Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Zambia

Urban population share in Zambia in 2025 — 45.9%. Ranked 159 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 28.7 pp.

2025 45.9% +0.4 pp vs 2024
World rank 159of 217
Period maximum 45.9%2025
Period minimum 17.2%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Zambia, 1960–2025102030405019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.2%1962: 19.1%1964: 21.3%1966: 24.6%1968: 28%1970: 30.7%1972: 33.2%1974: 35.6%1976: 37.8%1978: 39.3%1980: 39.9%1982: 39.9%1984: 39.8%1986: 39.7%1988: 39.5%1990: 39.4%1992: 39.1%1994: 38.7%1996: 38%1998: 36.7%2000: 35.9%2002: 36.1%2004: 36.8%2006: 37.8%2008: 39%2010: 40%2012: 40.8%2014: 41.6%2016: 42.3%2018: 43.1%2020: 43.9%2022: 44.6%2024: 45.5%2025: 45.9%
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 45.9%
World 57.8%
Eastern Africa computed 31.8%
Urban population share — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 45.9 +0.4 pp
2024 45.5 +0.4 pp
2023 45 +0.4 pp
2022 44.6 +0.4 pp
2021 44.2 +0.4 pp
2020 43.9 +0.4 pp
2019 43.5 +0.4 pp
2018 43.1 +0.4 pp
2017 42.7 +0.4 pp
2016 42.3 +0.4 pp
2015 42 +0.4 pp
2014 41.6 +0.4 pp
2013 41.2 +0.4 pp
2012 40.8 +0.4 pp
2011 40.4 +0.4 pp
2010 40 +0.5 pp
2009 39.5 +0.5 pp
2008 39 +0.6 pp
2007 38.4 +0.6 pp
2006 37.8 +0.5 pp
2005 37.3 +0.5 pp
2004 36.8 +0.4 pp
2003 36.4 +0.3 pp
2002 36.1 +0.2 pp
2001 35.9 +0 pp
2000 35.9 −0.3 pp
1999 36.2 −0.6 pp
1998 36.7 −0.7 pp
1997 37.4 −0.6 pp
1996 38 −0.4 pp
1995 38.4 −0.3 pp
1994 38.7 −0.2 pp
1993 38.9 −0.2 pp
1992 39.1 −0.2 pp
1991 39.3 −0.1 pp
1990 39.4 −0.1 pp
1989 39.5 −0.1 pp
1988 39.5 −0.1 pp
1987 39.6 −0.1 pp
1986 39.7 −0.1 pp
1985 39.7 −0.1 pp
1984 39.8 −0 pp
1983 39.8 −0 pp
1982 39.9 −0 pp
1981 39.9 −0 pp
1980 39.9 +0.2 pp
1979 39.7 +0.4 pp
1978 39.3 +0.7 pp
1977 38.6 +0.8 pp
1976 37.8 +1 pp
1975 36.8 +1.1 pp
1974 35.6 +1.2 pp
1973 34.4 +1.3 pp
1972 33.2 +1.3 pp
1971 31.9 +1.3 pp
1970 30.7 +1.2 pp
1969 29.4 +1.4 pp
1968 28 +1.7 pp
1967 26.4 +1.8 pp
1966 24.6 +1.7 pp
1965 22.9 +1.6 pp
1964 21.3 +1.2 pp
1963 20.1 +1 pp
1962 19.1 +0.9 pp
1961 18.1 +0.9 pp
1960 17.2

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

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