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Zambia is projected to count 22,521,915 residents in 2026. That is a 10-fold increase on the 2,321,302 recorded in 1950. It is growing at 2.72% a year, one of the faster rates globally, adding about 612.6K people a year. Population density sits at 30 people/km². Half the population is younger than 18.2 years, and the age structure is steadily tilting older: the median is projected to reach 23.6 by 2050. The sexes are close to evenly balanced, at 98 males per 100 females. By 2100, UN projections see it rising to 64,473,916, up 186% from 2026.
Total population
22,521,915
Density
30 people/km²
Median age
18.2 years
Growth rate
+2.72%
Zambia is experiencing rapid population growth, adding hundreds of thousands of people each year. In 2026, with a median age of 18, it is one of the world's youngest populations, though the median will rise to 24 by 2050. Looking ahead, UN projections show the population reaching 64.5M by 2100, more than double 2026's level.