Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Nicaragua was 6,916,140 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Nicaragua's population is 7,124,343 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 3.19 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 +1.33% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Nicaragua has increased from 5.42M people to 7.12M (31.5% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Nicaragua vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Nicaragua Zambia
2100 8,688,116 65,217,429
2099 8,724,538 64,871,545
2098 8,760,232 64,515,891
2097 8,794,755 64,148,736
2096 8,828,433 63,777,313
2095 8,861,157 63,393,169
2094 8,892,755 62,992,652
2093 8,924,287 62,590,327
2092 8,954,488 62,175,930
2091 8,984,026 61,750,591
2090 9,012,075 61,321,399
2089 9,039,709 60,880,148
2088 9,065,862 60,434,676
2087 9,090,942 59,970,107
2086 9,115,336 59,499,234
2085 9,138,363 59,023,040
2084 9,160,205 58,535,857
2083 9,180,483 58,040,512
2082 9,199,639 57,538,672
2081 9,217,574 57,027,491
2080 9,233,677 56,506,421
2079 9,247,995 55,983,242
2078 9,260,269 55,449,777
2077 9,271,296 54,906,771
2076 9,280,355 54,361,075
2075 9,287,263 53,806,856
2074 9,293,340 53,246,777
2073 9,297,217 52,677,348
2072 9,298,930 52,101,139
2071 9,298,548 51,519,691
2070 9,296,541 50,931,614
2069 9,292,245 50,334,700
2068 9,285,519 49,737,479
2067 9,277,073 49,135,488
2066 9,266,063 48,530,443
2065 9,253,359 47,918,592
2064 9,238,451 47,299,740
2063 9,221,261 46,677,439
2062 9,201,687 46,048,819
2061 9,180,231 45,416,657
2060 9,156,164 44,777,347
2059 9,129,485 44,137,306
2058 9,100,437 43,494,451
2057 9,069,770 42,851,923
2056 9,037,076 42,206,898
2055 9,002,004 41,558,284
2054 8,964,646 40,906,492
2053 8,925,248 40,255,629
2052 8,883,323 39,603,888
2051 8,838,651 38,949,958
2050 8,791,647 38,294,607
2049 8,743,003 37,634,194
2048 8,691,701 36,971,309
2047 8,638,293 36,309,749
2046 8,583,244 35,645,868
2045 8,525,953 34,981,812
2044 8,466,669 34,316,981
2043 8,405,733 33,652,420
2042 8,342,871 32,990,657
2041 8,278,159 32,329,447
2040 8,211,510 31,664,262
2039 8,143,346 31,001,305
2038 8,072,943 30,335,662
2037 8,000,701 29,668,561
2036 7,926,969 29,000,264
2035 7,851,540 28,333,498
2034 7,774,327 27,671,195
2033 7,695,506 27,011,974
2032 7,615,273 26,356,580
2031 7,533,169 25,702,812
2030 7,449,842 25,055,216
2029 7,364,850 24,414,405
2028 7,278,061 23,780,809
2027 7,189,755 23,151,479
2026 7,100,090 22,529,742
2025 7,008,896 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% 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 23.4% to 8,791,647 people with a rank change from 107th to 108th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 1.34% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Nicaragua grew by 1.36%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Nicaragua Zambia
Current population
7124343
22697916
Population rank 107/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.09% 0.27%
One net population change
5.68 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
3.98 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
16.8 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +253 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +92,527 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.36% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 78/197 21/197
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 - -8,189 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.5% of the population change in Nicaragua is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/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 2026-04-06)
  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)

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.