Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia
Zambia: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 53.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia stood at 53.2%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia peaked at 53.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 45.0%, in 1950.
Zambia ranks 203rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 45.0% | — |
| 1955 | 45.9% | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 46.9% | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 48.1% | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 49.4% | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 50.4% | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 50.3% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 48.8% | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 47.7% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 47.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 48.1% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 50.1% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 51.6% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 52.7% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 53.2% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 45.5% | 45.0% | 45.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 47.5% | 46.9% | 48.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 49.9% | 49.4% | 50.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 49.6% | 48.8% | 50.3% | 2 |
| 1990s | 47.8% | 47.7% | 47.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 49.1% | 48.1% | 50.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 52.2% | 51.6% | 52.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 53.2% | 53.2% | 53.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 200 Slovakia 53.5% compare
- 201 Tanzania, United Republic of 53.5% compare
- 202 Republic of Moldova 53.4% compare
- 204 Chad 51.5% compare
- 205 Bosnia and Herzegovina 51.2% compare
- 206 Slovenia 50.3% compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 19.51 (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Zambia was 53.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.0% in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Zambia ranks 203rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.