003 3.07% 3.15%
2002 3.09% 3.13%
2001 3.08% 3.07%
2000 3.12% 2.85%
1999 3.17% 2.72%
1998 3.19% 2.66%
1997 3.26% 2.59%
1996 3.35% 2.48%
1995 3.46% 2.44%
1994 3.54% 2.42%
1993 3.58% 2.41%
1992 4.3% 2.44%
1991 4.43% 2.51%
1990 3.77% 2.6%
1989 3.92% 2.68%
1988 3.98% 2.78%
1987 3.47% 2.93%
1986 3% 3.03%
1985 2.86% 3.05%
1984 2.64% 3.13%
1983 2.83% 3.28%
1982 3.96% 3.26%
1981 2.54% 3.11%
1980 0.55% 3.04%
1979 1.49% 3.04%
1978 1.71% 3.07%
1977 1.95% 3.08%
1976 2.56% 3.08%
1975 2.47% 3.04%
1974 2.62% 2.98%
1973 2.7% 2.92%
1972 2.71% 2.85%
1971 2.77% 2.8%
1970 2.79% 2.97%
1969 2.79% 3.24%
1968 2.8% 3.28%
1967 2.68% 3.26%
1966 2.64% 3.25%
1965 2.72% 3.22%
1964 2.67% 3.21%
1963 2.61% 3.21%
1962 2.55% 3.2%
1961 2.48% 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/ethiopia/zambia | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Ethiopia Zambia
Current population
139917664
22697916
Population rank 10/197 62/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.27%
One net population change
9.36 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
7.68 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
41.1 seconds
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,228 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +3,368,075 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 21/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +24,054 +6,562
Net migration rank 31/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - 6,562
2024 - 30,069 - 7,381
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 577,660 9,521
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 563,456 -8,566
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 535,629 8,143
2020 3,199,718 38,866 536,484 8,156
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 528,089 18,385
2018 3,015,231 9,302 515,644 18,431
2017 2,899,143 71,766 504,630 25,789
2016 2,809,889 115,823 497,521 25,860
2015 2,713,529 62,785 491,021 16,261
2014 2,623,647 103,122 483,663 16,574
2013 2,546,020 80,955 476,846 15,542
2012 2,533,398 119,517 469,406 8,958
2011 2,527,811 116,793 459,743 13,569
2010 2,498,048 80,213 448,337 22,761
2009 2,467,118 16,315 434,458 44,867
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 419,560 39,249
2007 2,436,753 -381 403,729 49,945
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 387,891 29,517
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 368,756 35,316
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 349,352 7,819
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 331,189 20,845
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 316,041 3,206
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 302,682 23,582
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 293,186 -4,338
1999 2,010,987 29,142 283,297 -16,888
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 275,568 -26,796
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 268,198 -26,276
1996 1,896,364 41,456 262,468 -38,358
1995 1,831,068 91,727 257,897 -45,423
1994 1,788,133 140,715 252,023 -45,504
1993 1,734,851 141,545 245,917 -47,739
1992 1,673,839 160,106 239,953 -43,656
1991 1,579,416 859,737 237,957 -44,203
1990 1,479,663 296,014 235,835 -38,619
1989 1,441,769 242,614 233,429 -36,736
1988 1,393,356 379,966 230,118 -31,270
1987 1,356,853 251,387 227,813 -26,338
1986 1,050,277 186,227 224,768 -16,610
1985 997,050 157,476 221,351 -18,474
1984 920,670 137,632 216,695 -18,652
1983 863,472 68,022 212,712 -11,849
1982 1,080,853 66,702 207,621 -3,676
1981 1,018,838 628,135 202,822 -16,072
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 198,817 -24,664
1979 987,203 -711,455 197,578 -29,515
1978 943,388 -210,991 194,933 -30,284
1977 929,381 -527,133 191,557 -30,423
1976 899,577 -36,125 186,762 -30,612
1975 801,425 -42,540 182,258 -30,886
1974 777,306 -4,232 174,484 -31,178
1973 807,535 347 168,258 -31,472
1972 779,808 -3,375 161,648 -31,672
1971 787,047 -14,510 155,249 -31,651
1970 760,821 8,589 149,380 -31,370
1969 736,428 7,258 142,660 -11,469
1968 715,602 9,992 137,315 -5,447
1967 695,283 14,437 131,938 -5,298
1966 616,281 9,160 127,164 -5,129
1965 642,359 16,348 122,814 -5,023
1964 618,667 10,749 117,197 -4,851
1963 590,998 9,418 114,555 -4,676
1962 563,650 8,960 110,173 -4,428
1961 538,518 6,938 106,318 -4,043
1960 511,694 1,696 102,335 -3,898

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.8% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 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, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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/ethiopia/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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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