Rural population density in Zambia
Zambia: Rural population density was 241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
up 12.6%
World rank
31st
of 53 countries
All-time high
267.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2002
All-time low
98.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1972
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Zambia, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land for rural population density in 2011.
That represents a change of up 12.6% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Zambia peaked at 267.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2002 and was at its lowest, 98.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1972.
Zambia ranks 31st of 53 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Zambia, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 99.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 100.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 101.7 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 102.45 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 104.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 103.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 103.95 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 103.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 104.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 104.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 101.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 98.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 105.21 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.3% |
| 1974 | 106.33 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 109 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 106.52 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 114.69 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 123.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.7% |
| 1979 | 148.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 149.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 158.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.2% |
| 1982 | 167.86 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.1% |
| 1983 | 165.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 171.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 170.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 171.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 169.81 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 167.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 152.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.5% |
| 1990 | 164.74 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 178.79 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 183.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 189.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 190.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 211.78 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 201.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 214.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 230.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 222.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 236.19 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 248.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 267.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 244.01 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.6% |
| 2004 | 249.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 266.44 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 245.55 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 255.67 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 251.97 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 234.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 214.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +12.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 102.64 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 99.38 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 104.11 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 111.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 98.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 148.24 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 164.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 149.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 171.26 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 198.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 164.74 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 230.92 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 249.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 234.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 267.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 227.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 214.07 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 28 Tanzania, United Republic of 291.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 29 Guinea-Bissau 289.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 30 Ghana 250.34 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 32 Guinea 231.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 33 Nigeria 227.39 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 34 Burkina Faso 218.77 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate -3.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0033 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -9.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Zambia?
- Rural population density in Zambia was 241.1 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 267.02 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2002.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1972.
- How does Zambia rank for rural population density?
- Zambia ranks 31st out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.