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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Zambia was 21,314,956 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Zambia's population is 22,697,916 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 1.31 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Zambia is ranked the 62nd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.27% for Zambia vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Zambia has had an average growth rate of +3% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Zambia has increased from 12.1M people to 22.7M (87.1% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Zambia vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Zambia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Zambia Zimbabwe
2100 65,217,429 37,483,053
2099 64,871,545 37,412,398
2098 64,515,891 37,328,255
2097 64,148,736 37,235,542
2096 63,777,313 37,142,915
2095 63,393,169 37,032,129
2094 62,992,652 36,912,747
2093 62,590,327 36,810,893
2092 62,175,930 36,688,511
2091 61,750,591 36,567,262
2090 61,321,399 36,425,606
2089 60,880,148 36,280,973
2088 60,434,676 36,141,446
2087 59,970,107 35,977,638
2086 59,499,234 35,808,135
2085 59,023,040 35,637,092
2084 58,535,857 35,456,207
2083 58,040,512 35,268,035
2082 57,538,672 35,078,904
2081 57,027,491 34,873,129
2080 56,506,421 34,658,962
2079 55,983,242 34,439,720
2078 55,449,777 34,217,295
2077 54,906,771 33,982,909
2076 54,361,075 33,739,228
2075 53,806,856 33,495,867
2074 53,246,777 33,244,838
2073 52,677,348 32,978,488
2072 52,101,139 32,706,059
2071 51,519,691 32,445,747
2070 50,931,614 32,181,119
2069 50,334,700 31,906,793
2068 49,737,479 31,631,000
2067 49,135,488 31,345,338
2066 48,530,443 31,062,884
2065 47,918,592 30,766,830
2064 47,299,740 30,479,939
2063 46,677,439 30,176,104
2062 46,048,819 29,867,679
2061 45,416,657 29,557,068
2060 44,777,347 29,252,423
2059 44,137,306 28,945,088
2058 43,494,451 28,631,679
2057 42,851,923 28,307,305
2056 42,206,898 27,990,713
2055 41,558,284 27,658,887
2054 40,906,492 27,331,920
2053 40,255,629 26,986,935
2052 39,603,888 26,643,553
2051 38,949,958 26,287,592
2050 38,294,607 25,934,893
2049 37,634,194 25,585,239
2048 36,971,309 25,228,082
2047 36,309,749 24,874,649
2046 35,645,868 24,513,443
2045 34,981,812 24,147,637
2044 34,316,981 23,783,088
2043 33,652,420 23,401,965
2042 32,990,657 23,035,288
2041 32,329,447 22,647,950
2040 31,664,262 22,273,520
2039 31,001,305 21,902,980
2038 30,335,662 21,530,130
2037 29,668,561 21,159,664
2036 29,000,264 20,791,034
2035 28,333,498 20,413,656
2034 27,671,195 20,048,019
2033 27,011,974 19,676,339
2032 26,356,580 19,311,985
2031 25,702,812 18,959,300
2030 25,055,216 18,613,738
2029 24,414,405 18,270,049
2028 23,780,809 17,933,466
2027 23,151,479 17,600,984
2026 22,529,742 17,273,208
2025 21,918,187 16,949,303
2024 21,314,956 16,634,373
2023 20,723,965 16,340,822
2022 20,152,938 16,069,056
2021 19,603,607 15,797,210
2020 19,059,395 15,526,888
2019 18,513,839 15,271,368
2018 17,973,569 15,034,452
2017 17,441,320 14,812,482
2016 16,914,423 14,600,294
2015 16,399,089 14,399,013
2014 15,895,315 14,207,359
2013 15,398,997 14,013,808
2012 14,913,629 13,817,887
2011 14,437,796 13,595,424
2010 13,965,594 13,356,548
2009 13,490,389 13,142,790
2008 13,021,324 12,959,149
2007 12,565,085 12,804,058
2006 12,129,553 12,636,445
2005 11,718,819 12,483,432
2004 11,338,198 12,365,896
2003 10,983,595 12,232,323
2002 10,647,949 12,087,653
2001 10,325,185 11,971,901
2000 10,017,631 11,892,055
1999 9,740,005 11,783,458
1998 9,482,408 11,594,297
1997 9,237,063 11,369,827
1996 9,004,053 11,158,360
1995 8,785,763 10,974,599
1994 8,576,269 10,873,148
1993 8,373,921 10,860,288
1992 8,176,680 10,702,700
1991 7,981,650 10,404,816
1990 7,786,169 10,137,281
1989 7,589,216 9,864,798
1988 7,391,440 9,583,094
