Demographics of Zambia

Zambia's population (1961-2008).

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Zambia, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and others aspects of the population.

Ethnic groups

Zambia's population comprises more than 70 Bantu-speaking ethnic groups. Some ethnic groups are small, and only two have enough people to constitute at least 10% of the population. The majority of Zambians are subsistence farmers, but the country is also fairly urbanised, with 42% of the population being city residents. The predominant religion is a blend of traditional beliefs and Christianity.

Expatriates, mostly British or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens (about 40,000), live mainly in Lusaka and in the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, where they are either employed in mines, financial and related activities or retired. Zambia also has a small but economically important Asian population, most of whom are Indians.

2000 census

African: 99.5% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups)
Other: 0.5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans)

(2000 Census)

Population

According to Population Pyramid of the World the total population of Zambia is 15 519 000 in 2015,[1] compared to only 2 340 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 46.4%, 50.6% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.1% was 65 years or older.[2]

Total population (x 1000)[3] Population aged 0–14 (%) Population aged 15–64 (%) Population aged 65+ (%)
1950 2 34044.952.32.7
1955 2 65344.752.72.6
1960 3 04544.952.62.5
1965 3 53745.252.22.6
1970 4 13946.450.92.7
1975 4 90047.050.32.7
1980 5 77547.349.92.8
1985 6 78546.650.62.8
1990 7 86045.851.42.8
1995 8 91945.351.82.9
2000 10 20245.351.82.9
2005 11 46245.951.03.0
2010 13 08946.450.63.1

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Zambia not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. [2]

Period Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR*
1950-1955 117 000 54 000 63 00046.821.725.16.75148
1955-1960 136 000 57 000 78 00047.620.127.56.90137
1960-1965 160 000 62 000 98 00048.618.829.87.15127
1965-1970 189 000 68 000 121 00049.317.731.67.40118
1970-1975 219 000 72 000 147 00048.516.032.57.43107
1975-1980 254 000 79 000 174 00047.514.932.67.38100
1980-1985 283 000 91 000 192 00045.114.430.66.9599
1985-1990 322 000 113 000 209 00044.015.428.66.66103
1990-1995 365 000 151 000 214 00043.518.025.56.30107
1995-2000 427 000 187 000 240 00044.619.625.16.20105
2000-2005 480 000 212 000 269 00044.419.624.86.10103
2005-2010 547 000 204 000 342 00044.516.727.96.2095
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Fertility and Births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted TFR) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) :[4] [5]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Wanted TFR) (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Wanted TFR) (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Wanted TFR) (Rural)
1992 45 6,5 (5,4) 44 5,8 (4,7) 46 7,1 (6,2)
1996 45,2 6,08 (5,2) 43,7 5,08 (4,1) 46,1 6,86 (6,1)
2001-2002 43,3 5,9 (4,9) 36,7 4,3 (3,4) 47,0 6,9 (5,8)
2007 43,6 6,2 (5,2) 36,3 4,3 (3,6) 47,5 7,5 (6,3)
2013-2014 37,2 5,3 (4,5) 32,2 3,7 (3,3) 40,3 6,6 (5,6)

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Median age

total: 17.2 years
male: 17.1 years
female: 17.3 years (2010 est.)
total: 16.46 years
male: 16.26 years
female: 16.67 years (2005 est.)
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.6 years (2002)

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: 52.03 years
male: 50.81 years
female: 53.28 years (2010 est.)
total population: 39.7 years
male: 39.43 years
female: 39.98 years (2005 est.)
total population:37.24 years
male:37.08 years
female:37.41 years (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate

Main article: HIV/AIDS in Zambia
15.2% (2007 est.)
16.5% (2003 est.)
21.5% (2001 est.)

people living with HIV/AIDS

1.1 million (2007 est.)
920,000 (2003 est.)
1.2 million (2001 est.)

deaths

56,000 (2007 est.)
89,000 (2003 est.)
120,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality

noun:Zambian(s)
adjective:Zambian

Religions

Further information: Religion in Zambia
Christian 87%, Muslim and Hindu 1%, indigenous beliefs and other 12%[6]

Languages

Further information: Languages of Zambia
English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonde, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages (Ambo - Aushi - Bisa - Chikunda - Cishinga - Chokwe - Gova - Ila - Inamwanga - Iwa - Kabende - Kosa - Kunda - Kwandi - Kwandu - Kwangwa - Lala - Lamba - Lenje - Leya - Lima - Liyuwa - Luano - Lucazi - Lumbu - Lundwe - Lungu - Lunda - Makoma - Mambwe - Mashasha - Mashi - Mbowe - Mbukushu - Mbumi - Mbunda - Mbwela - Mukulu - Mulonga - Ndembu - Ng'umbo - Nkoya - Nsenga - Nyengo - Nyiha - Sala - Seba - Senga - Shanjo - Shila - Simaa - Soli - Subiya - Swaka - Tabwa - Tambo - Toka - Totela - Tumbuka - Twa - Unga - Wandya - Yombe)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English

total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.6%
female: 71.3% (1995 est.)

See also

References