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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Mozambique was 34,631,766 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Mozambique's population is 36,941,128 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Mozambique's population is 1.63 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Mozambique is ranked the 43rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.45% for Mozambique vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Mozambique has had an average growth rate of +2.99% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Mozambique has increased from 20.8M people to 36.9M (77.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Mozambique vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Mozambique
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Mozambique Zambia
2100 105,684,658 65,217,429
2099 105,291,198 64,871,545
2098 104,859,475 64,515,891
2097 104,428,679 64,148,736
2096 103,962,668 63,777,313
2095 103,480,514 63,393,169
2094 102,989,197 62,992,652
2093 102,464,565 62,590,327
2092 101,929,545 62,175,930
2091 101,410,418 61,750,591
2090 100,829,728 61,321,399
2089 100,211,758 60,880,148
2088 99,594,130 60,434,676
2087 98,943,096 59,970,107
2086 98,288,529 59,499,234
2085 97,609,760 59,023,040
2084 96,926,143 58,535,857
2083 96,193,441 58,040,512
2082 95,449,095 57,538,672
2081 94,708,064 57,027,491
2080 93,957,824 56,506,421
2079 93,171,561 55,983,242
2078 92,350,666 55,449,777
2077 91,530,198 54,906,771
2076 90,699,125 54,361,075
2075 89,848,943 53,806,856
2074 88,999,187 53,246,777
2073 88,113,398 52,677,348
2072 87,210,961 52,101,139
2071 86,283,286 51,519,691
2070 85,349,704 50,931,614
2069 84,361,565 50,334,700
2068 83,400,997 49,737,479
2067 82,437,397 49,135,488
2066 81,437,030 48,530,443
2065 80,446,244 47,918,592
2064 79,433,801 47,299,740
2063 78,430,632 46,677,439
2062 77,376,597 46,048,819
2061 76,274,806 45,416,657
2060 75,197,384 44,777,347
2059 74,082,771 44,137,306
2058 72,958,774 43,494,451
2057 71,828,186 42,851,923
2056 70,677,889 42,206,898
2055 69,542,373 41,558,284
2054 68,419,331 40,906,492
2053 67,306,817 40,255,629
2052 66,163,407 39,603,888
2051 65,032,770 38,949,958
2050 63,898,302 38,294,607
2049 62,731,532 37,634,194
2048 61,579,833 36,971,309
2047 60,424,101 36,309,749
2046 59,273,421 35,645,868
2045 58,132,244 34,981,812
2044 56,969,604 34,316,981
2043 55,814,906 33,652,420
2042 54,633,120 32,990,657
2041 53,476,191 32,329,447
2040 52,305,805 31,664,262
2039 51,136,087 31,001,305
2038 49,973,820 30,335,662
2037 48,827,661 29,668,561
2036 47,668,628 29,000,264
2035 46,520,419 28,333,498
2034 45,358,645 27,671,195
2033 44,229,218 27,011,974
2032 43,102,655 26,356,580
2031 41,993,535 25,702,812
2030 40,901,742 25,055,216
2029 39,818,379 24,414,405
2028 38,748,841 23,780,809
2027 37,696,739 23,151,479
2026 36,660,958 22,529,742
2025 35,650,681 21,918,187
2024 34,631,766 21,314,956
2023 33,635,160 20,723,965
2022 32,656,246 20,152,938
2021 31,707,800 19,603,607
2020 30,783,688 19,059,395
2019 29,884,380 18,513,839
2018 29,018,644 17,973,569
2017 28,166,393 17,441,320
2016 27,337,105 16,914,423
2015 26,547,572 16,399,089
2014 25,788,475 15,895,315
2013 25,051,611 15,398,997
2012 24,337,846 14,913,629
2011 23,649,039 14,437,796
2010 22,999,235 13,965,594
2009 22,391,745 13,490,389
2008 21,819,036 13,021,324
2007 21,287,635 12,565,085
2006 20,787,087 12,129,553
2005 20,304,569 11,718,819
2004 19,840,313 11,338,198
2003 19,392,475 10,983,595
2002 18,958,338 10,647,949
2001 18,537,729 10,325,185
2000 18,129,653 10,017,631
1999 17,734,506 9,740,005
1998 17,340,464 9,482,408
1997 16,949,982 9,237,063
1996 16,492,480 9,004,053
1995 15,960,530 8,785,763
1994 15,033,853 8,576,269
1993 14,051,192 8,373,921
1992 13,613,316 8,176,680
1991 13,352,090 7,981,650
1990 13,094,537 7,786,169
1989 12,906,842 7,589,216
1988 12,800,558 7,391,440
1987 12,822,574 7,191,282
1986 12,770,578 6,986,471
1985 12,548,949 6,780,953
1984 12,315,954 6,580,490