1987 7,191,282 9,284,644
1986 6,986,471 8,982,578
1985 6,780,953 8,686,813
1984 6,580,490 8,391,488
1983 6,381,038 8,098,404
1982 6,178,637 7,796,496
1981 5,983,289 7,498,635
1980 5,802,833 7,041,303
1979 5,631,728 6,647,556
1978 5,465,374 6,543,575
1977 5,302,480 6,449,512
1976 5,143,842 6,287,105
1975 4,990,086 6,098,658
1974 4,842,746 5,908,328
1973 4,702,693 5,720,404
1972 4,569,309 5,542,445
1971 4,442,525 5,374,712
1970 4,321,718 5,215,918
1969 4,197,116 5,058,181
1968 4,065,593 4,900,440
1967 3,936,343 4,748,307
1966 3,812,003 4,601,217
1965 3,692,086 4,458,462
1964 3,577,017 4,320,006
1963 3,465,907 4,185,877
1962 3,358,099 4,055,959
1961 3,254,086 3,930,401
1960 3,153,729 3,809,389

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/zambia/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Zambia increased by 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Zambia gained 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Zambia was ranked 71st most populous country in 2006 and is 62nd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Zambia's population will grow by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people with a rank change from 62nd to 54th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Zambia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Zambia Zimbabwe
2100 0.53% 0.19%
2099 0.55% 0.23%
2098 0.57% 0.25%
2097 0.58% 0.25%
2096 0.61% 0.3%
2095 0.64% 0.32%
2094 0.64% 0.28%
2093 0.67% 0.33%
2092 0.69% 0.33%
2091 0.7% 0.39%
2090 0.72% 0.4%
2089 0.74% 0.39%
2088 0.77% 0.46%
2087 0.79% 0.47%
2086 0.81% 0.48%
2085 0.83% 0.51%
2084 0.85% 0.53%
2083 0.87% 0.54%
2082 0.9% 0.59%
2081 0.92% 0.62%
2080 0.93% 0.64%
2079 0.96% 0.65%
2078 0.99% 0.69%
2077 1% 0.72%
2076 1.03% 0.73%
2075 1.05% 0.76%
2074 1.08% 0.81%
2073 1.11% 0.83%
2072 1.13% 0.8%
2071 1.15% 0.82%
2070 1.19% 0.86%
2069 1.2% 0.87%
2068 1.23% 0.91%
2067 1.25% 0.91%
2066 1.28% 0.96%
2065 1.31% 0.94%
2064 1.33% 1.01%
2063 1.37% 1.03%
2062 1.39% 1.05%
2061 1.43% 1.04%
2060 1.45% 1.06%
2059 1.48% 1.09%
2058 1.5% 1.15%
2057 1.53% 1.13%
2056 1.56% 1.2%
2055 1.59% 1.2%
2054 1.62% 1.28%
2053 1.65% 1.29%
2052 1.68% 1.35%
2051 1.71% 1.36%
2050 1.75% 1.37%
2049 1.79% 1.42%
2048 1.82% 1.42%
2047 1.86% 1.47%
2046 1.9% 1.51%
2045 1.94% 1.53%
2044 1.97% 1.63%
2043 2.01% 1.59%
2042 2.05% 1.71%
2041 2.1% 1.68%
2040 2.14% 1.69%
2039 2.19% 1.73%
2038 2.25% 1.75%
2037 2.3% 1.77%
2036 2.35% 1.85%
2035 2.39% 1.82%
2034 2.44% 1.89%
2033 2.49% 1.89%
2032 2.54% 1.86%
2031 2.58% 1.86%
2030 2.62% 1.88%
2029 2.66% 1.88%
2028 2.72% 1.89%
2027 2.76% 1.9%
2026 2.79% 1.91%
2025 2.83% 1.89%
2024 2.85% 1.8%
2023 2.83% 1.69%
2022 2.8% 1.72%
2021 2.86% 1.74%
2020 2.95% 1.67%
2019 3.01% 1.58%
2018 3.05% 1.5%
2017 3.12% 1.45%
2016 3.14% 1.4%
2015 3.17% 1.35%
2014 3.22% 1.38%
2013 3.25% 1.42%
2012 3.3% 1.64%
2011 3.38% 1.79%
2010 3.52% 1.63%
2009 3.6% 1.42%
2008 3.63% 1.21%
2007 3.59% 1.33%
2006 3.5% 1.23%
2005 3.36% 0.95%
2004 3.23% 1.09%
2003 3.15% 1.2%
2002 3.13% 0.97%
2001 3.07% 0.67%
2000 2.85% 0.92%
1999 2.72% 1.63%
1998 2.66% 1.97%
1997 2.59% 1.9%
1996 2.48% 1.67%
1995 2.44% 0.93%
1994 2.42% 0.12%
1993 2.41% 1.47%
1992 2.44% 2.86%
1991 2.51% 2.64%
1990 2.6% 2.76%
1989 2.68% 2.94%
1988 2.78% 3.21%
1987 2.93% 3.36%
1986 3.03% 3.4%
1985 3.05% 3.52%
1984 3.13% 3.62%
1983 3.28% 3.87%
1982 3.26% 3.97%
1981 3.11% 6.49%
1980 3.04% 5.92%
1979 3.04% 1.59%
1978 3.07% 1.46%
1977 3.08% 2.58%
1976 3.08% 3.09%
1975 3.04% 3.22%
1974 2.98% 3.29%
1973 2.92% 3.21%
1972 2.85% 3.12%
1971 2.8% 3.04%
1970 2.97% 3.12%
1969 3.24% 3.22%
1968 3.28% 3.2%
1967 3.26% 3.2%
1966 3.25% 3.2%
1965 3.22% 3.2%
1964 3.21% 3.2%
1963 3.21% 3.2%
1962 3.2% 3.19%
1961 3.18% 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/zambia/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Zambia grew by 2.85%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Zambia Zimbabwe
