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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Tanzania was 68,560,157 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Tanzania's population is 73,145,892 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Tanzania's population is 3.22 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Tanzania is ranked the 20th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.16% of the world: 0.88% for Tanzania vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Tanzania has had an average growth rate of +3.13% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Tanzania has increased from 40.3M people to 73.1M (81.5% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Tanzania vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Tanzania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Tanzania Zambia
2100 265,496,854 65,217,429
2099 263,162,785 64,871,545
2098 260,809,535 64,515,891
2097 258,412,520 64,148,736
2096 255,996,677 63,777,313
2095 253,567,416 63,393,169
2094 251,119,386 62,992,652
2093 248,628,881 62,590,327
2092 246,107,108 62,175,930
2091 243,557,182 61,750,591
2090 241,002,065 61,321,399
2089 238,416,591 60,880,148
2088 235,797,530 60,434,676
2087 233,167,455 59,970,107
2086 230,496,041 59,499,234
2085 227,800,292 59,023,040
2084 225,111,530 58,535,857
2083 222,421,279 58,040,512
2082 219,718,263 57,538,672
2081 216,995,478 57,027,491
2080 214,255,926 56,506,421
2079 211,486,253 55,983,242
2078 208,708,063 55,449,777
2077 205,918,120 54,906,771
2076 203,106,125 54,361,075
2075 200,297,474 53,806,856
2074 197,468,017 53,246,777
2073 194,642,633 52,677,348
2072 191,824,103 52,101,139
2071 188,992,017 51,519,691
2070 186,152,377 50,931,614
2069 183,311,218 50,334,700
2068 180,475,586 49,737,479
2067 177,639,469 49,135,488
2066 174,803,090 48,530,443
2065 171,913,445 47,918,592
2064 169,064,549 47,299,740
2063 166,217,933 46,677,439
2062 163,370,044 46,048,819
2061 160,537,159 45,416,657
2060 157,722,273 44,777,347
2059 154,920,005 44,137,306
2058 152,120,539 43,494,451
2057 149,325,489 42,851,923
2056 146,519,472 42,206,898
2055 143,736,540 41,558,284
2054 140,983,905 40,906,492
2053 138,262,668 40,255,629
2052 135,553,723 39,603,888
2051 132,851,383 38,949,958
2050 130,157,751 38,294,607
2049 127,495,278 37,634,194
2048 124,821,109 36,971,309
2047 122,158,290 36,309,749
2046 119,522,516 35,645,868
2045 116,914,785 34,981,812
2044 114,329,740 34,316,981
2043 111,776,234 33,652,420
2042 109,241,835 32,990,657
2041 106,748,632 32,329,447
2040 104,272,418 31,664,262
2039 101,814,304 31,001,305
2038 99,380,232 30,335,662
2037 96,983,729 29,668,561
2036 94,601,865 29,000,264
2035 92,257,269 28,333,498
2034 89,929,444 27,671,195
2033 87,654,982 27,011,974
2032 85,409,993 26,356,580
2031 83,180,507 25,702,812
2030 80,997,163 25,055,216
2029 78,838,461 24,414,405
2028 76,730,649 23,780,809
2027 74,647,063 23,151,479
2026 72,589,279 22,529,742
2025 70,552,589 21,918,187
2024 68,560,157 21,314,956
2023 66,617,606 20,723,965
2022 64,711,821 20,152,938
2021 62,830,412 19,603,607
2020 60,972,798 19,059,395
2019 59,174,891 18,513,839
2018 57,437,145 17,973,569
2017 55,652,890 17,441,320
2016 53,824,013 16,914,423
2015 52,020,962 16,399,089
2014 50,351,512 15,895,315
2013 48,824,128 15,398,997
2012 47,374,260 14,913,629
2011 46,029,367 14,437,796
2010 44,758,488 13,965,594
2009 43,633,982 13,490,389
2008 42,570,728 13,021,324
2007 41,435,512 12,565,085
2006 40,294,902 12,129,553
2005 39,182,076 11,718,819
2004 38,109,668 11,338,198
2003 37,089,555 10,983,595
2002 36,121,304 10,647,949
2001 35,198,299 10,325,185
2000 34,260,139 10,017,631
1999 33,300,330 9,740,005
1998 32,420,458 9,482,408
1997 31,578,089 9,237,063
1996 30,945,762 9,004,053
1995 30,383,497 8,785,763
1994 29,442,356 8,576,269
1993 28,332,692 8,373,921
1992 27,457,588 8,176,680
1991 26,780,436 7,981,650
1990 26,110,207 7,786,169
1989 25,438,759 7,589,216
1988 24,769,686 7,391,440
1987 24,030,378 7,191,282
1986 23,258,959 6,986,471
