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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 36,973,555 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 37,955,120 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.66 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 43rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.46% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.5% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 38M (76.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2100 76,380,382 65,204,593
2099 75,896,692 64,858,778
2098 75,410,485 64,503,193
2097 74,922,342 64,136,110
2096 74,431,436 63,764,760
2095 73,939,761 63,380,692
2094 73,447,628 62,980,254
2093 72,954,272 62,578,008
2092 72,460,372 62,163,693
2091 71,966,760 61,738,437
2090 71,474,363 61,309,330
2089 70,984,330 60,868,166
2088 70,494,851 60,422,781
2087 70,006,368 59,958,303
2086 69,519,641 59,487,524
2085 69,035,093 59,011,423
2084 68,551,533 58,524,337
2083 68,068,933 58,029,088
2082 67,587,034 57,527,347
2081 67,105,252 57,016,267
2080 66,624,751 56,495,299
2079 66,144,495 55,972,223
2078 65,664,508 55,438,864
2077 65,183,768 54,895,964
2076 64,701,603 54,350,375
2075 64,217,651 53,796,265
2074 63,731,809 53,236,297
2073 63,243,084 52,666,980
2072 62,750,764 52,090,884
2071 62,255,408 51,509,551
2070 61,756,796 50,921,590
2069 61,253,878 50,324,793
2068 60,746,216 49,727,689
2067 60,235,232 49,125,817
2066 59,720,954 48,520,891
2065 59,203,814 47,909,160
2064 58,684,254 47,290,430
2063 58,161,702 46,668,252
2062 57,637,152 46,039,755
2061 57,109,207 45,407,718
2060 56,579,736 44,768,534
2059 56,047,666 44,128,619
2058 55,513,281 43,485,891
2057 54,978,393 42,843,489
2056 54,441,706 42,198,591
2055 53,904,081 41,550,105
2054 53,364,635 40,898,440
2053 52,823,422 40,247,706
2052 52,280,914 39,596,094
2051 51,737,228 38,942,292
2050 51,192,924 38,287,070
2049 50,647,663 37,626,787
2048 50,100,576 36,964,032
2047 49,552,613 36,302,603
2046 49,002,774 35,638,852
2045 48,451,215 34,974,927
2044 47,898,754 34,310,227
2043 47,346,122 33,645,797
2042 46,792,504 32,984,164
2041 46,237,820 32,323,084
2040 45,682,139 31,658,029
2039 45,126,407 30,995,204
2038 44,569,427 30,329,691
2037 44,012,415 29,662,721
2036 43,454,985 28,994,556
2035 42,897,909 28,327,922
2034 42,342,044 27,665,749
2033 41,787,423 27,006,658
2032 41,233,964 26,351,393
2031 40,680,599 25,697,754
2030 40,128,273 25,050,285
2029 39,530,306 24,409,600
2028 38,906,191 23,776,128
2027 38,267,271 23,146,922
2026 37,625,434 22,525,308
2025 36,973,555 21,913,874
2024 35,300,280 21,314,956
2023 33,702,731 20,723,965
2022 32,175,224 20,152,938
2021 30,784,383 19,603,607
2020 31,552,510 19,059,395
2019 30,063,799 18,513,839
2018 30,196,281 17,973,569
2017 30,977,355 17,441,320
2016 30,954,198 16,914,423
2015 29,816,382 16,399,089
2014 28,309,273 15,895,315
2013 27,624,004 15,398,997
2012 26,168,861 14,913,629
2011 25,091,867 14,437,796
2010 23,978,487 13,965,594
2009 24,217,654 13,490,389
2008 23,287,877 13,021,324
2007 22,368,313 12,565,085
2006 21,459,144 12,129,553
2005 20,559,890 11,718,819
2004 19,669,480 11,338,198
2003 18,786,767 10,983,595
2002 17,910,910 10,647,949
2001 17,041,397 10,325,185
2000 16,177,722 10,017,631
1999 15,472,075 9,740,005
1998 14,922,185 9,482,408
1997 14,374,943 9,237,063
1996 13,831,009 9,004,053
1995 13,289,245 8,785,763
1994 12,750,040 8,576,269
