What is the population of Lusaka?
Lusaka's metropolitan area has about 3,181,000 people, making it the 99th largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.
In Zambia
Metro population
3,181,000
0.038% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+4.15%
About 362 people a day
Archive estimateDensity
8,836/km²
360 km² metro area
City proper
2,212,301
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNamesAbout Lusaka
With a metropolitan population of 3.181 million and annual growth of 4.2%, Lusaka is Zambia's largest city and a rapidly expanding urban centre in southern Africa. The city proper holds 2,212,301 residents at a density of 8,836 people per km², reflecting significant urban concentration. Founded in 1905, Lusaka sits at an elevation of 1,277 metres and is served by Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
The city's growth rate outpaces many regional peers, indicating a young and expanding workforce. Current municipal leadership is held by mayor Chilando Chitangala. As the nation's primary metropolitan area, Lusaka anchors demographic and economic activity across Zambia.
This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Key Facts
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Kenneth Kaunda International AirportLUN
20 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.
| Name | Metro population |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 37.4M |
| Delhi | 32.9M |
| Shanghai | 29.2M |
| São Paulo | 22.6M |
| Dhaka | 22.5M |
| Mexico City | 22.3M |
| Cairo | 22.2M |
| Mumbai | 21.7M |
| Beijing | 21.5M |
| Osaka | 19M |
| New York | 18.9M |
| Karachi | 17.1M |
| Kinshasa | 17.1M |
| Chongqing | 16.9M |
| Lagos | 15.9M |
| Lusaka | 3.18M |
Population Trend in Zambia
No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,321,302 |
| 1960 | 3,153,729 |
| 1970 | 4,321,718 |
| 1980 | 5,802,833 |
| 1990 | 7,786,169 |
| 2000 | 10,017,631 |
| 2010 | 13,965,594 |
| 2020 | 19,059,395 |
| 2030 | 25,024,901 |
| 2040 | 31,550,402 |
| 2050 | 38,083,385 |
| 2060 | 44,467,763 |
| 2070 | 50,510,901 |
| 2080 | 55,974,886 |
| 2090 | 60,677,382 |
| 2100 | 64,473,916 |
Nearest Major Cities
Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.
- Harare
399 km · Zimbabwe
- Johannesburg
1,201 km · South Africa
- Maputo
1,256 km · Mozambique
- Dar es Salaam
1,531 km · Tanzania
- Durban
1,631 km · South Africa
- Luanda
1,791 km · Angola
Lusaka Population FAQ
What is the difference between Lusaka's city and metro population?
About 2,212,301 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 3,181,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.
Is Lusaka growing or shrinking?
Lusaka is growing at +4.15% a year.
What share of Zambia's population lives in Lusaka?
Lusaka's metro area holds about 14.5% of Zambia's total population.
How densely populated is Lusaka?
Lusaka has roughly 8,836 people per km² across a metro area of about 360 km².
Which airports serve Lusaka?
The nearest major airports are Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN).
Which country is Lusaka in?
Lusaka is in Zambia, in Africa.
Explore More Cities
- #1 TokyoJapan · 37.4M · −0.14%
- #2 DelhiIndia · 32.9M · +2.78%
- #3 ShanghaiChina · 29.2M · +0.86%
- #4 São PauloBrazil · 22.6M · +0.75%
- #5 DhakaBangladesh · 22.5M · +2.89%
- #6 Mexico CityMexico · 22.3M · +0.80%