Zambia is one of the most highly urbanised countries in sub-Saharan Africa with 44% of the population concentrated in a few urban areas along the major transport corridors, while rural areas are sparsely populated. Zambia's population comprises more than 72 Bantu-speaking ethnic groups. Some ethnic groups are small, and only two have enough people to constitute at least 10% of the population. The majority of Zambians are subsistence farmers, but the country is also fairly urbanised, with 42% of the population being city residents. The predominant religion is a blend of traditional beliefs and Christianity.[1]
Immigrants, mostly British or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens (about 40,000), live mainly in Lusaka and in the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, where they are either employed in mines, financial and related activities or retired. Zambia also has a small but economically important Asian population, most of whom are Indians or Chinese.[2][citation needed]
. Zambia also has a small coloured population of mixed racial heritage, not included officially on the census since independence.
According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[4][5] the total population of Zambia is 19,473,125 in 2021, compared to only 2,340,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 46.4%, 50.6% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.1% was 65 years or older.[6]
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data based on the 2010 Population Census.):[9]
Age Group
Male
Female
Total
%
Total
8 852 174
9 033 248
17 885 422
100
0–4
1 579 231
1 554 009
3 133 240
17.52
5–9
1 357 442
1 343 776
2 701 218
15.10
10–14
1 160 256
1 154 409
2 314 665
12.94
15–19
958 687
954 923
1 913 610
10.70
20–24
833 604
851 421
1 685 025
9.42
25–29
693 050
727 248
1 420 298
7.94
30–34
496 336
579 946
1 076 282
6.02
35–39
433 030
493 825
926 855
5.18
40–44
361 566
362 160
723 726
4.05
45–49
298 359
283 452
581 811
3.25
50–54
205 799
193 301
399 100
2.23
55–59
153 109
160 905
314 014
1.76
60–64
109 330
123 190
232 520
1.30
65-69
72 624
79 062
151 686
0.85
70-74
54 288
68 013
122 301
0.68
75-79
35 056
44 637
79 693
0.45
80+
50 407
58 971
109 378
0.61
Age group
Male
Female
Total
Percent
0–14
4 096 929
4 052 194
8 149 123
45.56
15–64
4 542 870
4 730 371
9 273 241
51.85
65+
212 375
250 683
463 058
2.59
Vital statistics
Registration of vital events is in Zambia not complete. The website Our World in Data prepared the following estimates based on statistics from the Population Department of the United Nations.[10]
At national level, the TFR was highest among women with no religious affiliation at 6.5. Among the women with religious affiliation Protestants had the highest TFR of 6.0, followed by Muslims with 5.9 and Catholics with 5.7.[14][15][citation needed]
one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira
Urbanization
urban population: 45.8% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
urban population: 43.5% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 4.23% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 66.26 years. Country comparison to the world: 197th
male: 64.52 years
female: 68.06 years (2022 est.)
total population: 53 years
male: 51.4 years
female: 54.7 years (2018 est.)
total population: 52.7 years
male: 51.1 years
female: 54.4 years (2017 est.)
total population:37.24 years
male:37.08 years
female:37.41 years (2000 est.)
Education expenditures
4.5% of GDP (2019) Country comparison to the world: 85th
Nationality
noun:Zambian(s)
adjective:Zambian
Demographic profile
Zambia's youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia's high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country's total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world's highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country's lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood.[19]
note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family[20]
