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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,030,131 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,173,089 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 7.15 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Namibia is ranked the 134th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.04% for Namibia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Namibia has had an average growth rate of +2.73% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.17M (59.3% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Namibia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Zambia
2100 5,958,153 65,217,429
2099 5,952,623 64,871,545
2098 5,947,142 64,515,891
2097 5,942,285 64,148,736
2096 5,938,162 63,777,313
2095 5,930,395 63,393,169
2094 5,922,248 62,992,652
2093 5,911,235 62,590,327
2092 5,899,026 62,175,930
2091 5,886,490 61,750,591
2090 5,871,938 61,321,399
2089 5,858,234 60,880,148
2088 5,842,720 60,434,676
2087 5,825,856 59,970,107
2086 5,806,643 59,499,234
2085 5,789,246 59,023,040
2084 5,771,050 58,535,857
2083 5,751,610 58,040,512
2082 5,730,648 57,538,672
2081 5,707,476 57,027,491
2080 5,682,842 56,506,421
2079 5,659,698 55,983,242
2078 5,634,313 55,449,777
2077 5,608,096 54,906,771
2076 5,580,829 54,361,075
2075 5,551,107 53,806,856
2074 5,522,025 53,246,777
2073 5,494,180 52,677,348
2072 5,464,749 52,101,139
2071 5,434,461 51,519,691
2070 5,403,822 50,931,614
2069 5,371,517 50,334,700
2068 5,336,950 49,737,479
2067 5,300,707 49,135,488
2066 5,263,191 48,530,443
2065 5,227,346 47,918,592
2064 5,190,323 47,299,740
2063 5,150,579 46,677,439
2062 5,109,760 46,048,819
2061 5,068,478 45,416,657
2060 5,023,587 44,777,347
2059 4,979,591 44,137,306
2058 4,933,964 43,494,451
2057 4,887,985 42,851,923
2056 4,840,537 42,206,898
2055 4,790,848 41,558,284
2054 4,741,942 40,906,492
2053 4,691,180 40,255,629
2052 4,639,835 39,603,888
2051 4,587,353 38,949,958
2050 4,533,502 38,294,607
2049 4,482,650 37,634,194
2048 4,430,309 36,971,309
2047 4,373,597 36,309,749
2046 4,318,050 35,645,868
2045 4,259,166 34,981,812
2044 4,202,338 34,316,981
2043 4,144,892 33,652,420
2042 4,088,713 32,990,657
2041 4,032,347 32,329,447
2040 3,976,987 31,664,262
2039 3,920,720 31,001,305
2038 3,862,015 30,335,662
2037 3,804,482 29,668,561
2036 3,747,072 29,000,264
2035 3,689,163 28,333,498
2034 3,631,737 27,671,195
2033 3,575,000 27,011,974
2032 3,516,310 26,356,580
2031 3,456,265 25,702,812
2030 3,395,964 25,055,216
2029 3,336,698 24,414,405
2028 3,277,428 23,780,809
2027 3,216,917 23,151,479
2026 3,156,839 22,529,742
2025 3,094,769 21,918,187
2024 3,030,131 21,314,956
2023 2,963,095 20,723,965
2022 2,889,662 20,152,938
2021 2,810,548 19,603,607
2020 2,728,762 19,059,395
2019 2,650,494 18,513,839
2018 2,577,327 17,973,569
2017 2,506,853 17,441,320
2016 2,439,213 16,914,423
2015 2,374,300 16,399,089
2014 2,312,139 15,895,315
2013 2,252,508 15,398,997
2012 2,194,654 14,913,629
2011 2,146,325 14,437,796
2010 2,109,811 13,965,594
2009 2,077,394 13,490,389
2008 2,047,056 13,021,324
2007 2,018,600 12,565,085
2006 1,991,888 12,129,553
2005 1,966,582 11,718,819
2004 1,942,082 11,338,198
2003 1,917,464 10,983,595
2002 1,889,970 10,647,949
2001 1,857,048 10,325,185
2000 1,818,647 10,017,631
1999 1,776,368 9,740,005
1998 1,732,745 9,482,408
1997 1,689,264 9,237,063
1996 1,646,103 9,004,053
1995 1,602,170 8,785,763
1994 1,556,304 8,576,269
1993 1,508,697 8,373,921
1992 1,461,322 8,176,680
1991 1,415,684 7,981,650
1990 1,369,303 7,786,169
1989 1,288,947 7,589,216
1988 1,209,696 7,391,440
1987 1,167,889 7,191,282
1986 1,131,081 6,986,471