1985 22,501,693 6,780,953
1984 21,779,066 6,580,490
1983 21,079,874 6,381,038
1982 20,398,571 6,178,637
1981 19,784,703 5,983,289
1980 19,189,769 5,802,833
1979 18,592,038 5,631,728
1978 17,976,566 5,465,374
1977 17,352,929 5,302,480
1976 16,736,211 5,143,842
1975 16,138,361 4,990,086
1974 15,561,630 4,842,746
1973 15,010,101 4,702,693
1972 14,479,308 4,569,309
1971 13,971,451 4,442,525
1970 13,492,677 4,321,718
1969 13,036,700 4,197,116
1968 12,602,076 4,065,593
1967 12,200,109 3,936,343
1966 11,827,459 3,812,003
1965 11,470,728 3,692,086
1964 11,127,826 3,577,017
1963 10,799,528 3,465,907
1962 10,487,756 3,358,099
1961 10,187,886 3,254,086
1960 9,901,419 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/tanzania/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Tanzania increased by 13,529,111 people (a 33.6% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Tanzania gained 19,321,879 people (a 35.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Tanzania was ranked 30th most populous country in 2006 and is 20th 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) Tanzania's population will grow by 77.9% to 130,157,751 people with a rank change from 20th to 15th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Tanzania is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 265M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Tanzania
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Tanzania Zambia
2100 0.89% 0.53%
2099 0.9% 0.55%
2098 0.93% 0.57%
2097 0.94% 0.58%
2096 0.96% 0.61%
2095 0.97% 0.64%
2094 1% 0.64%
2093 1.02% 0.67%
2092 1.05% 0.69%
2091 1.06% 0.7%
2090 1.08% 0.72%
2089 1.11% 0.74%
2088 1.13% 0.77%
2087 1.16% 0.79%
2086 1.18% 0.81%
2085 1.19% 0.83%
2084 1.21% 0.85%
2083 1.23% 0.87%
2082 1.25% 0.9%
2081 1.28% 0.92%
2080 1.31% 0.93%
2079 1.33% 0.96%
2078 1.35% 0.99%
2077 1.38% 1%
2076 1.4% 1.03%
2075 1.43% 1.05%
2074 1.45% 1.08%
2073 1.47% 1.11%
2072 1.5% 1.13%
2071 1.53% 1.15%
2070 1.55% 1.19%
2069 1.57% 1.2%
2068 1.6% 1.23%
2067 1.62% 1.25%
2066 1.68% 1.28%
2065 1.69% 1.31%
2064 1.71% 1.33%
2063 1.74% 1.37%
2062 1.76% 1.39%
2061 1.78% 1.43%
2060 1.81% 1.45%
2059 1.84% 1.48%
2058 1.87% 1.5%
2057 1.92% 1.53%
2056 1.94% 1.56%
2055 1.95% 1.59%
2054 1.97% 1.62%
2053 2% 1.65%
2052 2.03% 1.68%
2051 2.07% 1.71%
2050 2.09% 1.75%
2049 2.14% 1.79%
2048 2.18% 1.82%
2047 2.21% 1.86%
2046 2.23% 1.9%
2045 2.26% 1.94%
2044 2.28% 1.97%
2043 2.32% 2.01%
2042 2.34% 2.05%
2041 2.37% 2.1%
2040 2.41% 2.14%
2039 2.45% 2.19%
2038 2.47% 2.25%
2037 2.52% 2.3%
2036 2.54% 2.35%
2035 2.59% 2.39%
2034 2.59% 2.44%
2033 2.63% 2.49%
2032 2.68% 2.54%
2031 2.7% 2.58%
2030 2.74% 2.62%
2029 2.75% 2.66%
2028 2.79% 2.72%
2027 2.83% 2.76%
2026 2.89% 2.79%
2025 2.91% 2.83%
2024 2.92% 2.85%
2023 2.95% 2.83%
2022 2.99% 2.8%
2021 3.05% 2.86%
2020 3.04% 2.95%
2019 3.03% 3.01%
2018 3.21% 3.05%
2017 3.4% 3.12%
2016 3.47% 3.14%
2015 3.32% 3.17%
2014 3.13% 3.22%
2013 3.06% 3.25%
2012 2.92% 3.3%
2011 2.84% 3.38%
2010 2.58% 3.52%
2009 2.5% 3.6%
2008 2.74% 3.63%
2007 2.83% 3.59%
2006 2.84% 3.5%
2005 2.81% 3.36%
2004 2.75% 3.23%
2003 2.68% 3.15%
2002 2.62% 3.13%
2001 2.74% 3.07%
2000 2.88% 2.85%
1999 2.71% 2.72%
1998 2.67% 2.66%
1997 2.04% 2.59%
1996 1.85% 2.48%
1995 3.2% 2.44%
1994 3.92% 2.42%
1993 3.19% 2.41%
1992 2.53% 2.44%
1991 2.57% 2.51%
1990 2.64% 2.6%
1989 2.7% 2.68%
1988 3.08% 2.78%
1987 3.32% 2.93%
1986 3.37% 3.03%
1985 3.32% 3.05%
1984 3.32% 3.13%
1983 3.34% 3.28%
1982 3.1% 3.26%
1981 3.1% 3.11%
1980 3.21% 3.04%
1979 3.42% 3.04%
1978 3.59% 3.07%
1977 3.68% 3.08%
1976 3.7% 3.08%
1975 3.71% 3.04%
1974 3.67% 2.98%
1973 3.67% 2.92%
1972 3.63% 2.85%
1971 3.55% 2.8%
1970 3.5% 2.97%
1969 3.45% 3.24%
1968 3.29% 3.28%
1967 3.15% 3.26%
1966 3.11% 3.25%
1965 3.08% 3.22%
1964 3.04% 3.21%
1963 2.97% 3.21%
1962 2.94% 3.2%
1961 2.89% 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/tanzania/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Tanzania grew by 2.92%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Tanzania Zambia
Current population
73145892
22697916