1993 12,215,862 8,373,921
1992 11,686,676 8,176,680
1991 11,160,744 7,981,650
1990 10,640,691 7,786,169
1989 10,128,394 7,589,216
1988 9,629,165 7,391,440
1987 9,130,194 7,191,282
1986 8,628,639 6,986,471
1985 8,151,779 6,780,953
1984 7,697,307 6,580,490
1983 7,252,941 6,381,038
1982 6,824,486 6,178,637
1981 6,420,551 5,983,289
1980 6,047,997 5,802,833
1979 5,703,698 5,631,728
1978 5,381,902 5,465,374
1977 5,083,048 5,302,480
1976 4,807,933 5,143,842
1975 4,556,287 4,990,086
1974 4,323,632 4,842,746
1973 4,106,344 4,702,693
1972 3,905,722 4,569,309
1971 3,724,031 4,442,525
1970 3,562,470 4,321,718
1969 3,417,114 4,197,116
1968 3,282,711 4,065,593
1967 3,157,242 3,936,343
1966 3,039,887 3,812,003
1965 2,928,771 3,692,086
1964 2,821,968 3,577,017
1963 2,719,341 3,465,907
1962 2,620,910 3,358,099
1961 2,526,347 3,254,086
1960 2,435,403 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/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th 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) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people with a rank change from 43rd to 42nd. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 76.4M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2100 0.64% 0.53%
2099 0.64% 0.55%
2098 0.65% 0.57%
2097 0.66% 0.58%
2096 0.66% 0.61%
2095 0.67% 0.64%
2094 0.68% 0.64%
2093 0.68% 0.67%
2092 0.69% 0.69%
2091 0.69% 0.7%
2090 0.69% 0.72%
2089 0.69% 0.74%
2088 0.7% 0.77%
2087 0.7% 0.79%
2086 0.7% 0.81%
2085 0.71% 0.83%
2084 0.71% 0.85%
2083 0.71% 0.87%
2082 0.72% 0.9%
2081 0.72% 0.92%
2080 0.73% 0.93%
2079 0.73% 0.96%
2078 0.74% 0.99%
2077 0.75% 1%
2076 0.75% 1.03%
2075 0.76% 1.05%
2074 0.77% 1.08%
2073 0.78% 1.11%
2072 0.8% 1.13%
2071 0.81% 1.15%
2070 0.82% 1.19%
2069 0.84% 1.2%
2068 0.85% 1.23%
2067 0.86% 1.25%
2066 0.87% 1.28%
2065 0.89% 1.31%
2064 0.9% 1.33%
2063 0.91% 1.37%
2062 0.92% 1.39%
2061 0.94% 1.43%
2060 0.95% 1.45%
2059 0.96% 1.48%
2058 0.97% 1.5%
2057 0.99% 1.53%
2056 1% 1.56%
2055 1.01% 1.59%
2054 1.02% 1.62%
2053 1.04% 1.65%
2052 1.05% 1.68%
2051 1.06% 1.71%
2050 1.08% 1.75%
2049 1.09% 1.79%
2048 1.11% 1.82%
2047 1.12% 1.86%
2046 1.14% 1.9%
2045 1.15% 1.94%
2044 1.17% 1.97%
2043 1.18% 2.01%
2042 1.2% 2.05%
2041 1.22% 2.1%
2040 1.23% 2.14%
2039 1.25% 2.19%
2038 1.27% 2.25%
2037 1.28% 2.3%
2036 1.3% 2.35%
2035 1.31% 2.39%
2034 1.33% 2.44%
2033 1.34% 2.49%
2032 1.36% 2.54%
2031 1.38% 2.58%
2030 1.51% 2.62%
2029 1.6% 2.66%
2028 1.67% 2.72%
2027 1.71% 2.76%
2026 1.76% 2.79%
2025 4.74% 2.81%
2024 4.74% 2.85%
2023 4.75% 2.83%
2022 4.52% 2.8%
2021 -2.43% 2.86%
2020 4.95% 2.95%
2019 -0.44% 3.01%
2018 -2.52% 3.05%
2017 0.07% 3.12%
2016 3.82% 3.14%
2015 5.32% 3.17%
2014 2.48% 3.22%
2013 5.56% 3.25%
2012 4.29% 3.3%
2011 4.64% 3.38%
2010 -0.99% 3.52%
2009 3.99% 3.6%
2008 4.11% 3.63%
2007 4.24% 3.59%
2006 4.37% 3.5%
2005 4.53% 3.36%
2004 4.7% 3.23%
2003 4.89% 3.15%
2002 5.1% 3.13%
2001 5.34% 3.07%
2000 4.56% 2.85%
1999 3.69% 2.72%
1998 3.81% 2.66%
1997 3.93% 2.59%
1996 4.08% 2.48%
1995 4.23% 2.44%
1994 4.37% 2.42%
1993 4.53% 2.41%
1992 4.71% 2.44%
1991 4.89% 2.51%
1990 5.06% 2.6%
1989 5.18% 2.68%
1988 5.47% 2.78%
1987 5.81% 2.93%
1986 5.85% 3.03%
1985 5.9% 3.05%
1984 6.13% 3.13%
1983 6.28% 3.28%
1982 6.29% 3.26%
1981 6.16% 3.11%
1980 6.04% 3.04%
1979 5.98% 3.04%
1978 5.88% 3.07%
1977 5.72% 3.08%
1976 5.52% 3.08%
1975 5.38% 3.04%
1974 5.29% 2.98%
1973 5.14% 2.92%
1972 4.88% 2.85%
1971 4.54% 2.8%
1970 4.25% 2.97%
