The 2022 Census of Population and Housing marked a major milestone in Zambia’s statistical history — the first-ever fully digital census 📱🛰️. Conducted from 18 August to 21 September 2022, it leveraged cutting-edge tools such as Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to enhance accuracy, coverage, and timeliness.
Geographic & Administrative Scope
- Covered all 10 provinces, 116 districts, and 1,858 wards
- Mapped over 4.5 million structures using digital satellite imagery
- Collected GPS coordinates for every household 🗺️
What the Census Revealed
Population & Demographics
- Population size, growth trends, and distribution by province, age, and sex
- Detailed analysis of youth (19–34), children (under 15), and the elderly (65+)
- Urbanisation patterns and population density stats 📈
Social Characteristics
- Marital status, religion, citizenship, and birth/death registration
- Access to National Registration Cards (NRCs) and passports
Education & Literacy
- Literacy rates for various age groups including youth (15–24 & 19–34)
- Data on school attendance, education attainment, and vocational training
- Early childhood and tertiary education trends 📚
Employment & Economy
- Labour force participation, employment, and unemployment rates
- Special focus on youth employment and economic dependency
- Employment-to-population ratios by age, sex, and province
Health & Fertility
- Fertility rates and age at childbearing by location and education level
- Detailed mortality rates: infant, child, under-five, and maternal
- Life expectancy and causes of death breakdown 🧬
Disability & Albinism
- Data on people with activity limitations
- Population distribution of individuals with albinism by province
ICT Access
- Ownership of phones, computers, and internet usage
- Access to ICT by age, sex, and rural/urban divide 💻📶
Agriculture
- Characteristics of agricultural households by type: crop, livestock, poultry
- Trends by province and sex of household head
Language & Ethnicity
- Common languages of communication and distribution of ethnic groups
- Relationship between language and ethnicity across regions
Why It Matters
The report offers a comprehensive evidence base for:
- National development planning and resource allocation
- Tracking progress towards Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Supporting policy makers, researchers, NGOs, and development partners
A Collective Effort
The success of the 2022 Census was made possible by:
- The Zambian Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats)
- Strategic and technical support from partners like UNFPA, USAID, UNICEF, World Bank, and ICF
- Active participation from traditional leaders, communities, media houses, and civil society 💙
📧 For inquiries: [email protected]
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