MigrantoZambian Diaspora
122.8K Zambians live abroad — 1% of the population of Zambia
Zambian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 70% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 32680 |
| Malawi | 30614 |
| South Africa | 22946 |
| Tanzania | 8289 |
| Australia | 8060 |
| Mozambique | 5539 |
| Botswana | 4661 |
| Namibia | 3359 |
| China | 1737 |
| Italy | 911 |
| Mali | 761 |
| Denmark | 726 |
| Norway | 620 |
| Finland | 401 |
| Angola | 316 |
| Greece | 256 |
| India | 221 |
| Eritrea | 188 |
| Lesotho | 158 |
| Cyprus | 143 |
| Croatia | 40 |
| Hungary | 35 |
| Luxembourg | 24 |
| Tajikistan | 21 |
| Bulgaria | 18 |
| Iceland | 18 |
| Sierra Leone | 16 |
| Slovakia | 12 |
| Cayman Islands | 11 |
| Slovenia | 7 |
| Estonia | 3 |
| Bolivia | 2 |
| Latvia | 0 |
| Lithuania | 0 |
| Liechtenstein | 0 |
By region
89% of the diaspora lives in Africa
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Key facts
The Zambian diaspora in numbers
Most Zambians abroad live in Zimbabwe
27% of the diaspora lives in Zimbabwe, while the next country accounts for just 25%.
Zambian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 73861 |
| 1995 | 116003 |
| 2000 | 125019 |
| 2005 | 133582 |
| 2010 | 134473 |
| 2015 | 128590 |
| 2020 | 122981 |
| 2024 | 122793 |
Largest communities over time
Zambians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Zimbabwe | Malawi | South Africa | Tanzania | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18966 | 5637 | 17949 | 18188 | 2262 |
| 1995 | 22815 | 47571 | 15413 | 14501 | 2855 |
| 2000 | 26337 | 45797 | 21074 | 13584 | 3428 |
| 2005 | 29759 | 43640 | 26127 | 11845 | 4548 |
| 2010 | 30373 | 42865 | 29149 | 10265 | 6165 |
| 2015 | 30538 | 36918 | 28326 | 8573 | 7323 |
| 2020 | 31692 | 31375 | 25677 | 7637 | 7609 |
| 2024 | 32680 | 30614 | 22946 | 8289 | 8060 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Zambians in each country has changed since the selected year
Zambians among immigrants in other countries
Where Zambians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Zambians live outside Zambia?
Around 122.8K Zambians live abroad, the world's #147 largest diaspora.
Where do most Zambians abroad live?
Most Zambians live in Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa — these three countries account for about 70% of all Zambians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Zambian population outside Zambia?
Zimbabwe is home to the largest Zambian community abroad — 32.7K people, about 27% of all Zambians living abroad.
What share of the population of Zambia lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Zambia lives abroad — that's 122.8K out of a total population of 21.3M.
Is the Zambian diaspora growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of Zambians living abroad has changed from 128.6K to 122.8K, about 5%.
Where does the data on the Zambian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Zambia who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Zambia
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