Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,654,739 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,653,532 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.11 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Somalia is ranked the 66th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.25% for Somalia vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Somalia has had an average growth rate of +3.59% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.7M (88.2% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Somalia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia Zambia
2100 68,341,587 65,204,593
2099 67,997,987 64,858,778
2098 67,660,056 64,503,193
2097 67,320,374 64,136,110
2096 66,931,214 63,764,760
2095 66,544,181 63,380,692
2094 66,138,594 62,980,254
2093 65,719,626 62,578,008
2092 65,283,569 62,163,693
2091 64,812,444 61,738,437
2090 64,322,633 61,309,330
2089 63,882,977 60,868,166
2088 63,424,502 60,422,781
2087 62,947,792 59,958,303
2086 62,408,129 59,487,524
2085 61,835,054 59,011,423
2084 61,280,718 58,524,337
2083 60,723,949 58,029,088
2082 60,150,487 57,527,347
2081 59,639,547 57,016,267
2080 59,064,099 56,495,299
2079 58,441,001 55,972,223
2078 57,816,490 55,438,864
2077 57,176,183 54,895,964
2076 56,567,204 54,350,375
2075 55,970,712 53,796,265
2074 55,295,699 53,236,297
2073 54,617,874 52,666,980
2072 53,944,923 52,090,884
2071 53,250,824 51,509,551
2070 52,540,460 50,921,590
2069 51,845,897 50,324,793
2068 51,165,760 49,727,689
2067 50,461,574 49,125,817
2066 49,748,163 48,520,891
2065 48,994,126 47,909,160
2064 48,235,809 47,290,430
2063 47,492,758 46,668,252
2062 46,756,776 46,039,755
2061 46,008,848 45,407,718
2060 45,192,338 44,768,534
2059 44,370,279 44,128,619
2058 43,631,825 43,485,891
2057 42,870,700 42,843,489
2056 42,095,303 42,198,591
2055 41,292,441 41,550,105
2054 40,487,904 40,898,440
2053 39,720,236 40,247,706
2052 38,967,888 39,596,094
2051 38,205,058 38,942,292
2050 37,448,393 38,287,070
2049 36,717,019 37,626,787
2048 35,962,583 36,964,032
2047 35,196,924 36,302,603
2046 34,440,935 35,638,852
2045 33,696,593 34,974,927
2044 32,957,131 34,310,227
2043 32,227,622 33,645,797
2042 31,517,627 32,984,164
2041 30,775,671 32,323,084
2040 30,013,616 31,658,029
2039 29,294,623 30,995,204
2038 28,565,580 30,329,691
2037 27,821,304 29,662,721
2036 27,097,563 28,994,556
2035 26,368,985 28,327,922
2034 25,671,628 27,665,749
2033 25,002,924 27,006,658
2032 24,323,435 26,351,393
2031 23,642,617 25,697,754
2030 22,951,436 25,050,285
2029 22,285,719 24,409,600
2028 21,638,095 23,776,128
2027 20,978,784 23,146,922
2026 20,310,008 22,525,308
2025 19,654,739 21,913,874
2024 19,009,151 21,314,956
2023 18,358,615 20,723,965
2022 17,801,897 20,152,938
2021 17,271,431 19,603,607
2020 16,651,191 19,059,395
2019 16,030,971 18,513,839
2018 15,452,487 17,973,569
2017 14,916,629 17,441,320
2016 14,348,740 16,914,423
2015 13,806,963 16,399,089
2014 13,339,491 15,895,315
2013 12,869,594 15,398,997
2012 12,461,160 14,913,629
2011 12,348,830 14,437,796
2010 12,261,756 13,965,594
2009 11,961,201 13,490,389
2008 11,663,084 13,021,324
2007 11,322,582 12,565,085
2006 10,975,502 12,129,553
2005 10,644,228 11,718,819
2004 10,280,998 11,338,198
2003 9,909,157 10,983,595
2002 9,550,063 10,647,949
2001 9,198,493 10,325,185
2000 8,838,713 10,017,631
1999 8,492,059 9,740,005
1998 8,155,417 9,482,408
1997 7,824,525 9,237,063
1996 7,554,474 9,004,053
1995 7,285,007 8,785,763
1994 7,026,797 8,576,269
1993 6,681,399 8,373,921
1992 6,495,107 8,176,680
1991 6,813,760 7,981,650
1990 7,082,811 7,786,169
1989 7,114,817 7,589,216
1988 7,235,360 7,391,440
1987 7,228,302 7,191,282
1986 6,974,788 6,986,471
1985 6,693,289 6,780,953
