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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Namibia was 3,092,816 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Namibia's population is 3,185,686 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 7.17 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 +2.68% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Namibia has increased from 1.99M people to 3.19M (59.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Namibia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Namibia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Namibia Zambia
2100 5,954,393 65,204,593
2099 5,948,866 64,858,778
2098 5,943,388 64,503,193
2097 5,938,535 64,136,110
2096 5,934,414 63,764,760
2095 5,926,652 63,380,692
2094 5,918,510 62,980,254
2093 5,907,504 62,578,008
2092 5,895,303 62,163,693
2091 5,882,775 61,738,437
2090 5,868,232 61,309,330
2089 5,854,537 60,868,166
2088 5,839,032 60,422,781
2087 5,822,179 59,958,303
2086 5,802,978 59,487,524
2085 5,785,593 59,011,423
2084 5,767,408 58,524,337
2083 5,747,980 58,029,088
2082 5,727,031 57,527,347
2081 5,703,874 57,016,267
2080 5,679,256 56,495,299
2079 5,656,126 55,972,223
2078 5,630,757 55,438,864
2077 5,604,556 54,895,964
2076 5,577,307 54,350,375
2075 5,547,604 53,796,265
2074 5,518,540 53,236,297
2073 5,490,713 52,666,980
2072 5,461,300 52,090,884
2071 5,431,031 51,509,551
2070 5,400,411 50,921,590
2069 5,368,127 50,324,793
2068 5,333,582 49,727,689
2067 5,297,361 49,125,817
2066 5,259,869 48,520,891
2065 5,224,047 47,909,160
2064 5,187,047 47,290,430
2063 5,147,329 46,668,252
2062 5,106,535 46,039,755
2061 5,065,279 45,407,718
2060 5,020,417 44,768,534
2059 4,976,448 44,128,619
2058 4,930,850 43,485,891
2057 4,884,900 42,843,489
2056 4,837,482 42,198,591
2055 4,787,824 41,550,105
2054 4,738,949 40,898,440
2053 4,688,219 40,247,706
2052 4,636,907 39,596,094
2051 4,584,458 38,942,292
2050 4,530,641 38,287,070
2049 4,479,821 37,626,787
2048 4,427,513 36,964,032
2047 4,370,836 36,302,603
2046 4,315,325 35,638,852
2045 4,256,478 34,974,927
2044 4,199,686 34,310,227
2043 4,142,276 33,645,797
2042 4,086,133 32,984,164
2041 4,029,802 32,323,084
2040 3,974,477 31,658,029
2039 3,918,246 30,995,204
2038 3,859,577 30,329,691
2037 3,802,081 29,662,721
2036 3,744,707 28,994,556
2035 3,686,835 28,327,922
2034 3,629,445 27,665,749
2033 3,572,743 27,006,658
2032 3,514,091 26,351,393
2031 3,454,083 25,697,754
2030 3,393,821 25,050,285
2029 3,334,592 24,409,600
2028 3,275,360 23,776,128
2027 3,214,886 23,146,922
2026 3,154,846 22,525,308
2025 3,092,816 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 746,473 people (a 30.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 42.2% to 4,530,641 people with a rank change from 134th to 131st. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Namibia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.95M 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 2.07% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Namibia grew by 2.07%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Namibia Zambia
Current population
3185686
22844606
Population rank 134/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.27%
One net population change
8.41 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
6.7 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
28.1 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +172 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +62,685 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.07% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 19/197
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 59,739 4,211 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 75.4% of the population change in Namibia is from natural causes (a gain of 542,690 people) and 24.6% is from migration (a gain of 176,914 people). In Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 486K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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