Share of population living in urban areas in Zambia
Zambia: Share of population living in urban areas was 53.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Zambia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas in Zambia is 53.2%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban 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 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% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 53.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.3%, 75% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 53.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.4%, 77% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
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 share of population living in urban areas in Zambia?
- Share of population living in urban 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 areas recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 53.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.0% in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Zambia ranks 203rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban 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 areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.