1984 6,428,389 6,580,490
1983 6,198,430 6,381,038
1982 6,003,840 6,178,637
1981 5,982,849 5,983,289
1980 5,936,154 5,802,833
1979 5,449,117 5,631,728
1978 4,814,892 5,465,374
1977 4,484,050 5,302,480
1976 4,365,812 5,143,842
1975 4,257,535 4,990,086
1974 4,151,842 4,842,746
1973 4,045,592 4,702,693
1972 3,939,436 4,569,309
1971 3,837,691 4,442,525
1970 3,738,448 4,321,718
1969 3,641,015 4,197,116
1968 3,546,590 4,065,593
1967 3,454,537 3,936,343
1966 3,365,106 3,812,003
1965 3,277,874 3,692,086
1964 3,192,796 3,577,017
1963 3,110,361 3,465,907
1962 3,030,091 3,358,099
1961 2,952,054 3,254,086
1960 2,876,331 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/somalia/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Somalia increased by 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Somalia gained 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Somalia was ranked 75th most populous country in 2006 and is 66th 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) Somalia's population will grow by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.3M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Somalia Zambia
2100 0.51% 0.53%
2099 0.5% 0.55%
2098 0.5% 0.57%
2097 0.58% 0.58%
2096 0.58% 0.61%
2095 0.61% 0.64%
2094 0.64% 0.64%
2093 0.67% 0.67%
2092 0.73% 0.69%
2091 0.76% 0.7%
2090 0.69% 0.72%
2089 0.72% 0.74%
2088 0.76% 0.77%
2087 0.86% 0.79%
2086 0.93% 0.81%
2085 0.9% 0.83%
2084 0.92% 0.85%
2083 0.95% 0.87%
2082 0.86% 0.9%
2081 0.97% 0.92%
2080 1.07% 0.93%
2079 1.08% 0.96%
2078 1.12% 0.99%
2077 1.08% 1%
2076 1.07% 1.03%
2075 1.22% 1.05%
2074 1.24% 1.08%
2073 1.25% 1.11%
2072 1.3% 1.13%
2071 1.35% 1.15%
2070 1.34% 1.19%
2069 1.33% 1.2%
2068 1.4% 1.23%
2067 1.43% 1.25%
2066 1.54% 1.28%
2065 1.57% 1.31%
2064 1.56% 1.33%
2063 1.57% 1.37%
2062 1.63% 1.39%
2061 1.81% 1.43%
2060 1.85% 1.45%
2059 1.69% 1.48%
2058 1.78% 1.5%
2057 1.84% 1.53%
2056 1.94% 1.56%
2055 1.99% 1.59%
2054 1.93% 1.62%
2053 1.93% 1.65%
2052 2% 1.68%
2051 2.02% 1.71%
2050 1.99% 1.75%
2049 2.1% 1.79%
2048 2.18% 1.82%
2047 2.2% 1.86%
2046 2.21% 1.9%
2045 2.24% 1.94%
2044 2.26% 1.97%
2043 2.25% 2.01%
2042 2.41% 2.05%
2041 2.54% 2.1%
2040 2.45% 2.14%
2039 2.55% 2.19%
2038 2.68% 2.25%
2037 2.67% 2.3%
2036 2.76% 2.35%
2035 2.72% 2.39%
2034 2.67% 2.44%
2033 2.79% 2.49%
2032 2.88% 2.54%
2031 3.01% 2.58%
2030 2.99% 2.62%
2029 2.99% 2.66%
2028 3.14% 2.72%
2027 3.29% 2.76%
2026 3.33% 2.79%
2025 3.4% 2.81%
2024 3.54% 2.85%
2023 3.13% 2.83%
2022 3.07% 2.8%
2021 3.72% 2.86%
2020 3.87% 2.95%
2019 3.74% 3.01%
2018 3.59% 3.05%
2017 3.96% 3.12%
2016 3.92% 3.14%
2015 3.5% 3.17%
2014 3.65% 3.22%
2013 3.28% 3.25%
2012 0.91% 3.3%
2011 0.71% 3.38%
2010 2.51% 3.52%
2009 2.56% 3.6%
2008 3.01% 3.63%
2007 3.16% 3.59%
2006 3.11% 3.5%
2005 3.53% 3.36%
2004 3.75% 3.23%
2003 3.76% 3.15%
2002 3.82% 3.13%
2001 4.07% 3.07%
2000 4.08% 2.85%
1999 4.13% 2.72%
1998 4.23% 2.66%
1997 3.57% 2.59%
1996 3.7% 2.48%
1995 3.67% 2.44%
1994 5.17% 2.42%
1993 2.87% 2.41%
1992 -4.68% 2.44%
1991 -3.8% 2.51%
1990 -0.45% 2.6%
1989 -1.67% 2.68%
1988 0.1% 2.78%
1987 3.63% 2.93%
1986 4.21% 3.03%
1985 4.12% 3.05%
1984 3.71% 3.13%
1983 3.24% 3.28%
1982 0.35% 3.26%
1981 0.79% 3.11%
1980 8.94% 3.04%
1979 13.2% 3.04%
1978 7.38% 3.07%
1977 2.71% 3.08%
1976 2.54% 3.08%
1975 2.55% 3.04%
1974 2.63% 2.98%
1973 2.69% 2.92%
1972 2.65% 2.85%
1971 2.65% 2.8%
1970 2.68% 2.97%
1969 2.66% 3.24%
1968 2.66% 3.28%
1967 2.66% 3.26%
1966 2.66% 3.25%
1965 2.66% 3.22%
1964 2.65% 3.21%
1963 2.65% 3.21%
1962 2.64% 3.2%
1961 2.63% 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/somalia/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Somalia grew by 3.4%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Somalia Zambia
Current population
