Rural population as a share of total population fell 1.02% to 54.8% in Zambia in 2021, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in Zambia reached an all time high of 81.9% in 1960 and an all time low of 54.8% in 2021. When compared to Zambia's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in Angola amounted to 32.5%, 64.0% in Tanzania, 67.7% in Zimbabwe and 53.8% in Dem. Republic of the Congo in 2021.
Zambia has been ranked 48th within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population, 4 places below the position seen 10 years ago.
| Rural Population (As % of Total) | Unit | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Angola | % | 36.6% | 35.9% | 35.2% | 34.5% | 33.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| Botswana | % | 32.8% | 32.1% | 31.3% | 30.6% | 29.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| Central African Republic | % | 59.7% | 59.4% | 59.0% | 58.6% | 58.2% | ||||||||||||||||
| Congo | % | 34.5% | 34.0% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 32.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Dem. Republic of the Congo | % | 57.3% | 56.7% | 56.1% | 55.5% | 55.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| Kenya | % | 74.3% | 73.9% | 73.4% | 73.0% | 72.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Mozambique | % | 65.6% | 65.1% | 64.5% | 64.0% | 63.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Namibia | % | 53.1% | 52.0% | 51.0% | 50.0% | 49.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| South Africa | % | 35.2% | 34.7% | 34.2% | 33.6% | 33.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Tanzania | % | 68.4% | 67.7% | 66.9% | 66.2% | 65.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Uganda | % | 77.9% | 77.4% | 76.8% | 76.2% | 75.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zambia | % | 58.1% | 57.6% | 57.0% | 56.5% | 55.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe | % | 67.6% | 67.7% | 67.8% | 67.8% | 67.8% |
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