Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 7,007,502 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,144,725 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 3.2 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Nicaragua is ranked the 107th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.09% for Nicaragua vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Nicaragua has had an average growth rate of +1.32% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.14M (31.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Nicaragua vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Zambia
2100 8,686,387 65,204,593
2099 8,722,801 64,858,778
2098 8,758,489 64,503,193
2097 8,793,005 64,136,110
2096 8,826,676 63,764,760
2095 8,859,393 63,380,692
2094 8,890,985 62,980,254
2093 8,922,511 62,578,008
2092 8,952,706 62,163,693
2091 8,982,238 61,738,437
2090 9,010,281 61,309,330
2089 9,037,910 60,868,166
2088 9,064,058 60,422,781
2087 9,089,133 59,958,303
2086 9,113,522 59,487,524
2085 9,136,545 59,011,423
2084 9,158,382 58,524,337
2083 9,178,656 58,029,088
2082 9,197,809 57,527,347
2081 9,215,739 57,016,267
2080 9,231,840 56,495,299
2079 9,246,154 55,972,223
2078 9,258,426 55,438,864
2077 9,269,451 54,895,964
2076 9,278,508 54,350,375
2075 9,285,415 53,796,265
2074 9,291,490 53,236,297
2073 9,295,367 52,666,980
2072 9,297,079 52,090,884
2071 9,296,698 51,509,551
2070 9,294,691 50,921,590
2069 9,290,396 50,324,793
2068 9,283,672 49,727,689
2067 9,275,227 49,125,817
2066 9,264,219 48,520,891
2065 9,251,518 47,909,160
2064 9,236,612 47,290,430
2063 9,219,426 46,668,252
2062 9,199,856 46,039,755
2061 9,178,404 45,407,718
2060 9,154,342 44,768,534
2059 9,127,668 44,128,619
2058 9,098,625 43,485,891
2057 9,067,965 42,843,489
2056 9,035,277 42,198,591
2055 9,000,212 41,550,105
2054 8,962,862 40,898,440
2053 8,923,471 40,247,706
2052 8,881,555 39,596,094
2051 8,836,892 38,942,292
2050 8,789,897 38,287,070
2049 8,741,263 37,626,787
2048 8,689,971 36,964,032
2047 8,636,574 36,302,603
2046 8,581,536 35,638,852
2045 8,524,256 34,974,927
2044 8,464,984 34,310,227
2043 8,404,060 33,645,797
2042 8,341,211 32,984,164
2041 8,276,512 32,323,084
2040 8,209,876 31,658,029
2039 8,141,726 30,995,204
2038 8,071,337 30,329,691
2037 7,999,109 29,662,721
2036 7,925,391 28,994,556
2035 7,849,978 28,327,922
2034 7,772,780 27,665,749
2033 7,693,975 27,006,658
2032 7,613,757 26,351,393
2031 7,531,669 25,697,754
2030 7,448,359 25,050,285
2029 7,363,385 24,409,600
2028 7,276,613 23,776,128
2027 7,188,324 23,146,922
2026 7,098,677 22,525,308
2025 7,007,502 21,913,874
2024 6,916,140 21,314,956
2023 6,823,613 20,723,965
2022 6,730,654 20,152,938
2021 6,644,741 19,603,607
2020 6,565,267 19,059,395
2019 6,483,657 18,513,839
2018 6,400,080 17,973,569
2017 6,316,231 17,441,320
2016 6,232,666 16,914,423
2015 6,149,417 16,399,089
2014 6,066,492 15,895,315
2013 5,983,845 15,398,997
2012 5,901,287 14,913,629
2011 5,819,051 14,437,796
2010 5,737,450 13,965,594
2009 5,656,601 13,490,389
2008 5,576,593 13,021,324
2007 5,497,243 12,565,085
2006 5,418,855 12,129,553
2005 5,342,105 11,718,819
2004 5,272,912 11,338,198
2003 5,210,963 10,983,595
2002 5,149,909 10,647,949
2001 5,087,825 10,325,185
2000 5,022,633 10,017,631
1999 4,954,018 9,740,005
1998 4,883,655 9,482,408
1997 4,809,573 9,237,063
1996 4,729,974 9,004,053
1995 4,642,931 8,785,763
1994 4,549,316 8,576,269
1993 4,453,732 8,373,921
1992 4,357,026 8,176,680
1991 4,259,637 7,981,650
1990 4,162,559 7,786,169
1989 4,066,476 7,589,216
1988 3,972,320 7,391,440
1987 3,882,164 7,191,282
1986 3,794,157 6,986,471
1985 3,706,479 6,780,953
1984 3,619,104 6,580,490
1983 3,530,282 6,381,038
