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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.62 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2100 74,230,118 65,217,429
2099 73,760,045 64,871,545
2098 73,287,526 64,515,891
2097 72,813,125 64,148,736
2096 72,336,039 63,777,313
2095 71,858,206 63,393,169
2094 71,379,928 62,992,652
2093 70,900,460 62,590,327
2092 70,420,464 62,175,930
2091 69,940,749 61,750,591
2090 69,462,214 61,321,399
2089 68,985,976 60,880,148
2088 68,510,277 60,434,676
2087 68,035,545 59,970,107
2086 67,562,521 59,499,234
2085 67,091,615 59,023,040
2084 66,621,667 58,535,857
2083 66,152,653 58,040,512
2082 65,684,321 57,538,672
2081 65,216,102 57,027,491
2080 64,749,128 56,506,421
2079 64,282,393 55,983,242
2078 63,815,918 55,449,777
2077 63,348,712 54,906,771
2076 62,880,120 54,361,075
2075 62,409,793 53,806,856
2074 61,937,628 53,246,777
2073 61,462,662 52,677,348
2072 60,984,202 52,101,139
2071 60,502,791 51,519,691
2070 60,018,216 50,931,614
2069 59,529,456 50,334,700
2068 59,036,086 49,737,479
2067 58,539,487 49,135,488
2066 58,039,687 48,530,443
2065 57,537,106 47,918,592
2064 57,032,172 47,299,740
2063 56,524,331 46,677,439
2062 56,014,549 46,048,819
2061 55,501,467 45,416,657
2060 54,986,901 44,777,347
2059 54,469,809 44,137,306
2058 53,950,469 43,494,451
2057 53,430,639 42,851,923
2056 52,909,061 42,206,898
2055 52,386,571 41,558,284
2054 51,862,312 40,906,492
2053 51,336,335 40,255,629
2052 50,809,100 39,603,888
2051 50,280,719 38,949,958
2050 49,751,739 38,294,607
2049 49,221,828 37,634,194
2048 48,690,143 36,971,309
2047 48,157,605 36,309,749
2046 47,623,246 35,645,868
2045 47,087,215 34,981,812
2044 46,550,306 34,316,981
2043 46,013,232 33,652,420
2042 45,475,200 32,990,657
2041 44,936,131 32,329,447
2040 44,396,093 31,664,262
2039 43,856,006 31,001,305
2038 43,314,707 30,335,662
2037 42,773,375 29,668,561
2036 42,231,639 29,000,264
2035 41,690,245 28,333,498
2034 41,150,029 27,671,195
2033 40,611,021 27,011,974
2032 40,073,144 26,356,580
2031 39,535,357 25,702,812
2030 38,998,581 25,055,216
2029 38,417,447 24,414,405
2028 37,810,902 23,780,809
2027 37,189,969 23,151,479
2026 36,566,201 22,529,742
2025 35,932,673 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th 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 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M 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 1.79% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia Zambia
Current population
36734925
22697916
Population rank 44/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.27%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
57 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
6.66 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,377 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 21/197
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 - 122,170 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/saudi-arabia/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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