Sex ratio by age in Zambia
Zambia: Sex ratio by age was 26.92 males per 100 females in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
26.92 males per 100 females
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
79th
of 212 countries
All-time high
50 males per 100 females
in 1950
All-time low
0 males per 100 females
in 1954
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sex ratio by age in Zambia is 26.92 males per 100 females, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Zambia peaked at 50 males per 100 females in 1950 and was at its lowest, 0 males per 100 females, in 1954.
Zambia ranks 79th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Sex ratio by age in Zambia, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 50 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -33.3% |
| 1954 | 0 males per 100 females | -100.0% |
| 1955 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1956 | 33.33 males per 100 females | — |
| 1957 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 25 males per 100 females | -25.0% |
| 1959 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 40 males per 100 females | +60.0% |
| 1962 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -16.7% |
| 1963 | 28.57 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 1964 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 37.5 males per 100 females | +31.3% |
| 1969 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -11.1% |
| 1970 | 40 males per 100 females | +20.0% |
| 1971 | 36.36 males per 100 females | -9.1% |
| 1972 | 30.77 males per 100 females | -15.4% |
| 1973 | 26.67 males per 100 females | -13.3% |
| 1974 | 31.25 males per 100 females | +17.2% |
| 1975 | 35.29 males per 100 females | +12.9% |
| 1976 | 36.84 males per 100 females | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 35 males per 100 females | -5.0% |
| 1978 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 31.82 males per 100 females | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 31.82 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 30.43 males per 100 females | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 29.17 males per 100 females | -4.2% |
| 1983 | 29.17 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +14.3% |
| 1985 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 29.17 males per 100 females | -12.5% |
| 1993 | 29.17 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 32 males per 100 females | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 30.77 males per 100 females | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 29.63 males per 100 females | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 29.63 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 29.63 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 28.57 males per 100 females | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 26.67 males per 100 females | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 25.81 males per 100 females | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 28.12 males per 100 females | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 28.12 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 28.12 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 31.25 males per 100 females | +11.1% |
| 2007 | 31.25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 34.38 males per 100 females | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 30.3 males per 100 females | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 27.27 males per 100 females | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 27.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 27.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 27.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 27.27 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 28.12 males per 100 females | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 27.59 males per 100 females | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 26.92 males per 100 females | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 26.92 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 26.92 males per 100 females is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.49 males per 100 females, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 26.92 males per 100 females is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.72 males per 100 females, 88% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | -100.0% | 33.33 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females |
| 1961 | +60.0% | 25 males per 100 females | 40 males per 100 females |
| 1953 | -33.3% | 50 males per 100 females | 33.33 males per 100 females |
| 1968 | +31.3% | 28.57 males per 100 females | 37.5 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 31.2 males per 100 females | 25 males per 100 females | 40 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 33.73 males per 100 females | 26.67 males per 100 females | 40 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.06 males per 100 females | 29.17 males per 100 females | 33.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 31 males per 100 females | 29.17 males per 100 females | 33.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.56 males per 100 females | 25.81 males per 100 females | 34.38 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 30 males per 100 females | 27.27 males per 100 females | 33.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.39 males per 100 females | 26.92 males per 100 females | 28.12 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More gender data for Zambia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,719 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.61 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 15,306 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 15,306 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 340,219 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 341,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 331,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 332,331 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 324,712 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in Zambia?
- Sex ratio by age in Zambia was 26.92 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 50 males per 100 females in 1950.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 males per 100 females in 1954.
- How does Zambia rank for sex ratio by age?
- Zambia ranks 79th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.