1985 1,096,890 6,780,953
1984 1,065,989 6,580,490
1983 1,037,511 6,381,038
1982 1,010,308 6,178,637
1981 992,500 5,983,289
1980 981,434 5,802,833
1979 962,825 5,631,728
1978 947,269 5,465,374
1977 931,104 5,302,480
1976 906,566 5,143,842
1975 881,032 4,990,086
1974 854,320 4,842,746
1973 828,928 4,702,693
1972 804,399 4,569,309
1971 780,584 4,442,525
1970 757,868 4,321,718
1969 736,120 4,197,116
1968 715,542 4,065,593
1967 696,045 3,936,343
1966 677,655 3,812,003
1965 660,558 3,692,086
1964 644,530 3,577,017
1963 629,589 3,465,907
1962 615,759 3,358,099
1961 603,067 3,254,086
1960 591,465 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/namibia/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Namibia increased by 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Namibia gained 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Namibia was ranked 143rd most populous country in 2006 and is 134th 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) Namibia's population will grow by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.96M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Namibia Zambia
2100 0.09% 0.53%
2099 0.09% 0.55%
2098 0.08% 0.57%
2097 0.07% 0.58%
2096 0.13% 0.61%
2095 0.14% 0.64%
2094 0.19% 0.64%
2093 0.21% 0.67%
2092 0.21% 0.69%
2091 0.25% 0.7%
2090 0.23% 0.72%
2089 0.27% 0.74%
2088 0.29% 0.77%
2087 0.33% 0.79%
2086 0.3% 0.81%
2085 0.32% 0.83%
2084 0.34% 0.85%
2083 0.37% 0.87%
2082 0.41% 0.9%
2081 0.43% 0.92%
2080 0.41% 0.93%
2079 0.45% 0.96%
2078 0.47% 0.99%
2077 0.49% 1%
2076 0.54% 1.03%
2075 0.53% 1.05%
2074 0.51% 1.08%
2073 0.54% 1.11%
2072 0.56% 1.13%
2071 0.57% 1.15%
2070 0.6% 1.19%
2069 0.65% 1.2%
2068 0.68% 1.23%
2067 0.71% 1.25%
2066 0.69% 1.28%
2065 0.71% 1.31%
2064 0.77% 1.33%
2063 0.8% 1.37%
2062 0.81% 1.39%
2061 0.89% 1.43%
2060 0.88% 1.45%
2059 0.92% 1.48%
2058 0.94% 1.5%
2057 0.98% 1.53%
2056 1.04% 1.56%
2055 1.03% 1.59%
2054 1.08% 1.62%
2053 1.11% 1.65%
2052 1.14% 1.68%
2051 1.19% 1.71%
2050 1.13% 1.75%
2049 1.18% 1.79%
2048 1.3% 1.82%
2047 1.29% 1.86%
2046 1.38% 1.9%
2045 1.35% 1.94%
2044 1.39% 1.97%
2043 1.37% 2.01%
2042 1.4% 2.05%
2041 1.39% 2.1%
2040 1.44% 2.14%
2039 1.52% 2.19%
2038 1.51% 2.25%
2037 1.53% 2.3%
2036 1.57% 2.35%
2035 1.58% 2.39%
2034 1.59% 2.44%
2033 1.67% 2.49%
2032 1.74% 2.54%
2031 1.78% 2.58%
2030 1.78% 2.62%
2029 1.81% 2.66%
2028 1.88% 2.72%
2027 1.9% 2.76%
2026 2.01% 2.79%
2025 2.13% 2.83%
2024 2.26% 2.85%
2023 2.54% 2.83%
2022 2.81% 2.8%
2021 3% 2.86%
2020 2.95% 2.95%
2019 2.84% 3.01%
2018 2.81% 3.05%
2017 2.77% 3.12%
2016 2.73% 3.14%
2015 2.69% 3.17%
2014 2.65% 3.22%
2013 2.64% 3.25%
2012 2.25% 3.3%
2011 1.73% 3.38%
2010 1.56% 3.52%
2009 1.48% 3.6%
2008 1.41% 3.63%
2007 1.34% 3.59%
2006 1.29% 3.5%
2005 1.26% 3.36%
2004 1.28% 3.23%
2003 1.45% 3.15%
2002 1.77% 3.13%
2001 2.11% 3.07%
2000 2.38% 2.85%
1999 2.52% 2.72%
1998 2.57% 2.66%
1997 2.62% 2.59%
1996 2.74% 2.48%
1995 2.95% 2.44%
1994 3.16% 2.42%
1993 3.24% 2.41%
1992 3.22% 2.44%
1991 3.39% 2.51%
1990 6.23% 2.6%
1989 6.55% 2.68%
1988 3.58% 2.78%
1987 3.25% 2.93%
1986 3.12% 3.03%
1985 2.9% 3.05%
1984 2.74% 3.13%
1983 2.69% 3.28%
1982 1.79% 3.26%
1981 1.13% 3.11%
1980 1.93% 3.04%
1979 1.64% 3.04%
1978 1.74% 3.07%
1977 2.71% 3.08%
1976 2.9% 3.08%
1975 3.13% 3.04%
1974 3.06% 2.98%
1973 3.05% 2.92%
1972 3.05% 2.85%
1971 3% 2.8%
1970 2.95% 2.97%
1969 2.88% 3.24%
1968 2.8% 3.28%
1967 2.71% 3.26%
1966 2.59% 3.25%
1965 2.49% 3.22%
1964 2.37% 3.21%
1963 2.25% 3.21%
1962 2.1% 3.2%
1961 1.96% 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/namibia/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Namibia grew by 2.26%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Namibia Zambia