1983 12,073,822 6,381,038
1982 11,824,370 6,178,637
1981 11,568,127 5,983,289
1980 11,336,221 5,802,833
1979 11,028,809 5,631,728
1978 10,618,250 5,465,374
1977 10,224,975 5,302,480
1976 9,867,209 5,143,842
1975 9,540,817 4,990,086
1974 9,236,093 4,842,746
1973 8,954,242 4,702,693
1972 8,692,935 4,569,309
1971 8,456,317 4,442,525
1970 8,250,506 4,321,718
1969 8,066,951 4,197,116
1968 7,892,613 4,065,593
1967 7,724,550 3,936,343
1966 7,562,990 3,812,003
1965 7,406,421 3,692,086
1964 7,255,061 3,577,017
1963 7,109,828 3,465,907
1962 6,969,364 3,358,099
1961 6,834,936 3,254,086
1960 6,713,695 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/mozambique/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Mozambique increased by 6,550,018 people (a 31.5% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Mozambique gained 9,604,023 people (a 35.1% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Mozambique was ranked 52nd most populous country in 2006 and is 43rd 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) Mozambique's population will grow by 73% to 63,898,302 people with a rank change from 43rd to 32nd. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Mozambique is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 106M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Mozambique
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Mozambique Zambia
2100 0.37% 0.53%
2099 0.41% 0.55%
2098 0.41% 0.57%
2097 0.45% 0.58%
2096 0.47% 0.61%
2095 0.48% 0.64%
2094 0.51% 0.64%
2093 0.52% 0.67%
2092 0.51% 0.69%
2091 0.58% 0.7%
2090 0.62% 0.72%
2089 0.62% 0.74%
2088 0.66% 0.77%
2087 0.67% 0.79%
2086 0.7% 0.81%
2085 0.71% 0.83%
2084 0.76% 0.85%
2083 0.78% 0.87%
2082 0.78% 0.9%
2081 0.8% 0.92%
2080 0.84% 0.93%
2079 0.89% 0.96%
2078 0.9% 0.99%
2077 0.92% 1%
2076 0.95% 1.03%
2075 0.95% 1.05%
2074 1.01% 1.08%
2073 1.03% 1.11%
2072 1.08% 1.13%
2071 1.09% 1.15%
2070 1.17% 1.19%
2069 1.15% 1.2%
2068 1.17% 1.23%
2067 1.23% 1.25%
2066 1.23% 1.28%
2065 1.27% 1.31%
2064 1.28% 1.33%
2063 1.36% 1.37%
2062 1.44% 1.39%
2061 1.43% 1.43%
2060 1.5% 1.45%
2059 1.54% 1.48%
2058 1.57% 1.5%
2057 1.63% 1.53%
2056 1.63% 1.56%
2055 1.64% 1.59%
2054 1.65% 1.62%
2053 1.73% 1.65%
2052 1.74% 1.68%
2051 1.78% 1.71%
2050 1.86% 1.75%
2049 1.87% 1.79%
2048 1.91% 1.82%
2047 1.94% 1.86%
2046 1.96% 1.9%
2045 2.04% 1.94%
2044 2.07% 1.97%
2043 2.16% 2.01%
2042 2.16% 2.05%
2041 2.24% 2.1%
2040 2.29% 2.14%
2039 2.33% 2.19%
2038 2.35% 2.25%
2037 2.43% 2.3%
2036 2.47% 2.35%
2035 2.56% 2.39%
2034 2.55% 2.44%
2033 2.61% 2.49%
2032 2.64% 2.54%
2031 2.67% 2.58%
2030 2.72% 2.62%
2029 2.76% 2.66%
2028 2.79% 2.72%
2027 2.83% 2.76%
2026 2.83% 2.79%
2025 2.94% 2.83%
2024 2.96% 2.85%
2023 3% 2.83%
2022 2.99% 2.8%
2021 3% 2.86%
2020 3.01% 2.95%
2019 2.98% 3.01%
2018 3.03% 3.05%
2017 3.03% 3.12%
2016 2.97% 3.14%
2015 2.94% 3.17%
2014 2.94% 3.22%
2013 2.93% 3.25%
2012 2.91% 3.3%
2011 2.83% 3.38%
2010 2.71% 3.52%
2009 2.62% 3.6%
2008 2.5% 3.63%
2007 2.41% 3.59%
2006 2.38% 3.5%
2005 2.34% 3.36%
2004 2.31% 3.23%
2003 2.29% 3.15%
2002 2.27% 3.13%
2001 2.25% 3.07%
2000 2.23% 2.85%
1999 2.27% 2.72%
1998 2.3% 2.66%
1997 2.77% 2.59%
1996 3.33% 2.48%
1995 6.16% 2.44%
1994 6.99% 2.42%
1993 3.22% 2.41%
1992 1.96% 2.44%
1991 1.97% 2.51%
1990 1.45% 2.6%
1989 0.83% 2.68%
1988 -0.17% 2.78%
1987 0.41% 2.93%
1986 1.77% 3.03%
1985 1.89% 3.05%
1984 2.01% 3.13%
1983 2.11% 3.28%
1982 2.22% 3.26%
1981 2.05% 3.11%
1980 2.79% 3.04%
1979 3.87% 3.04%
1978 3.85% 3.07%
1977 3.63% 3.08%
1976 3.42% 3.08%
1975 3.3% 3.04%
1974 3.15% 2.98%
1973 3.01% 2.92%
1972 2.8% 2.85%
1971 2.49% 2.8%
1970 2.28% 2.97%
1969 2.21% 3.24%
1968 2.18% 3.28%
1967 2.14% 3.26%
1966 2.11% 3.25%
1965 2.09% 3.22%
1964 2.04% 3.21%
1963 2.02% 3.21%
1962 1.97% 3.2%
1961 1.81% 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/mozambique/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Mozambique grew by 2.96%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Mozambique Zambia
Current population
36941128
22697916
Population rank 43/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.45% 0.27%
