Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Zambia

Rural population share in Zambia in 2025 — 54.1%. Ranked 59 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 28.7 pp.

2025 54.1% −0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank 59of 217
Period maximum 82.8%1960
Period minimum 54.1%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Zambia, 1960–2025506070809019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 82.8%1962: 80.9%1964: 78.7%1966: 75.4%1968: 72%1970: 69.3%1972: 66.8%1974: 64.4%1976: 62.2%1978: 60.7%1980: 60.1%1982: 60.1%1984: 60.2%1986: 60.3%1988: 60.5%1990: 60.6%1992: 60.9%1994: 61.3%1996: 62%1998: 63.3%2000: 64.1%2002: 63.9%2004: 63.2%2006: 62.2%2008: 61%2010: 60%2012: 59.2%2014: 58.4%2016: 57.7%2018: 56.9%2020: 56.1%2022: 55.4%2024: 54.5%2025: 54.1%
Change over the period: −28.7 pp Annual average: -0.44 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Zambia

Zambia 54.1%
World 42.2%
Eastern Africa computed 68.2%
Rural population share — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 54.1 −0.4 pp
2024 54.5 −0.4 pp
2023 55 −0.4 pp
2022 55.4 −0.4 pp
2021 55.8 −0.4 pp
2020 56.1 −0.4 pp
2019 56.5 −0.4 pp
2018 56.9 −0.4 pp
2017 57.3 −0.4 pp
2016 57.7 −0.4 pp
2015 58 −0.4 pp
2014 58.4 −0.4 pp
2013 58.8 −0.4 pp
2012 59.2 −0.4 pp
2011 59.6 −0.4 pp
2010 60 −0.5 pp
2009 60.5 −0.5 pp
2008 61 −0.6 pp
2007 61.6 −0.6 pp
2006 62.2 −0.5 pp
2005 62.7 −0.5 pp
2004 63.2 −0.4 pp
2003 63.6 −0.3 pp
2002 63.9 −0.2 pp
2001 64.1 −0 pp
2000 64.1 +0.3 pp
1999 63.8 +0.6 pp
1998 63.3 +0.7 pp
1997 62.6 +0.6 pp
1996 62 +0.4 pp
1995 61.6 +0.3 pp
1994 61.3 +0.2 pp
1993 61.1 +0.2 pp
1992 60.9 +0.2 pp
1991 60.7 +0.1 pp
1990 60.6 +0.1 pp
1989 60.5 +0.1 pp
1988 60.5 +0.1 pp
1987 60.4 +0.1 pp
1986 60.3 +0.1 pp
1985 60.3 +0.1 pp
1984 60.2 +0 pp
1983 60.2 +0 pp
1982 60.1 +0 pp
1981 60.1 +0 pp
1980 60.1 −0.2 pp
1979 60.3 −0.4 pp
1978 60.7 −0.7 pp
1977 61.4 −0.8 pp
1976 62.2 −1 pp
1975 63.2 −1.1 pp
1974 64.4 −1.2 pp
1973 65.6 −1.3 pp
1972 66.8 −1.3 pp
1971 68.1 −1.3 pp
1970 69.3 −1.2 pp
1969 70.6 −1.4 pp
1968 72 −1.7 pp
1967 73.6 −1.8 pp
1966 75.4 −1.7 pp
1965 77.1 −1.6 pp
1964 78.7 −1.2 pp
1963 79.9 −1 pp
1962 80.9 −0.9 pp
1961 81.9 −0.9 pp
1960 82.8

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.