MigrantoImmigrants in Zambia
221.1K foreign-born residents — the #107 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 59% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| DR Congo | 67171 |
| Angola | 41665 |
| Zimbabwe | 22297 |
| Malawi | 17796 |
| Republic of Congo | 13869 |
| Rwanda | 12201 |
| Burundi | 9305 |
| Tanzania | 8773 |
| India | 7569 |
| South Africa | 5022 |
| Mozambique | 2125 |
| United Kingdom | 2100 |
| China | 1645 |
| USA | 1550 |
| Botswana | 1498 |
| Namibia | 1026 |
| Kenya | 875 |
| Nigeria | 829 |
| Uganda | 741 |
| Germany | 452 |
| Australia | 428 |
| Cameroon | 396 |
| Mali | 354 |
| Canada | 326 |
| Ghana | 284 |
| Egypt | 265 |
| Senegal | 232 |
| Japan | 163 |
| France | 111 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 94%
206.7K
9.4K
2.7K
1.9K
428
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Zambia.
Immigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The immigrant population grew 33% from 166.7K to 221.1K, indicating an acceleration in migration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
DR Congo is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
DR Congo accounts for 30% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 19%.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 46% to 30%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
Top source countries have shifted significantly since 1990
4 new countries have entered the top 20: Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi — Republic of Congo rose from outside the top 20 to rank #5.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 270330 |
| 1995 | 232462 |
| 2000 | 337977 |
| 2005 | 228139 |
| 2010 | 131183 |
| 2015 | 116565 |
| 2020 | 166734 |
| 2024 | 221068 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | DR Congo | Angola | Zimbabwe | Malawi | Republic of Congo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 27297 | 123807 | 34829 | 17073 | 116 |
| 1995 | 31525 | 141001 | 23707 | 12382 | 456 |
| 2000 | 58237 | 238248 | 9056 | 6937 | 4330 |
| 2005 | 73742 | 98687 | 12444 | 9665 | 5632 |
| 2010 | 20933 | 37306 | 17226 | 13467 | 8481 |
| 2015 | 26440 | 27864 | 13175 | 10363 | 7471 |
| 2020 | 50661 | 31424 | 16816 | 13422 | 10460 |
| 2024 | 67171 | 41665 | 22297 | 17796 | 13869 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Zambia as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Zambia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Zambia?
Around 221.1K foreign-born residents live in Zambia, making it the #107-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Zambia come from?
Most immigrants in Zambia come from DR Congo, Angola and Zimbabwe — these three countries account for about 59% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Zambia are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Zambia — that's 221.1K out of a total population of 21.3M.
How has immigration to Zambia changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Zambia has grown from 116.6K to 221.1K people, a growth of about 90%.
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