One net population change
31.6 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
25 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.23 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,730 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +996,606 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.96% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 16/197 21/197
One migration net change every
8.04 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -65,573 +6,562
Net migration rank 178/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 353,143 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 93/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 1% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 154/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Mozambique
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Mozambique Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -65,573 - 6,562
2024 - -38,940 - 7,381
2023 1,025,334 -36,276 577,660 9,521
2022 1,003,689 -34,936 563,456 -8,566
2021 951,234 -23,103 535,629 8,143
2020 945,952 -25,864 536,484 8,156
2019 927,581 -49,080 528,089 18,385
2018 903,176 -50,224 515,644 18,431
2017 876,594 -25,043 504,630 25,789
2016 850,430 -43,398 497,521 25,860
2015 824,435 -52,374 491,021 16,261
2014 799,778 -53,625 483,663 16,574
2013 784,641 -57,067 476,846 15,542
2012 763,088 -63,131 469,406 8,958
2011 741,303 -63,638 459,743 13,569
2010 719,025 -97,079 448,337 22,761
2009 693,673 -100,625 434,458 44,867
2008 654,920 -102,534 419,560 39,249
2007 610,913 -100,490 403,729 49,945
2006 586,009 -95,333 387,891 29,517
2005 570,132 -95,770 368,756 35,316
2004 554,973 -100,824 349,352 7,819
2003 540,992 -99,484 331,189 20,845
2002 529,867 -103,102 316,041 3,206
2001 519,594 -105,130 302,682 23,582
2000 506,162 -104,476 293,186 -4,338
1999 491,814 -103,223 283,297 -16,888
1998 474,453 -74,952 275,568 -26,796
1997 461,209 -79,732 268,198 -26,276
1996 442,559 90,975 262,468 -38,358
1995 421,630 108,751 257,897 -45,423
1994 384,821 938,163 252,023 -45,504
1993 369,518 272,829 245,917 -47,739
1992 362,373 -128,960 239,953 -43,656
1991 357,676 -68,644 237,957 -44,203
1990 353,290 -127,215 235,835 -38,619
1989 348,833 -199,509 233,429 -36,736
1988 349,480 -286,247 230,118 -31,270
1987 334,438 -441,710 227,813 -26,338
1986 332,609 -121,350 224,768 -16,610
1985 307,625 -75,642 221,351 -18,474
1984 304,524 -70,532 216,695 -18,652
1983 324,158 -73,899 212,712 -11,849
1982 321,493 -72,852 207,621 -3,676
1981 322,207 -58,347 202,822 -16,072
1980 349,586 -149,650 198,817 -24,664
1979 331,162 83,699 197,578 -29,515
1978 310,403 95,859 194,933 -30,284
1977 289,193 91,082 191,557 -30,423
1976 273,924 61,326 186,762 -30,612
1975 257,984 59,562 182,258 -30,886
1974 240,665 51,238 174,484 -31,178
1973 226,847 44,951 168,258 -31,472
1972 215,793 35,023 161,648 -31,672
1971 211,137 11,297 155,249 -31,651
1970 207,385 -18,197 149,380 -31,370
1969 202,174 -24,251 142,660 -11,469
1968 197,623 -26,872 137,315 -5,447
1967 193,044 -27,672 131,938 -5,298
1966 189,218 -31,462 127,164 -5,129
1965 185,931 -30,538 122,814 -5,023
1964 182,334 -35,005 117,197 -4,851
1963 180,867 -37,738 114,555 -4,676
1962 176,297 -38,504 110,173 -4,428
1961 171,236 -40,181 106,318 -4,043
1960 165,774 -54,351 102,335 -3,898

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 95.9% of the population change in Mozambique is from natural causes (a gain of 9,108,203 people) and 4.15% is from migration (a loss of 393,923 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, 353,143 residents or 1% of the population were not native-born in Mozambique, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Mozambique
City Population
Maputo 1.13M
Matola 1.03M
Nampula 743K
Beira 531K
Quelimane 350K
Chimoio 239K
Nacala 225K
Tete 153K
Pemba 141K
Xai-Xai 116K
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/mozambique/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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