Zambia’s urban population rose to 45.9% of population in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A higher share means more people are living where jobs, schools and clinics are concentrated, and also where housing, water and transport come under strain. A lower share means more people are living on farms and in villages, with different opportunities and different gaps in services. Zambia's latest figure is 45.9% of population in 2025, up from 45.5% a year earlier, a rise of 0.45 percentage points. Since 2016 the share has ranged from 42.3% of population in 2016 to 45.9% of population in 2025, so the latest reading sits at the top of that range.

Why it matters. With 45.9% of population in towns and cities, close to half of Zambians depend on urban housing, water, sanitation, power and transport. Employers in those places draw on a growing pool of workers. Local authorities and the national government have to plan and pay for services for a larger urban population as the share edges up.