20653532
22844606
Population rank 66/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.27%
One net population change
49 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
39.2 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
2.84 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,769 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +645,588 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +3.4% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 19/197
One migration net change every
43.6 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +12,077 +6,562
Net migration rank 40/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 77,972 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 140/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 180/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Somalia
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Somalia Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 12,077 - 6,562
2024 619,793 26,859 587,419 7,381
2023 608,203 46,217 577,660 9,521
2022 551,450 -92,434 563,456 -8,566
2021 566,399 35,506 535,629 8,143
2020 561,311 77,259 536,484 8,156
2019 548,756 53,124 528,089 18,385
2018 514,244 40,844 515,644 18,431
2017 478,556 38,067 504,630 25,789
2016 495,132 124,017 497,521 25,860
2015 481,573 -17,178 491,021 16,261
2014 464,481 6,065 483,663 16,574
2013 448,518 20,723 476,846 15,542
2012 399,468 -51,833 469,406 8,958
2011 203,213 -326,192 459,743 13,569
2010 385,571 -88,448 448,337 22,761
2009 405,784 -101,795 434,458 44,867
2008 394,258 -102,035 419,560 39,249
2007 380,303 8,476 403,729 49,945
2006 372,597 -67,200 387,891 29,517
2005 363,117 -5,955 368,756 35,316
2004 351,959 17,353 349,352 7,819
2003 341,192 33,174 331,189 20,845
2002 331,215 12,603 316,041 3,206
2001 319,059 40,274 302,682 23,582
2000 306,651 53,580 293,186 -4,338
1999 295,523 37,548 283,297 -16,888
1998 284,779 55,426 275,568 -26,796
1997 271,894 49,692 268,198 -26,276
1996 264,807 -46,291 262,468 -38,358
1995 254,509 65,888 257,897 -45,423
1994 246,950 -50,921 252,023 -45,504
1993 232,960 261,815 245,917 -47,739
1992 57,495 -179,675 239,953 -43,656
1991 53,052 -568,166 237,957 -44,203
1990 225,162 -248,155 235,835 -38,619
1989 225,255 -266,281 233,429 -36,736
1988 215,599 -415,660 230,118 -31,270
1987 231,580 -17,391 227,813 -26,338
1986 218,416 74,424 224,768 -16,610
1985 207,960 62,183 221,351 -18,474
1984 199,017 60,630 216,695 -18,652
1983 190,775 9,505 212,712 -11,849
1982 182,793 6,115 207,621 -3,676
1981 185,211 -332,129 202,822 -16,072
1980 174,790 65,519 198,817 -24,664
1979 151,016 582,746 197,578 -29,515
1978 132,689 402,005 194,933 -30,284
1977 124,818 2,170 191,557 -30,423
1976 113,319 -3,831 186,762 -30,612
1975 108,998 -1,934 182,258 -30,886
1974 104,813 -495 174,484 -31,178
1973 108,038 143 168,258 -31,472
1972 104,493 -351 161,648 -31,672
1971 101,196 -1,850 155,249 -31,651
1970 98,025 1,104 149,380 -31,370
1969 95,045 690 142,660 -11,469
1968 92,208 906 137,315 -5,447
1967 89,497 1,498 131,938 -5,298
1966 86,930 941 127,164 -5,129
1965 84,448 2,142 122,814 -5,023
1964 82,042 1,518 117,197 -4,851
1963 79,859 1,449 114,555 -4,676
1962 77,737 1,496 110,173 -4,428
1961 75,513 1,336 106,318 -4,043
1960 73,850 750 102,335 -3,898

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.2% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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, 77,972 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Somalia, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K
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/somalia/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, 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.