Demographics of Zambia
Encyclopedia
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 other aspects of the population.
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
.
Expatriate
s, mostly British
or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens (about 120,000), 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 India
n Muslims.
Source: CIA Factbooks 2000-2010.
Source: CIA Factbooks 2000–2010.
Other: 5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans)
(2000 Census)
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, including population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
's population comprises more than 70 Bantu
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...
-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
Subsistence agriculture
Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficiency farming in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed their families. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to eat and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made with an eye...
, but the country is also fairly urbanised
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
, with 42% of the population being city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
residents. The predominant religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
is a blend of traditional beliefs and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
Expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s, mostly British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens (about 120,000), live mainly in Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
and in the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, where they are either employed in mines
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, financial and related activities or retired. Zambia also has a small but economically important Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
population, most of whom are India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Muslims.
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.Population
| Year | Population (July est.) |
Growth rate (est.) |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 12,056,923 | +1.64% | ||||||||||
| 2009 | 11,862,740 | +1.66% | ||||||||||
| 2008 | 11,669,534 | +1.67% | ||||||||||
| 2007 | 11,477,447 | -0.21% | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 11,502,010 | +2.13% | ||||||||||
| 2005 | 11,261,795 | +7.64% | ||||||||||
| 2004 | 10,462,436 | +1.51% | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 10,307,333 | N/A | ||||||||||
| 2000 | 9,582,418 | N/A | ||||||||||
- note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
; this can result in lower life expectancyLife expectancyLife expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
Source: CIA Factbooks 2000-2010.
Birth / Death / Net Migration Rates
| Year | Birth rate (est.): births/1000 pop. |
Death rate (est.): deaths/1000 pop. |
Net migration rate (est.): migrants/1000 pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 39.93 | 21.15 | -2.61 |
| 2009 | 40.24 | 21.34 | -2.5 |
| 2008 | 40.52 | 21.35 | -2.63 |
| 2007 | 40.78 | 21.46 | -2.68 |
| 2006 | 41 | 19.93 | 0 |
| 2005 | 41.38 | 20.23 | 0 |
| 2004 | 38.99 | 24.35 | 0 |
| 2003 | 39.53 | 24.3 | N/A |
| 2000 | 41.9 | 22.08 | -0.33 |
Source: CIA Factbooks 2000–2010.
Age structure
| Year | 0–14 years: (male) |
0–14 years: (female) |
0–14 years: (% total) |
15–64 years (male): |
15–64 years (female): |
15–64 years (% total): |
65 years & over (male): |
65 years & over (female): |
65 years & over (% total): |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,710,947 | 2,685,181 | 44.8% | 3,199,685 | 3,180,292 | 52.9% | 113,299 | 167,519 | 2.3% |
| 2009 | 2,685,142 | 2,659,771 | 45.1 | 3,122,305 | 3,116,846 | 52.6% | 114,477 | 164,199 | 2.3% |
| 2008 | 2,659,572 | 2,634,379 | 45.4% | 3,045,536 | 3,053,465 | 52.3% | 115,662 | 160,920 | 2.4% |
| 2007 | 2,633,578 | 2,608,714 | 45.7% | 2,969,913 | 2,990,923 | 51.9% | 116,818 | 157,501 | 2.4% |
| 2006 | 2,673,891 | 2,656,268 | 46.3% | 2,925,910 | 2,969,324 | 51.3% | 117,877 | 158,740 | 2.4% |
| 2005 | 2,626,911 | 2,609,857 | 46.5% | 2,848,402 | 2,904,376 | 51.1% | 118,043 | 154,206 | 2.4% |
| 2004 | 2,419,361 | 2,401,538 | 46.1% | 2,684,001 | 2,667,528 | 51.1% | 132,166 | 157,842 | 2.8% |
| 2003 | 2,396,313 | 2,378,567 | 46.3% | 2,626,961 | 2,621,818 | 50.9% | 131,196 | 152,478 | 2.8% |
| 2000 | 2,290,559 | 2,270,945 | 48% | 2,369,317 | 2,413,070 | 50% | 105,443 | 133,084 | 2% |
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.)
- at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
- total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
- at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
- total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
- at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:0.79 male(s)/female
- total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total: 99.92 deaths/1,000 live births
- male: 104.67 deaths/1,000 live births
- female: 95.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
- total: 88.29 deaths/1,000 live births
- male: 95.63 deaths/1,000 live births
- female: 80.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
- total: 99.29 deaths/1,000 live births
- female: 91.77 deaths/1,000 live births
- male: 106.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
- total 92.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 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: 35.25 years
- male: 35.25 years
- female: 35.25 years (2003 est.)
- total population:37.24 years
- male:37.08 years
- female:37.41 years (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
- 15.2% (2007 est.)
- 16.5% (2003 est.)
- 21.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
- 1.1 million (2007 est.)
- 920,000 (2003 est.)
- 1.2 million (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups
African: 95% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups)Other: 5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans)
(2000 Census)
Languages
- English (official), major vernaculars - BembaBemba languageThe Bemba language, ChiBemba , is a major Bantu language spoken primarily in north-eastern Zambia by the Bemba people and as a lingua franca by about 18 related ethnic groups, including the Bisa people of Mpika and Lake Bangweulu, and to a lesser extent in Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the...
