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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,009,151 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,503,678 people compared to 22,697,916 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 +3.61% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.5M (86.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Somalia vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia Zambia
2100 68,384,185 65,217,429
2099 68,040,371 64,871,545
2098 67,702,230 64,515,891
2097 67,362,336 64,148,736
2096 66,972,933 63,777,313
2095 66,585,659 63,393,169
2094 66,179,819 62,992,652
2093 65,760,590 62,590,327
2092 65,324,261 62,175,930
2091 64,852,843 61,750,591
2090 64,362,727 61,321,399
2089 63,922,797 60,880,148
2088 63,464,036 60,434,676
2087 62,987,028 59,970,107
2086 62,447,029 59,499,234
2085 61,873,597 59,023,040
2084 61,318,916 58,535,857
2083 60,761,800 58,040,512
2082 60,187,980 57,538,672
2081 59,676,722 57,027,491
2080 59,100,915 56,506,421
2079 58,477,428 55,983,242
2078 57,852,528 55,449,777
2077 57,211,821 54,906,771
2076 56,602,463 54,361,075
2075 56,005,600 53,806,856
2074 55,330,165 53,246,777
2073 54,651,918 52,677,348
2072 53,978,548 52,101,139
2071 53,284,016 51,519,691
2070 52,573,210 50,931,614
2069 51,878,214 50,334,700
2068 51,197,653 49,737,479
2067 50,493,028 49,135,488
2066 49,779,172 48,530,443
2065 49,024,665 47,918,592
2064 48,265,876 47,299,740
2063 47,522,361 46,677,439
2062 46,785,920 46,048,819
2061 46,037,526 45,416,657
2060 45,220,507 44,777,347
2059 44,397,936 44,137,306
2058 43,659,021 43,494,451
2057 42,897,422 42,851,923
2056 42,121,542 42,206,898
2055 41,318,179 41,558,284
2054 40,513,141 40,906,492
2053 39,744,995 40,255,629
2052 38,992,177 39,603,888
2051 38,228,872 38,949,958
2050 37,471,735 38,294,607
2049 36,739,905 37,634,194
2048 35,984,999 36,971,309
2047 35,218,863 36,309,749
2046 34,462,403 35,645,868
2045 33,717,596 34,981,812
2044 32,977,674 34,316,981
2043 32,247,710 33,652,420
2042 31,537,272 32,990,657
2041 30,794,853 32,329,447
2040 30,032,324 31,664,262
2039 29,312,883 31,001,305
2038 28,583,386 30,335,662
2037 27,838,646 29,668,561
2036 27,114,453 29,000,264
2035 26,385,421 28,333,498
2034 25,687,629 27,671,195
2033 25,018,509 27,011,974
2032 24,338,597 26,356,580
2031 23,657,353 25,702,812
2030 22,965,742 25,055,216
2029 22,299,610 24,414,405
2028 21,651,582 23,780,809
2027 20,991,860 23,151,479
2026 20,322,668 22,529,742
2025 19,666,990 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% 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 82.8% to 37,471,735 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M 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 3.46% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Somalia grew by 3.54%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Somalia Zambia
Current population
20503678
22697916
Population rank 66/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.27%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
40 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.91 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,782 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +650,536 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +3.54% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 21/197
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 - 26,859 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.4% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/somalia/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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