Children under age 5 in Zambia
Zambia: Children under age 5 was 3.15 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.15 million
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
46th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.15 million
in 2023
All-time low
427,153
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Children under age 5 in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, children under age 5 in Zambia stood at 3.15 million. 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, children under age 5 in Zambia peaked at 3.15 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 427,153, 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.
Children under age 5 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 427,153 | — |
| 1951 | 443,565 | +3.8% |
| 1952 | 460,395 | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 479,343 | +4.1% |
| 1954 | 499,323 | +4.2% |
| 1955 | 516,681 | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 532,363 | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 548,707 | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 565,832 | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 583,942 | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 603,195 | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 623,599 | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 644,890 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 667,024 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 689,672 | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 712,783 | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 736,685 | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 761,475 | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 787,438 | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 814,619 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 843,129 | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 872,992 | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 904,139 | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 936,400 | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 969,463 | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 1.00 million | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.04 million | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 1.07 million | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 1.10 million | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 1.13 million | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 1.16 million | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.18 million | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 1.21 million | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 1.24 million | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 1.27 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.30 million | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 1.34 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 1.38 million | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 1.42 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 1.45 million | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 1.49 million | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 1.52 million | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 1.56 million | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 1.59 million | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1.63 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 1.67 million | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.71 million | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.75 million | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 1.80 million | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.85 million | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.95 million | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.00 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 2.05 million | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.11 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 2.17 million | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 2.24 million | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 2.32 million | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 2.40 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 2.48 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 2.55 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 2.62 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.67 million | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 2.73 million | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.77 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.81 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.85 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 2.88 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 2.92 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 2.96 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 3.01 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 3.05 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.10 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.15 million | +1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.15 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.25 million, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.15 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.19 million, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 505,730 | 427,153 | 583,942 | 10 |
| 1960s | 704,138 | 603,195 | 814,619 | 10 |
| 1970s | 986,791 | 843,129 | 1.13 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.29 million | 1.16 million | 1.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 million | 1.49 million | 1.85 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.16 million | 1.90 million | 2.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.78 million | 2.55 million | 2.96 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.08 million | 3.01 million | 3.15 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- 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)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children under age 5 in Zambia?
- Children under age 5 in Zambia was 3.15 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children under age 5 recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.15 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest children under age 5 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 427,153 in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for children under age 5?
- Zambia ranks 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children under age 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Children under age 5. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).