1982 3,438,745 6,178,637
1981 3,345,674 5,983,289
1980 3,252,403 5,802,833
1979 3,164,525 5,631,728
1978 3,080,314 5,465,374
1977 2,992,534 5,302,480
1976 2,903,851 5,143,842
1975 2,816,943 4,990,086
1974 2,732,075 4,842,746
1973 2,649,278 4,702,693
1972 2,573,578 4,569,309
1971 2,499,825 4,442,525
1970 2,423,065 4,321,718
1969 2,348,398 4,197,116
1968 2,275,836 4,065,593
1967 2,205,567 3,936,343
1966 2,137,820 3,812,003
1965 2,072,681 3,692,086
1964 2,010,176 3,577,017
1963 1,950,159 3,465,907
1962 1,892,320 3,358,099
1961 1,836,451 3,254,086
1960 1,782,370 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/nicaragua/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Nicaragua increased by 813,811 people (a 15% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Nicaragua gained 912,059 people (a 14.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Nicaragua was ranked 109th most populous country in 2006 and is 107th 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) Nicaragua's population will grow by 23% to 8,789,897 people with a rank change from 107th to 109th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Nicaragua Zambia
2100 -0.42% 0.53%
2099 -0.41% 0.55%
2098 -0.39% 0.57%
2097 -0.38% 0.58%
2096 -0.37% 0.61%
2095 -0.36% 0.64%
2094 -0.35% 0.64%
2093 -0.34% 0.67%
2092 -0.33% 0.69%
2091 -0.31% 0.7%
2090 -0.31% 0.72%
2089 -0.29% 0.74%
2088 -0.28% 0.77%
2087 -0.27% 0.79%
2086 -0.25% 0.81%
2085 -0.24% 0.83%
2084 -0.22% 0.85%
2083 -0.21% 0.87%
2082 -0.19% 0.9%
2081 -0.17% 0.92%
2080 -0.15% 0.93%
2079 -0.13% 0.96%
2078 -0.12% 0.99%
2077 -0.1% 1%
2076 -0.07% 1.03%
2075 -0.07% 1.05%
2074 -0.04% 1.08%
2073 -0.02% 1.11%
2072 0.004% 1.13%
2071 0.02% 1.15%
2070 0.05% 1.19%
2069 0.07% 1.2%
2068 0.09% 1.23%
2067 0.12% 1.25%
2066 0.14% 1.28%
2065 0.16% 1.31%
2064 0.19% 1.33%
2063 0.21% 1.37%
2062 0.23% 1.39%
2061 0.26% 1.43%
2060 0.29% 1.45%
2059 0.32% 1.48%
2058 0.34% 1.5%
2057 0.36% 1.53%
2056 0.39% 1.56%
2055 0.42% 1.59%
2054 0.44% 1.62%
2053 0.47% 1.65%
2052 0.51% 1.68%
2051 0.53% 1.71%
2050 0.56% 1.75%
2049 0.59% 1.79%
2048 0.62% 1.82%
2047 0.64% 1.86%
2046 0.67% 1.9%
2045 0.7% 1.94%
2044 0.72% 1.97%
2043 0.75% 2.01%
2042 0.78% 2.05%
2041 0.81% 2.1%
2040 0.84% 2.14%
2039 0.87% 2.19%
2038 0.9% 2.25%
2037 0.93% 2.3%
2036 0.96% 2.35%
2035 0.99% 2.39%
2034 1.02% 2.44%
2033 1.05% 2.49%
2032 1.09% 2.54%
2031 1.12% 2.58%
2030 1.15% 2.62%
2029 1.19% 2.66%
2028 1.23% 2.72%
2027 1.26% 2.76%
2026 1.3% 2.79%
2025 1.32% 2.81%
2024 1.36% 2.85%
2023 1.38% 2.83%
2022 1.29% 2.8%
2021 1.21% 2.86%
2020 1.26% 2.95%
2019 1.31% 3.01%
2018 1.33% 3.05%
2017 1.34% 3.12%
2016 1.35% 3.14%
2015 1.37% 3.17%
2014 1.38% 3.22%
2013 1.4% 3.25%
2012 1.41% 3.3%
2011 1.42% 3.38%
2010 1.43% 3.52%
2009 1.43% 3.6%
2008 1.44% 3.63%
2007 1.45% 3.59%
2006 1.44% 3.5%
2005 1.31% 3.36%
2004 1.19% 3.23%
2003 1.19% 3.15%
2002 1.22% 3.13%
2001 1.3% 3.07%
2000 1.39% 2.85%
1999 1.44% 2.72%
1998 1.54% 2.66%
1997 1.68% 2.59%
1996 1.87% 2.48%
1995 2.06% 2.44%
1994 2.15% 2.42%
1993 2.22% 2.41%
1992 2.29% 2.44%
1991 2.33% 2.51%
1990 2.36% 2.6%
1989 2.37% 2.68%
1988 2.32% 2.78%
1987 2.32% 2.93%
1986 2.37% 3.03%
1985 2.41% 3.05%
1984 2.52% 3.13%
1983 2.66% 3.28%
1982 2.78% 3.26%
1981 2.87% 3.11%
1980 2.78% 3.04%
1979 2.73% 3.04%
1978 2.93% 3.07%
1977 3.05% 3.08%
1976 3.09% 3.08%
1975 3.11% 3.04%
1974 3.13% 2.98%
1973 2.94% 2.92%
1972 2.95% 2.85%
1971 3.17% 2.8%
1970 3.18% 2.97%
1969 3.19% 3.24%
1968 3.19% 3.28%
1967 3.17% 3.26%
1966 3.14% 3.25%
1965 3.11% 3.22%
1964 3.08% 3.21%
1963 3.06% 3.21%
1962 3.04% 3.2%
1961 3.03% 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/nicaragua/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.32%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Zambia
