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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Zambia was 21,913,874 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Zambia's population is 22,844,606 people compared to 17,443,108 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 +2.96% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Zambia has increased from 12.1M people to 22.8M (88.3% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Zambia vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Zambia
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Zambia Zimbabwe
2100 65,204,593 37,486,352
2099 64,858,778 37,415,690
2098 64,503,193 37,331,540
2097 64,136,110 37,238,819
2096 63,764,760 37,146,184
2095 63,380,692 37,035,388
2094 62,980,254 36,915,996
2093 62,578,008 36,814,133
2092 62,163,693 36,691,740
2091 61,738,437 36,570,481
2090 61,309,330 36,428,812
2089 60,868,166 36,284,166
2088 60,422,781 36,144,627
2087 59,958,303 35,980,805
2086 59,487,524 35,811,286
2085 59,011,423 35,640,228
2084 58,524,337 35,459,328
2083 58,029,088 35,271,139
2082 57,527,347 35,081,992
2081 57,016,267 34,876,198
2080 56,495,299 34,662,013
2079 55,972,223 34,442,751
2078 55,438,864 34,220,306
2077 54,895,964 33,985,899
2076 54,350,375 33,742,198
2075 53,796,265 33,498,815
2074 53,236,297 33,247,764
2073 52,666,980 32,981,390
2072 52,090,884 32,708,937
2071 51,509,551 32,448,602
2070 50,921,590 32,183,952
2069 50,324,793 31,909,601
2068 49,727,689 31,633,783
2067 49,125,817 31,348,096
2066 48,520,891 31,065,618
2065 47,909,160 30,769,538
2064 47,290,430 30,482,622
2063 46,668,252 30,178,760
2062 46,039,755 29,870,308
2061 45,407,718 29,559,670
2060 44,768,534 29,254,998
2059 44,128,619 28,947,636
2058 43,485,891 28,634,199
2057 42,843,489 28,309,796
2056 42,198,591 27,993,176
2055 41,550,105 27,661,321
2054 40,898,440 27,334,325
2053 40,247,706 26,989,310
2052 39,596,094 26,645,898
2051 38,942,292 26,289,905
2050 38,287,070 25,937,176
2049 37,626,787 25,587,491
2048 36,964,032 25,230,302
2047 36,302,603 24,876,838
2046 35,638,852 24,515,600
2045 34,974,927 24,149,762
2044 34,310,227 23,785,181
2043 33,645,797 23,404,024
2042 32,984,164 23,037,316
2041 32,323,084 22,649,943
2040 31,658,029 22,275,480
2039 30,995,204 21,904,908
2038 30,329,691 21,532,024
2037 29,662,721 21,161,527
2036 28,994,556 20,792,863
2035 28,327,922 20,415,452
2034 27,665,749 20,049,783
2033 27,006,658 19,678,070
2032 26,351,393 19,313,685
2031 25,697,754 18,960,968
2030 25,050,285 18,615,376
2029 24,409,600 18,271,657
2028 23,776,128 17,935,044
2027 23,146,922 17,602,533
2026 22,525,308 17,274,728
2025 21,913,874 16,950,795
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% 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 67.6% to 38,287,070 people with a rank change from 62nd to 54th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 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 2.81% 1.9%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Zambia grew by 2.81%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Zambia Zimbabwe
Current population
22844606
17443108
Population rank 62/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.27% 0.21%
One net population change
52.8 seconds
1.67 minutes
One birth every
45.2 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
4.77 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,641 +867
Annual growth/decline +598,918 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 19/197 53/197
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 587,419 7,381 372,494 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 97.6% of the population change in Zambia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people). In Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia/zimbabwe | CC BY

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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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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