Current population
22697916
17361868
Population rank 62/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.21%
One net population change
53.4 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
46 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
4.87 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,619 +804
Annual growth/decline +590,991 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.85% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 21/197 60/197
One migration net change every
1.34 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +6,562 -54,555
Net migration rank 47/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 249,205 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 105/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 150/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Zambia
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Zambia Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,562 - -54,555
2024 - 7,381 - -60,528
2023 577,660 9,521 372,505 -97,380
2022 563,456 -8,566 371,243 -102,828
2021 535,629 8,143 349,908 -74,623
2020 536,484 8,156 354,790 -89,440
2019 528,089 18,385 348,798 -103,107
2018 515,644 18,431 345,883 -117,758
2017 504,630 25,789 344,035 -128,241
2016 497,521 25,860 348,772 -140,181
2015 491,021 16,261 356,203 -162,220
2014 483,663 16,574 366,350 -177,029
2013 476,846 15,542 374,757 -176,972
2012 469,406 8,958 371,135 -177,061
2011 459,743 13,569 359,572 -108,714
2010 448,337 22,761 335,570 -108,671
2009 434,458 44,867 309,316 -108,689
2008 419,560 39,249 280,527 -113,858
2007 403,729 49,945 261,805 -118,299
2006 387,891 29,517 248,963 -57,257
2005 368,756 35,316 248,545 -134,212
2004 349,352 7,819 248,307 -127,550
2003 331,189 20,845 243,057 -96,667
2002 316,041 3,206 244,170 -101,212
2001 302,682 23,582 227,909 -139,361
2000 293,186 -4,338 236,343 -165,181
1999 283,297 -16,888 232,393 -86,343
1998 275,568 -26,796 225,614 6,645
1997 268,198 -26,276 216,288 395
1996 262,468 -38,358 205,269 978
1995 257,897 -45,423 206,695 -45,428
1994 252,023 -45,504 216,343 -174,723
1993 245,917 -47,739 228,045 -243,947
1992 239,953 -43,656 255,291 75,788
1991 237,957 -44,203 260,943 3,749
1990 235,835 -38,619 265,444 4,948
1989 233,429 -36,736 270,838 3,736
1988 230,118 -31,270 277,498 11,327
1987 227,813 -26,338 286,766 21,308
1986 224,768 -16,610 289,894 6,154
1985 221,351 -18,474 290,756 4,718
1984 216,695 -18,652 290,052 5,124
1983 212,712 -11,849 286,545 4,456
1982 207,621 -3,676 279,934 32,899
1981 202,822 -16,072 271,361 11,523
1980 198,817 -24,664 241,179 390,593
1979 197,578 -29,515 223,657 -67,937
1978 194,933 -30,284 222,979 -170,727
1977 191,557 -30,423 225,139 -89,270
1976 186,762 -30,612 221,419 -32,495
1975 182,258 -30,886 216,947 -28,988
1974 174,484 -31,178 208,806 -16,105
1973 168,258 -31,472 201,885 -18,733
1972 161,648 -31,672 193,725 -20,959
1971 155,249 -31,651 185,427 -22,719
1970 149,380 -31,370 178,979 -24,102
1969 142,660 -11,469 172,626 -12,028
1968 137,315 -5,447 166,865 -11,997
1967 131,938 -5,298 161,205 -11,814
1966 127,164 -5,129 156,014 -11,211
1965 122,814 -5,023 151,164 -10,465
1964 117,197 -4,851 145,848 -9,631
1963 114,555 -4,676 140,984 -8,936
1962 110,173 -4,428 136,317 -8,529
1961 106,318 -4,043 131,531 -8,204
1960 102,335 -3,898 126,959 -8,260

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 97.4% of the population change in Zambia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people). In Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 249,205 residents or 1.2% of the population were not native-born in Zambia, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

Biggest cities by population

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zambia/zimbabwe | 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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