Zambia population pyramid 2026
22,521,915 people in 2026 (projected). Zambia’s pyramid is among the youngest anywhere: about 40% of people are under 15, while those aged 65 and over make up only about 2%.
- 2026 population
- 22.5Mrank 63 of 237
- Median age
- 18.2 yearsoldest rank 220
- Fertility rate
- 3.91births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful2.1% age 65+
Zambia population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Zambia age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 40.5% of the population, while 2.1% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 57.4% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Zambia’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 74.1: about 74 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (70.5 children and 3.6 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Zambia’s population pyramid
Steep sides from a mortality reversal
The defining feature of Zambia’s pyramid is how quickly it narrows with age. In 2026 the 0–4 band holds about 3.3 million children, the 30–34 band about 1.6 million and the 60–64 band only about 330,000. The very high birth rate explains the wide base, but the steep sides also reflect a period when adult mortality rose sharply. Life expectancy, about 53 years in 1970, had fallen to about 48 by 1990, a reversal widely attributed to the HIV epidemic, which hit Zambia and its neighbours in southern Africa particularly hard. The 2000 pyramid shows bands that thin rapidly from the mid-twenties onward, with women outnumbering men at every adult age.
Recovery since then has been strong. Life expectancy reached about 66 years in 2023, and infant mortality fell from about 91 per 1,000 births in 2000 to 38. Yet the share aged 65 and over has actually fallen, from 2.8% in 1950 to about 2.1% in 2026, because the base has kept widening faster than survivors accumulate at the top. That keeps Zambia high in the youngest populations ranking.
A smooth outline with uneven sexes at the top
Unlike many countries, Zambia’s pyramid has no notable cohort dents or bulges. Net migration has been modest relative to natural increase: an inflow of about 450,000 between 2000 and 2023 compared with nearly 14 million births. The imbalance that does stand out is between the sexes at older ages. Men and women are nearly equal up to age 45, but by 70–74 there are about 67 men per 100 women and at 80–84 about 54, in line with a five-year gap in life expectancy between women and men. The overall age structure is closest to Malawi, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
Rapid growth for decades to come
Fertility has been falling, from a peak of about 7.2 children per woman around 1970 to about 4.1 in 2023, but with about six births for every death the population grows by roughly 2.7% a year. The medium scenario projects about 38 million people in 2050 and about 64 million by 2100, still growing at the end of the century. The median age rises only slowly, from about 18 in 2026 to about 24 in 2050, because each new generation of parents is larger than the last, the mechanism described in the guide to population growth and fertility.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Zambia’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Zambia is projected to record 721,060 births (about one birth every 44 seconds) and 114,941 deaths, a natural increase of 606,119. Net migration adds +6,939 people, ranking #84 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 13,871,056 births, 3,176,107 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +449,392. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −163,981 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 69.3 years47.9 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 64.4 years45.7 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 12.9 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 35.7per 1,000 births · 126 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 48.7per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 28.3 yearssex ratio at birth 101.1
Women in Zambia are projected to live 4.9 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 126 to 35.7 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #29 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 28.3 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Zambia
The median age of 18.2 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.91 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 66.9 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,521,915 | #63 | Largest first |
| Median age | 18.2 years | #220 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.91 | #25 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +2.7% | #14 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 66.9 years | #200 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 2.1% | #234 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Zambia
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 3,314,107 | 14.7% | 1.7M / 1.7M |
| 2 | 5–9 | 3,015,238 | 13.4% | 1.5M / 1.5M |
| 3 | 10–14 | 2,791,800 | 12.4% | 1.4M / 1.4M |
| 4 | 15–19 | 2,539,474 | 11.3% | 1.3M / 1.3M |
| 5 | 20–24 | 2,143,688 | 9.5% | 1.1M / 1.1M |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Zambia has 11,150,482 males and 11,371,433 females. That is 98.1 males per 100 females, ranking #124 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.5% of the population and females for 50.5%. There are 220,951 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 68.5 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 101.1 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, slightly below the typical value of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Zambia has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 2,321,302 in 1950 to 22,521,915 in 2026, a change of 870%. Over the same span, median age moved from 16.4 to 18.2 years.
