Zambia’s population rose to 21.9 m people in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A larger population can mean more workers and customers, and it also means more people needing food, schooling and jobs, so the direction carries no verdict by itself. The latest figure is 21.9 million for 2025, up from 21.3 million a year earlier. That is a rise of 0.6 million people, or 2.8%. Since 2016 the population has ranged from 16.9 million in 2016 to 21.9 million in 2025, so the latest figure is the highest in that span.

Why it matters. Growth of 2.8% a year means Zambia adds roughly 0.6 million people annually, and each of them needs housing, food and eventually work. Schools, clinics and public services must expand to keep up, which puts steady pressure on government budgets. For firms, a growing and young market widens the customer base, and for households it raises competition for jobs and land.