, KaondeKaonde languageKaonde, also known as Chikaonde and Kawonde, is a Bantu language that is spoken primarily in Zambia but also in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kaonde and its dialects are spoken and understood by perhaps 350,000 people or more. It is estimated that approximately 3% of Zambians are native...
, LoziLozi languageLozi, also known as siLozi and Rozi, is a Bantu language of the Niger–Congo language family within the Sotho languages branch of Zone S , that is spoken by the Lozi people, primarily in southwestern Zambia and in surrounding countries...
, LundaLunda languageLunda, also known as Chilunda, is a Bantu language spoken in Zambia, Angola and, to a lesser extent, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lunda and its dialects are spoken and understood by perhaps 2.6% of Zambians , and the language is used mainly in the northern part of that...
, LuvaleLuvale languageLuvale is a Bantu language spoken by the Lovale people of Angola and Zambia. It is recognized as a regional language for educational and administrative purposes in Zambia, where about 168,000 people speak it.Luvale is closely related to Chokwe.-External links:**...
, NyanjaChichewa languageChewa, also known as Nyanja, is a language of the Bantu language family. The gender prefix chi- is used for languages, so the language is also known as Chichewa and Chinyanja.-Distribution:...
, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages (Ambo - Aushi - Bisa - Chikunda - Cishinga - ChokweChokwe languageChokwe is the Bantu language spoken by the Chokwe people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Zambia. It is recognized as a national language of Angola, where about 456,000 people spoke it as of 1991. Another half a million speakers lived in the Congo in 1990, and some 44,200 in...
- Gova - Ila - Inamwanga - Iwa - Kabende - Kosa - KundaKunda languageKunda is a Bantu language of Zimbabwe and Zambia, with a few thousand speakers in Mozambique....
- Kwandi - Kwandu - Kwangwa - Lala - LambaLamba languageLamba is a language found in Zambia. It is related to Bemba and is commonly spoken in the Copperbelt. There are about 210,000 native speakers in the northern parts of Zambia and southern fringes of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lamba is also spoken in Lusaka, mainly because many speakers...
- LenjeLenje languageLenje is a Bantu language of central Zambia. The Lukanga dialect is spoken by the Lukanga Twa Pygmies, fishermen of the Lukanga Swamp....
- Leya - Lima - Liyuwa - Luano - LucaziLucazi languageLucazi or Luchazi is a Bantu language of Angola and Zambia. It is closely related to Ngangela....
- LumbuLumbu languageLumbu is a Bantu language spoken in Gabon and the Republic of Congo....
- Lundwe - Lungu - LundaLunda languageLunda, also known as Chilunda, is a Bantu language spoken in Zambia, Angola and, to a lesser extent, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lunda and its dialects are spoken and understood by perhaps 2.6% of Zambians , and the language is used mainly in the northern part of that...
- Makoma - Mambwe - Mashasha - Mashi - Mbowe - MbukushuMbukushu languageMbukushu or Thimbukushu is a Bantu language spoken by 45,000 people along the Okavango River in Namibia, where it is a national language; in Botswana; in Angola; and in Zambia, where it is an official regional language. It appears to be an divergent lineage of Bantu.Mbukushu is one of several...
- Mbumi - MbundaMbunda languageMbunda is a Bantu language of Zambia and Angola....
- MbwelaMbwela languageMbwela is a Bantu language of Angola. It is closely related to Ngangela....
- MukuluMukulu languageMukulu is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in central Chad. The local name for the language is Gergiko . This is the name used for mother-tongue literacy materials...
- Mulonga - Ndembu - Ng'umbo - NkoyaNkoya languageNkoya is a Bantu language of Zambia. It may be one of the Luba languages, and is at least Luban. Mbwera dialect is distinct....
- NsengaNsenga languageNsenga, also known as Senga, is a Bantu language of Zambia and Mozambique....
- Nyengo - NyihaNyiha languageNyiha is a Bantu language primarily spoken in Tanzania and Zambia. The language of the 10,000 speakers in Malawi is different enough to sometimes be considered a distinct language....
- Sala - Seba - Senga - Shanjo - Shila - Simaa - Soli - Subiya - Swaka - Tabwa - Tambo - Toka - Totela - TumbukaTumbuka languageThe Tumbuka language is a Bantu language which is spoken in parts of Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania.The language of the Tumbuka people is called chiTumbuka — the chi- marker in front of Tumbuka means “thing”, “concept”, and is understood in this case “the language of ”...
- 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
- Languages of ZambiaLanguages of ZambiaIn Zambia there are over 70 spoken languages. The most spoken one nationwide is Bemba, while Nyanja is the most popular language in Lusaka, the capital...
- Cultures of Zambia
- History of Church activities in ZambiaHistory of Church activities in ZambiaChristianity has been very much at the heart of the narrative the Zambian region since the European colonial explorations into the interior of Africa in the mid 19th century...