2010 census

Source:^[3]

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted TFR) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) :^{[11] [12]}

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Fertility data as of 2013-2014 (DHS Program):^[13]

Fertility rate by religion

At national level, the TFR was highest among women with no religious affiliation at 6.5. Among the women with religious affiliation Protestants had the highest TFR of 6.0, followed by Muslims with 5.9 and Catholics with 5.7.^{[14][15][citation needed]}

Life expectancy

More information Period, Life expectancy in Years ...

Period	Life expectancy in Years[17]
1950–1955	42.07
1955–1960	44.13
1960–1965	46.08
1965–1970	47.83
1970–1975	50.16
1975–1980	51.47
1980–1985	50.31
1985–1990	46.74
1990–1995	43.79
1995–2000	43.53
2000–2005	46.86
2005–2010	52.93
2010–2015	59.73

Close

Population

19,642,123 (2022 est.)

16,445,079 (July 2018 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.74% (male 4,005,134/female 3,964,969)

15-24 years: 20.03% (male 1,744,843/female 1,746,561)

25-54 years: 28.96% (male 2,539,697/female 2,506,724)

55-64 years: 3.01% (male 242,993/female 280,804)

65 years and over: 2.27% (male 173,582/female 221,316) (2020 est.)

0-14 years: 45.95% (male 3,796,548 /female 3,759,624)

15-24 years: 20% (male 1,643,364 /female 1,645,713)

25-54 years: 28.79% (male 2,384,765 /female 2,349,877)

55-64 years: 2.95% (male 225,586 /female 260,252)

65 years and over: 2.31% (male 166,224 /female 213,126) (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)

Birth rate

34.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 17th

41.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 6th

Death rate

6.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 152nd

12 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.49 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 18th

4.56 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 18th

5.58 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 8th

Population growth rate

2.9% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 12th

2.91% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 10th

Median age

total: 16.9 years. Country comparison to the world: 220th

male: 16.7 years

female: 17 years (2020 est.)

total: 16.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 222nd

male: 16.7 years

female: 16.9 years (2018 est.)

total: 17.2 years

male: 17.1 years

female: 17.3 years (2010 est.)

total: 16.5 years

male: 16.4 years

female: 16.6 years (2002 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Net migration rate

0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 77th

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.6% (2018)

49% (2013/14)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 91.9 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 87.1 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio: 20.8 (2015 est.)

Population distribution

one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira

Urbanization

urban population: 45.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population: 43.5% of total population (2018)

rate of urbanization: 4.23% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases: rabies

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.26 years. Country comparison to the world: 197th

male: 64.52 years

female: 68.06 years (2022 est.)

total population: 53 years

male: 51.4 years

female: 54.7 years (2018 est.)

total population: 52.7 years

male: 51.1 years

female: 54.4 years (2017 est.)

total population:37.24 years

male:37.08 years

female:37.41 years (2000 est.)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2019) Country comparison to the world: 85th

Nationality

noun:Zambian(s)

adjective:Zambian

Demographic profile

Zambia's youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia's high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country's total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world's highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country's lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood.^[19]

Languages

Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)

note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family^[20]

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 86.7%

male: 90.6%

female: 83.1% (2018)

total population: 63.4%

male: 70.9%

female: 56% (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 30.1%

male: 32.1%

female: 27.6% (2019 est.)

total: 15.2%

male: 14.6%

female: 15.8% (2012 est.)