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Zambia: Population density (people per sq. km of land area)

In , Zambia's Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 27.88.

That's up 2.8% from 2022, the highest value on record.

The global average for this indicator in 2023 was 453.71 . Zambia ranks #174 globally out of 215 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #37 of 48.

Source: World Bank Open Data (EN.POP.DNST) • Data as of 2023

Trend (2004–2023)

Zambia Population density (people per sq. km of land area) trend

Highlights

Peak
27.88
Trough
15.25
1-year change
+2.8%
5-year change
+15.3%
+2.9% / yr
10-year change
+34.6%
+3.0% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Population density (people per sq. km of land area)
27.8776
27.1095
26.3706
25.6385
24.9046
24.1778
23.4619
22.7531
22.0599
21.3822

About Population density (people per sq. km of land area)

Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.

Indicator code: EN.POP.DNSTCategory: Environment

Frequently asked questions

What was Zambia's Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in 2023?
In 2023, Zambia's Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 27.88, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Zambia's Population density (people per sq. km of land area) rising or falling?
Zambia's Population density (people per sq. km of land area) rose 2.8% from 2022 to 2023.
How does Zambia rank globally on Population density (people per sq. km of land area)?
In 2023, Zambia ranked #174 out of 215 countries reporting Population density (people per sq. km of land area).
How does Zambia's Population density (people per sq. km of land area) compare to the world average?
The global average for Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in 2023 was 453.71, so Zambia is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #37 of 48.
What is Population density (people per sq. km of land area) and how is it measured?
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (EN.POP.DNST), CC BY 4.0.