Urban area over the long-term in Zambia
Zambia: Urban area over the long-term was 1,407 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,407 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
83rd
of 202 countries
All-time high
1,407 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0004 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Zambia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in Zambia stood at 1,407 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 46.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Zambia peaked at 1,407 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0004 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Zambia 83rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Zambia, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0013 km² per grid cell | +260.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0045 km² per grid cell | +250.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0155 km² per grid cell | +242.9% |
| 1400 | 0.0523 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1500 | 0.1744 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1600 | 0.5675 km² per grid cell | +225.5% |
| 1700 | 3.11 km² per grid cell | +447.5% |
| 1710 | 3.86 km² per grid cell | +24.3% |
| 1720 | 4.62 km² per grid cell | +19.7% |
| 1730 | 5.5 km² per grid cell | +18.9% |
| 1740 | 6.49 km² per grid cell | +18.1% |
| 1750 | 7.63 km² per grid cell | +17.5% |
| 1760 | 8.92 km² per grid cell | +17.0% |
| 1770 | 10.39 km² per grid cell | +16.5% |
| 1780 | 12.06 km² per grid cell | +16.1% |
| 1790 | 13.96 km² per grid cell | +15.7% |
| 1800 | 16.1 km² per grid cell | +15.4% |
| 1810 | 18.53 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1820 | 21.27 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1830 | 24.37 km² per grid cell | +14.6% |
| 1840 | 27.87 km² per grid cell | +14.3% |
| 1850 | 31.81 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1860 | 35.18 km² per grid cell | +10.6% |
| 1870 | 38.8 km² per grid cell | +10.3% |
| 1880 | 42.96 km² per grid cell | +10.7% |
| 1890 | 48.42 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1900 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +7.2% |
| 1910 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 51.92 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 53.45 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 56.22 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 1955 | 59.21 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1956 | 62.43 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 1957 | 65.91 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1958 | 69.68 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 73.77 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1960 | 78.23 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1961 | 83.08 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1962 | 88.37 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 94.42 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1964 | 102.61 km² per grid cell | +8.7% |
| 1965 | 111.57 km² per grid cell | +8.7% |
| 1966 | 121.38 km² per grid cell | +8.8% |
| 1967 | 132.12 km² per grid cell | +8.8% |
| 1968 | 143.92 km² per grid cell | +8.9% |
| 1969 | 156.89 km² per grid cell | +9.0% |
| 1970 | 167.51 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 178.28 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 190.18 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 203.19 km² per grid cell | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 217.3 km² per grid cell | +6.9% |
| 1975 | 232.44 km² per grid cell | +7.0% |
| 1976 | 247.19 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 262.98 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 279.94 km² per grid cell | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 298.24 km² per grid cell | +6.5% |
| 1980 | 318.03 km² per grid cell | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 329.88 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 341.81 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 354.41 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 367.5 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 380.98 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 394.12 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 407.67 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 421.57 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 435.76 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 450.22 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 460.68 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 470.4 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 480.45 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 491.32 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 503.34 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 514.2 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 526.27 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 538.99 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 551.65 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 563.75 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 583.11 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 602.9 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 623.24 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 644.27 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 666.14 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 688.88 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 712.5 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 737.17 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 763.09 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 746.94 km² per grid cell | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 787.18 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 828.62 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 871.25 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 915.08 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 960.11 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 999.42 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 1,035 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 1,071 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 1,108 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1,146 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 1,213 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 1,260 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 1,308 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 1,357 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 1,407 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1,407 km² per grid cell is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 1.7× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1,407 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 1.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +447.5% | 0.5675 km² per grid cell | 3.11 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +260.0% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0013 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +250.0% | 0.0013 km² per grid cell | 0.0045 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +242.9% | 0.0045 km² per grid cell | 0.0155 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +237.5% | 0.0155 km² per grid cell | 0.0523 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +233.3% | 0.0523 km² per grid cell | 0.1744 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0013 km² per grid cell | 0.0013 km² per grid cell | 0.0013 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0045 km² per grid cell | 0.0045 km² per grid cell | 0.0045 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0155 km² per grid cell | 0.0155 km² per grid cell | 0.0155 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0523 km² per grid cell | 0.0523 km² per grid cell | 0.0523 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1744 km² per grid cell | 0.1744 km² per grid cell | 0.1744 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.5675 km² per grid cell | 0.5675 km² per grid cell | 0.5675 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.11 km² per grid cell | 3.11 km² per grid cell | 3.11 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.86 km² per grid cell | 3.86 km² per grid cell | 3.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.62 km² per grid cell | 4.62 km² per grid cell | 4.62 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.5 km² per grid cell | 5.5 km² per grid cell | 5.5 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 6.49 km² per grid cell | 6.49 km² per grid cell | 6.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 7.63 km² per grid cell | 7.63 km² per grid cell | 7.63 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 8.92 km² per grid cell | 8.92 km² per grid cell | 8.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 10.39 km² per grid cell | 10.39 km² per grid cell | 10.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 12.06 km² per grid cell | 12.06 km² per grid cell | 12.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 13.96 km² per grid cell | 13.96 km² per grid cell | 13.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 16.1 km² per grid cell | 16.1 km² per grid cell | 16.1 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 18.53 km² per grid cell | 18.53 km² per grid cell | 18.53 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 21.27 km² per grid cell | 21.27 km² per grid cell | 21.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 24.37 km² per grid cell | 24.37 km² per grid cell | 24.37 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 27.87 km² per grid cell | 27.87 km² per grid cell | 27.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 31.81 km² per grid cell | 31.81 km² per grid cell | 31.81 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 35.18 km² per grid cell | 35.18 km² per grid cell | 35.18 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 38.8 km² per grid cell | 38.8 km² per grid cell | 38.8 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 42.96 km² per grid cell | 42.96 km² per grid cell | 42.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 48.42 km² per grid cell | 48.42 km² per grid cell | 48.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 59.64 km² per grid cell | 51.92 km² per grid cell | 73.77 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 111.26 km² per grid cell | 78.23 km² per grid cell | 156.89 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 227.72 km² per grid cell | 167.51 km² per grid cell | 298.24 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 375.17 km² per grid cell | 318.03 km² per grid cell | 435.76 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 498.75 km² per grid cell | 450.22 km² per grid cell | 551.65 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 658.5 km² per grid cell | 563.75 km² per grid cell | 763.09 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 932.28 km² per grid cell | 746.94 km² per grid cell | 1,108 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,282 km² per grid cell | 1,146 km² per grid cell | 1,407 km² per grid cell | 6 |
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 urban area over the long-term in Zambia?
- Urban area over the long-term in Zambia was 1,407 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,407 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0004 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Zambia rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Zambia ranks 83rd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.