Current population
3173089
22697916
Population rank 134/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.27%
One net population change
7.84 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
6.85 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
28.8 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +184 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +67,036 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.26% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 41/197 21/197
One migration net change every
4.71 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +1,866 +6,562
Net migration rank 57/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 116,035 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 127/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 108/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Namibia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Namibia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 1,866 - 6,562
2024 - 4,211 - 7,381
2023 58,435 11,675 577,660 9,521
2022 54,534 22,212 563,456 -8,566
2021 50,160 31,327 535,629 8,143
2020 55,034 27,056 536,484 8,156
2019 54,769 19,676 528,089 18,385
2018 53,970 17,920 515,644 18,431
2017 52,975 16,080 504,630 25,789
2016 52,228 14,002 497,521 25,860
2015 50,846 12,755 491,021 16,261
2014 49,581 11,134 483,663 16,574
2013 47,801 10,748 476,846 15,542
2012 46,204 10,957 469,406 8,958
2011 43,557 -4,067 459,743 13,569
2010 42,046 -8,518 448,337 22,761
2009 39,942 -8,626 434,458 44,867
2008 38,147 -8,775 419,560 39,249
2007 36,430 -8,905 403,729 49,945
2006 34,690 -8,792 387,891 29,517
2005 32,909 -8,195 368,756 35,316
2004 31,478 -7,192 349,352 7,819
2003 31,115 -6,153 331,189 20,845
2002 31,947 -1,913 316,041 3,206
2001 32,942 2,869 302,682 23,582
2000 35,280 5,709 293,186 -4,338
1999 37,233 6,333 283,297 -16,888
1998 37,500 6,180 275,568 -26,796
1997 37,256 6,023 268,198 -26,276
1996 37,177 5,866 262,468 -38,358
1995 39,119 5,712 257,897 -45,423
1994 41,316 5,578 252,023 -45,504
1993 42,861 5,464 245,917 -47,739
1992 43,945 2,487 239,953 -43,656
1991 44,523 309 237,957 -44,203
1990 43,956 3,969 235,835 -38,619
1989 37,715 75,072 233,429 -36,736
1988 34,798 10,916 230,118 -31,270
1987 33,340 4,559 227,813 -26,338
1986 31,764 3,953 224,768 -16,610
1985 30,575 2,090 221,351 -18,474
1984 29,395 -267 216,695 -18,652
1983 28,307 -481 212,712 -11,849
1982 27,474 -889 207,621 -3,676
1981 27,938 -18,901 202,822 -16,072
1980 28,142 -15,041 198,817 -24,664
1979 28,930 -4,818 197,578 -29,515
1978 29,821 -22,827 194,933 -30,284
1977 29,241 -3,907 191,557 -30,423
1976 28,785 -5,048 186,762 -30,612
1975 27,882 -553 182,258 -30,886
1974 26,844 -744 174,484 -31,178
1973 25,754 -1,066 168,258 -31,472
1972 24,606 -236 161,648 -31,672
1971 23,467 -208 155,249 -31,651
1970 22,414 -244 149,380 -31,370
1969 21,387 -57 142,660 -11,469
1968 20,470 -636 137,315 -5,447
1967 19,498 -339 131,938 -5,298
1966 18,635 -1,023 127,164 -5,129
1965 17,902 -1,327 122,814 -5,023
1964 17,134 -1,660 117,197 -4,851
1963 16,430 -2,016 114,555 -4,676
1962 15,656 -2,403 110,173 -4,428
1961 14,936 -2,807 106,318 -4,043
1960 14,307 -3,227 102,335 -3,898

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 74.3% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 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, 116,035 residents or 3.8% of the population were not native-born in Namibia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K
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/namibia/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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