The under-15 share changed from 44.8% to 40.5%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 2.8% to 2.1%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Zambia’s population is projected to grow by about 69%, reaching 38,083,385 in 2050. The median age changes from 18.2 to 23.6 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.7 percentage points to 4.8%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 32.0%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 64,473,916. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,321,302 | 16.4 | 6.78 | 46.8 | 116,321 | 43,741 | −1,405 | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 3,153,729 | 15.9 | 6.95 | 50.6 | 154,365 | 52,029 | −3,898 | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 4,321,718 | 15.2 | 7.22 | 53.4 | 213,166 | 63,784 | −31,370 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 5,802,833 | 14.2 | 7.14 | 55.5 | 275,758 | 76,941 | −24,664 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 7,786,169 | 14.6 | 6.57 | 48.2 | 365,709 | 129,870 | −38,619 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 10,017,632 | 14.8 | 5.92 | 46.6 | 455,450 | 162,269 | −4,338 | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 13,965,594 | 15.6 | 5.36 | 56.9 | 578,071 | 129,747 | +22,761 | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 19,059,395 | 16.9 | 4.32 | 63.4 | 655,797 | 119,310 | +8,156 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 20,723,965 | 17.5 | 4.10 | 66.3 | 685,565 | 107,917 | +9,521 | +2.8% |
| 2024* | 21,314,956 | 17.7 | 4.04 | 66.5 | 697,518 | 110,084 | +7,381 | +2.8% |
| 2026* | 22,521,915 | 18.2 | 3.91 | 66.9 | 721,060 | 114,941 | +6,939 | +2.7% |
| 2030* | 25,024,901 | 19.1 | 3.67 | 67.5 | 761,909 | 126,138 | +2,795 | +2.5% |
| 2040* | 31,550,402 | 21.3 | 3.15 | 69.1 | 828,194 | 163,128 | −9,164 | +2.1% |
| 2050* | 38,083,385 | 23.6 | 2.81 | 70.5 | 880,903 | 214,704 | −19,990 | +1.7% |
| 2060* | 44,467,763 | 25.9 | 2.59 | 71.9 | 924,047 | 276,981 | −16,673 | +1.4% |
| 2070* | 50,510,901 | 28.2 | 2.41 | 73.2 | 944,412 | 343,187 | −21,359 | +1.1% |
| 2080* | 55,974,886 | 30.3 | 2.28 | 74.6 | 951,541 | 415,719 | −22,024 | +0.9% |
| 2090* | 60,677,382 | 32.4 | 2.17 | 76.0 | 945,740 | 491,063 | −31,482 | +0.7% |
| 2100* | 64,473,916 | 34.4 | 2.08 | 77.3 | 925,620 | 562,595 | −30,090 | +0.5% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 1,658,340 | 1,655,767 | 3,314,107 | 14.7% |
| 5–9 | 1,507,121 | 1,508,117 | 3,015,238 | 13.4% |
| 10–14 | 1,394,636 | 1,397,164 | 2,791,800 | 12.4% |
| 15–19 | 1,266,280 | 1,273,194 | 2,539,474 | 11.3% |
| 20–24 | 1,064,433 | 1,079,255 | 2,143,688 | 9.5% |
| 25–29 | 903,287 | 920,120 | 1,823,407 | 8.1% |
| 30–34 | 771,591 | 784,735 | 1,556,326 | 6.9% |
| 35–39 | 667,452 | 673,040 | 1,340,492 | 6.0% |
| 40–44 | 563,672 | 563,900 | 1,127,572 | 5.0% |
| 45–49 | 451,368 | 455,438 | 906,806 | 4.0% |
| 50–54 | 335,250 | 351,488 | 686,738 | 3.0% |
| 55–59 | 227,104 | 253,115 | 480,219 | 2.1% |
| 60–64 | 151,503 | 181,147 | 332,650 | 1.5% |
| 65–69 | 95,864 | 125,617 | 221,481 | 1.0% |
| 70–74 | 53,688 | 79,814 | 133,502 | 0.6% |
| 75–79 | 24,994 | 42,105 | 67,099 | 0.3% |
| 80–84 | 10,098 | 18,860 | 28,958 | 0.1% |
| 85–89 | 3,073 | 6,625 | 9,698 | 0.0% |
| 90–94 | 637 | 1,646 | 2,283 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 87 | 264 | 351 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 7 | 26 | 33 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Zambia’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Cameroon98% overlap · median age 18.2
- Malawi98% overlap · median age 18.4
- Burkina Faso98% overlap · median age 18.0
- Benin98% overlap · median age 18.2
- Nigeria98% overlap · median age 18.3
- Ivory Coast97% overlap · median age 18.5
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Zambia.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Zambia Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/zambia/
MLA
“Zambia Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/zambia/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Zambia Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/zambia/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Zambia in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Zambia's population in 2026 is projected at 22,521,915.
What is the median age in Zambia?
The projected median age in Zambia in 2026 is 18.2 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Zambia?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.91 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Zambia's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 69%, from 22.5M to 38.1M.
What share of Zambia is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 2.1% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 4.8%.
How many babies are born in Zambia each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 721,060 births and 114,941 deaths in 2026, about one birth every 44 seconds. Births exceed deaths by 606,119.
What is life expectancy in Zambia for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 69.3 years for women and 64.4 years for men, a gap of 4.9 years in favour of women.
Does Zambia have more immigrants or emigrants?
Zambia is projected to gain about 6,939 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +449,392.
What is the sex ratio in Zambia?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 98.1 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.