Birth rates and death rates in Zambia
Zambia: Birth rates and death rates was 5.21 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
5.21
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
203rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
18.84
in 1950
All-time low
5.21
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 5.21 for birth rates and death rates in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% on the previous year and down 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in Zambia peaked at 18.84 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.21, in 2023.
That places Zambia 203rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rates and death rates in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.84 | — |
| 1951 | 18.72 | -0.7% |
| 1952 | 18.51 | -1.1% |
| 1953 | 18.27 | -1.3% |
| 1954 | 18.02 | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 17.76 | -1.5% |
| 1956 | 17.5 | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 17.27 | -1.3% |
| 1958 | 16.98 | -1.6% |
| 1959 | 16.73 | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 16.5 | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 16.25 | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 16.06 | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 15.89 | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 16.09 | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 15.57 | -3.2% |
| 1966 | 15.43 | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 15.28 | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 15.14 | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 14.94 | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 14.76 | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 14.49 | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 14.21 | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 13.9 | -2.2% |
| 1974 | 13.63 | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 13.43 | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 13.22 | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 13.1 | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 13.03 | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 13.09 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 13.26 | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 13.43 | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 13.68 | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 13.99 | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 14.38 | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 14.8 | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 15.22 | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 15.59 | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 15.96 | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 16.36 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 16.68 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 17.05 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 17.2 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 17.27 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 17.34 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 17.4 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 17.43 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 17.27 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 17.12 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 16.82 | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 16.2 | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 15.46 | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 14.65 | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 13.79 | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 13.11 | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 12.37 | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 11.7 | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 11.05 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 10.41 | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 9.83 | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 9.29 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 8.82 | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 8.39 | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 8.02 | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 7.69 | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 7.4 | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 7.2 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 7 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 6.78 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 6.48 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 6.26 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 6.61 | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 5.58 | -15.5% |
| 2023 | 5.21 | -6.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 5.21 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.52, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 5.21 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.2, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 17.86 | 16.73 | 18.84 | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.72 | 14.94 | 16.5 | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.69 | 13.03 | 14.76 | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.67 | 13.26 | 16.36 | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.16 | 16.68 | 17.43 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.86 | 9.83 | 16.2 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.71 | 6.48 | 9.29 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.91 | 5.21 | 6.61 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in Zambia?
- Birth rates and death rates in Zambia was 5.21 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.84 in 1950.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.21 in 2023.
- How does Zambia rank for birth rates and death rates?
- Zambia ranks 203rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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