Population rank 20/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.88% 0.27%
One net population change
16.2 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
13.4 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
1.36 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +5,322 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +1,942,551 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.92% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 18/197 21/197
One migration net change every
41.4 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -12,730 +6,562
Net migration rank 139/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 462,371 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 83/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 167/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Tanzania
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Tanzania Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -12,730 - 6,562
2024 - -29,865 - 7,381
2023 1,960,623 -39,388 577,660 9,521
2022 1,927,960 -37,557 563,456 -8,566
2021 1,880,137 -7,704 535,629 8,143
2020 1,861,377 -18,587 536,484 8,156
2019 1,816,669 -63,602 528,089 18,385
2018 1,777,852 -55,444 515,644 18,431
2017 1,726,909 119,142 504,630 25,789
2016 1,659,502 152,194 497,521 25,860
2015 1,592,882 201,495 491,021 16,261
2014 1,565,630 -21,083 483,663 16,574
2013 1,509,008 1,241 476,846 15,542
2012 1,439,325 -49,875 469,406 8,958
2011 1,384,886 -84,546 459,743 13,569
2010 1,363,477 -122,020 448,337 22,761
2009 1,332,015 -324,478 434,458 44,867
2008 1,303,728 -184,816 419,560 39,249
2007 1,278,285 -126,793 403,729 49,945
2006 1,257,927 -128,231 387,891 29,517
2005 1,224,165 -128,251 368,756 35,316
2004 1,175,379 -126,490 349,352 7,819
2003 1,118,435 -127,101 331,189 20,845
2002 1,063,195 -118,047 316,041 3,206
2001 1,026,242 -125,375 302,682 23,582
2000 985,185 -9,701 293,186 -4,338
1999 948,659 -4,489 283,297 -16,888
1998 920,806 -105,184 275,568 -26,796
1997 882,544 -13,400 268,198 -26,276
1996 868,524 -473,007 262,468 -38,358
1995 838,980 -109,971 257,897 -45,423
1994 803,953 349,348 252,023 -45,504
1993 778,044 288,004 245,917 -47,739
1992 767,961 -83,825 239,953 -43,656
1991 762,011 -91,851 237,957 -44,203
1990 750,825 -80,529 235,835 -38,619
1989 743,854 -71,268 233,429 -36,736
1988 736,551 -71,012 230,118 -31,270
1987 718,580 94,498 227,813 -26,338
1986 705,677 24,101 224,768 -16,610
1985 697,867 86,864 221,351 -18,474
1984 687,435 -26,938 216,695 -18,652
1983 679,720 58,161 212,712 -11,849
1982 662,627 -37,883 207,621 -3,676
1981 645,496 -42,485 202,822 -16,072
1980 629,444 -42,588 198,817 -24,664
1979 613,388 -4,792 197,578 -29,515
1978 595,024 27,307 194,933 -30,284
1977 574,938 49,997 191,557 -30,423
1976 553,617 54,875 186,762 -30,612
1975 533,906 53,290 182,258 -30,886
1974 515,152 51,127 174,484 -31,178
1973 488,429 48,363 168,258 -31,472
1972 467,305 57,489 161,648 -31,672
1971 449,014 41,900 155,249 -31,651
1970 427,988 38,635 149,380 -31,370
1969 408,322 37,006 142,660 -11,469
1968 389,467 34,455 137,315 -5,447
1967 374,763 5,265 131,938 -5,298
1966 360,229 5,049 127,164 -5,129
1965 343,456 4,742 122,814 -5,023
1964 328,527 9,090 117,197 -4,851
1963 314,644 4,333 114,555 -4,676
1962 300,663 3,916 110,173 -4,428
1961 286,839 8,338 106,318 -4,043
1960 275,814 1,946 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.7% of the population change in Tanzania is from natural causes (a gain of 17,769,541 people) and 1.27% is from migration (a gain of 229,466 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, 462,371 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Tanzania, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Tanzania
City Population
Dar es Salaam 4.72M
Zanzibar 710K
Mwanza 706K
Mbeya 542K
Arusha 416K
Tanga 221K
Dodoma 214K
Morogoro 207K
Moshi 145K
Stone Town 18K
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/tanzania/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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