Number of children under 5 in Zambia
Zambia: Number of children under 5 was 3.15 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.15 million people
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
46th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.15 million people
in 2023
All-time low
427,153 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children under 5 in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, number of children under 5 in Zambia stood at 3.15 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children under 5 in Zambia peaked at 3.15 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 427,153 people, in 1950.
Zambia ranks 46th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of children under 5 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 427,153 people | — |
| 1951 | 443,565 people | +3.8% |
| 1952 | 460,395 people | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 479,343 people | +4.1% |
| 1954 | 499,323 people | +4.2% |
| 1955 | 516,681 people | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 532,363 people | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 548,707 people | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 565,832 people | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 583,942 people | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 603,195 people | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 623,599 people | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 644,890 people | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 667,024 people | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 689,672 people | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 712,783 people | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 736,685 people | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 761,475 people | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 787,438 people | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 814,619 people | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 843,129 people | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 872,992 people | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 904,139 people | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 936,400 people | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 969,463 people | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 1.00 million people | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.04 million people | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 1.07 million people | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 1.10 million people | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 1.13 million people | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 1.16 million people | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.18 million people | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 1.21 million people | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 1.24 million people | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 1.27 million people | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.30 million people | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 1.34 million people | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 1.38 million people | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 1.42 million people | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 1.45 million people | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 1.49 million people | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 1.52 million people | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 1.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 1.59 million people | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1.63 million people | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 1.67 million people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.71 million people | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.75 million people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 1.80 million people | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.85 million people | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million people | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.95 million people | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.00 million people | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 2.05 million people | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.11 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 2.17 million people | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 2.24 million people | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 2.32 million people | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 2.40 million people | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 2.48 million people | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 2.55 million people | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 2.62 million people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.67 million people | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 2.73 million people | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.77 million people | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.81 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.85 million people | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 2.88 million people | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 2.92 million people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 2.96 million people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 3.01 million people | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 3.05 million people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.10 million people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.15 million people | +1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.15 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.25 million people, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.15 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.19 million people, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 505,730 people | 427,153 people | 583,942 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 704,138 people | 603,195 people | 814,619 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 986,791 people | 843,129 people | 1.13 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.29 million people | 1.16 million people | 1.45 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 million people | 1.49 million people | 1.85 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.16 million people | 1.90 million people | 2.48 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.78 million people | 2.55 million people | 2.96 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.08 million people | 3.01 million people | 3.15 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of children under 5 in Zambia?
- Number of children under 5 in Zambia was 3.15 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children under 5 recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.15 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children under 5 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 427,153 people in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for number of children under 5?
- Zambia ranks 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children under 5 rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children under 5. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 0-4.