Current population
7144725
22844606
Population rank 107/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.27%
One net population change
5.77 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
3.97 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
16.4 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +250 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +91,362 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.32% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 19/197
One migration net change every
1.05 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -8,371 +6,562
Net migration rank 129/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 43,757 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 154/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 172/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Nicaragua Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -8,371 - 6,562
2024 100,318 -8,189 587,419 7,381
2023 100,921 -7,996 577,660 9,521
2022 100,987 -7,996 563,456 -8,566
2021 89,213 -10,383 535,629 8,143
2020 90,515 -10,383 536,484 8,156
2019 102,817 -19,730 528,089 18,385
2018 104,814 -20,742 515,644 18,431
2017 105,468 -21,849 504,630 25,789
2016 106,585 -23,076 497,521 25,860
2015 107,344 -24,353 491,021 16,261
2014 108,420 -25,570 483,663 16,574
2013 109,032 -26,587 476,846 15,542
2012 110,065 -27,389 469,406 8,958
2011 110,026 -28,221 459,743 13,569
2010 110,475 -29,081 448,337 22,761
2009 110,213 -29,913 434,458 44,867
2008 110,395 -30,675 419,560 39,249
2007 110,341 -31,357 403,729 49,945
2006 110,073 -32,274 387,891 29,517
2005 108,984 -33,280 368,756 35,316
2004 106,904 -44,222 349,352 7,819
2003 106,142 -44,931 331,189 20,845
2002 105,805 -44,906 316,041 3,206
2001 107,109 -43,837 302,682 23,582
2000 109,192 -42,087 293,186 -4,338
1999 110,217 -40,095 283,297 -16,888
1998 108,862 -38,260 275,568 -26,796
1997 114,415 -36,851 268,198 -26,276
1996 116,849 -35,208 262,468 -38,358
1995 118,325 -25,889 257,897 -45,423
1994 119,565 -24,773 252,023 -45,504
1993 120,469 -24,091 245,917 -47,739
1992 121,204 -24,171 239,953 -43,656
1991 121,787 -24,028 237,957 -44,203
1990 120,677 -24,280 235,835 -38,619
1989 120,128 -24,364 233,429 -36,736
1988 117,299 -24,753 230,118 -31,270
1987 112,885 -25,127 227,813 -26,338
1986 113,054 -24,805 224,768 -16,610
1985 110,949 -23,840 221,351 -18,474
1984 110,133 -22,493 216,695 -18,652
1983 110,618 -20,620 212,712 -11,849
1982 112,468 -19,395 207,621 -3,676
1981 110,421 -17,353 202,822 -16,072
1980 108,604 -15,130 198,817 -24,664
1979 96,429 -14,152 197,578 -29,515
1978 98,419 -12,273 194,933 -30,284
1977 100,498 -11,082 191,557 -30,423
1976 98,100 -10,155 186,762 -30,612
1975 95,230 -9,349 182,258 -30,886
1974 92,505 -8,639 174,484 -31,178
1973 89,662 -7,947 168,258 -31,472
1972 76,906 -7,219 161,648 -31,672
1971 84,139 -6,328 155,249 -31,651
1970 81,127 -5,423 149,380 -31,370
1969 78,237 -4,592 142,660 -11,469
1968 75,458 -3,979 137,315 -5,447
1967 72,722 -3,666 131,938 -5,298
1966 69,883 -3,443 127,164 -5,129
1965 67,056 -3,231 122,814 -5,023
1964 64,227 -3,043 117,197 -4,851
1963 61,738 -2,881 114,555 -4,676
1962 59,547 -2,727 110,173 -4,428
1961 57,499 -2,579 106,318 -4,043
1960 55,664 -2,418 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 86.7% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 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, 43,757 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Nicaragua, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K
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/nicaragua/zambia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.