The Zambia Statistics Agency says Zambia’s population is projected to reach 39.9 million by 2047, reflecting a demographic shift marked by slowing annual growth rates, increased urbanisation, and rising life expectancy.
ZAMSTATS Statistician General Sheila Mudenda says the female population is expected to remain consistently higher than the male population throughout the projection period.
She says Zambia is projected to record an average annual population growth rate of 2.7 percent between 2023 and 2047, with rural areas averaging 2.3 percent and urban areas averaging 3.0 percent.
Regionally, urban areas are expected to maintain the highest growth rates, though these will decline from 3.4 percent in 2023 to 2.6 percent in 2047. In contrast, rural population growth is projected to decrease from 2.8 percent to 1.7 percent over the same period.
Meanwhile, life expectancy for both males and females is expected to rise steadily. Male life expectancy is projected to increase by 6.6 years, from 64.2 years in 2023 to 70.8 years in 2047, while female life expectancy is expected to rise by 6.2 years, from 69.6 years to 75.8 years.
By Cherish Sibote