1969 4.09% 3.24%
1968 3.97% 3.28%
1967 3.86% 3.26%
1966 3.79% 3.25%
1965 3.78% 3.22%
1964 3.77% 3.21%
1963 3.76% 3.21%
1962 3.74% 3.2%
1961 3.73% 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/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia Zambia
Current population
37955120
22844606
Population rank 43/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.46% 0.27%
One net population change
18.9 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
54.2 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
6.37 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,584 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +1,673,275 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 2/197 19/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +119,738 +6,562
Net migration rank 13/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - 6,562
2024 499,782 122,170 587,419 7,381
2023 474,366 325,691 577,660 9,521
2022 406,920 977,072 563,456 -8,566
2021 409,032 -106,287 535,629 8,143
2020 447,036 -74,725 536,484 8,156
2019 474,407 191,582 528,089 18,385
2018 528,767 -988,751 515,644 18,431
2017 546,751 -920,812 504,630 25,789
2016 537,829 -26,997 497,521 25,860
2015 511,023 465,292 491,021 16,261
2014 493,431 469,144 483,663 16,574
2013 475,299 485,794 476,846 15,542
2012 465,649 479,206 469,406 8,958
2011 443,675 491,253 459,743 13,569
2010 418,641 504,955 448,337 22,761
2009 438,557 496,229 434,458 44,867
2008 433,457 491,337 419,560 39,249
2007 425,199 489,136 403,729 49,945
2006 399,333 504,661 387,891 29,517
2005 375,938 518,565 368,756 35,316
2004 362,843 523,472 349,352 7,819
2003 364,520 514,606 331,189 20,845
2002 372,099 500,508 316,041 3,206
2001 382,153 484,252 302,682 23,582
2000 392,407 468,515 293,186 -4,338
1999 390,112 160,263 283,297 -16,888
1998 389,499 159,898 275,568 -26,796
1997 385,033 160,066 268,198 -26,276
1996 382,248 160,532 262,468 -38,358
1995 380,231 160,512 257,897 -45,423
1994 377,351 160,306 252,023 -45,504
1993 372,621 158,074 245,917 -47,739
1992 366,763 160,908 239,953 -43,656
1991 361,329 162,857 237,957 -44,203
1990 355,495 160,416 235,835 -38,619
1989 349,399 159,273 233,429 -36,736
1988 342,865 146,918 230,118 -31,270
1987 333,088 175,075 227,813 -26,338
1986 322,340 172,606 224,768 -16,610
1985 310,558 148,208 221,351 -18,474
1984 296,615 153,562 216,695 -18,652
1983 280,616 157,930 212,712 -11,849
1982 264,831 153,528 207,621 -3,676
1981 249,156 140,355 202,822 -16,072
1980 234,372 121,220 198,817 -24,664
1979 220,186 112,826 197,578 -29,515
1978 205,331 105,263 194,933 -30,284
1977 191,103 96,015 191,557 -30,423
1976 178,024 85,083 186,762 -30,612
1975 166,223 73,960 182,258 -30,886
1974 155,478 69,653 174,484 -31,178
1973 145,450 63,995 168,258 -31,472
1972 136,360 55,439 161,648 -31,672
1971 127,600 43,989 155,249 -31,651
1970 120,440 31,097 149,380 -31,370
1969 113,859 25,312 142,660 -11,469
1968 108,281 21,366 137,315 -5,447
1967 103,343 17,947 131,938 -5,298
1966 98,361 15,054 127,164 -5,129
1965 93,820 15,000 122,814 -5,023
1964 89,776 15,000 117,197 -4,851
1963 85,480 15,000 114,555 -4,676
1962 81,393 15,000 110,173 -4,428
1961 77,743 15,000 106,318 -4,043
1960 74,143 15,000 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K
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/saudi-arabia/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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