Quick facts
Kitwe overview
Kitwe (orange) and the other large cities of Zambia
Kitwe lies in Copperbelt in Zambia at 12.8°S, 28.21°E, about 1,224 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Lusaka (UTC+2).
It is smaller than Lusaka (2,212,301) and larger than Ndola (627,503). The largest city in Zambia is Lusaka with 2,212,301 people; the capital, Lusaka, has 2,212,301.
The national capital, Lusaka, is about 290 km away; the nearest large city is Kalulushi, 14 km from Kitwe.
Zambia as a whole has a live population of 22,699,882 (+2.7% a year) and ranks #63 of 238 countries — see the Zambia population page for the full statistics and the Zambia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Kitwe
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kalulushi Copperbelt | 14 km | 104,046 |
| Mufulira Copperbelt | 28 km | 169,136 |
| Luanshya Copperbelt | 43 km | 193,293 |
| Chingola Copperbelt | 47 km | 256,560 |
| Ndola Copperbelt | 49 km | 627,503 |
| Chililabombwe Copperbelt | 65 km | 113,876 |
| Kapiri Mposhi Central Province | 139 km | 83,211 |
| Mkushi Central Province | 157 km | 45,927 |
Largest cities in Zambia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LusakaCapital | Lusaka Province | 2,212,301 |
| 2 | Kitwe | Copperbelt | 665,961 |
| 3 | Ndola | Copperbelt | 627,503 |
| 4 | Chipata | Eastern Province | 327,059 |
| 5 | Solwezi | North-Western | 301,370 |
| 6 | Kabwe | Central Province | 288,598 |
| 7 | Chingola | Copperbelt | 256,560 |
| 8 | Luanshya | Copperbelt | 193,293 |
| 9 | Kasama | Northern Province | 179,636 |
| 10 | Livingstone | Southern Province | 178,361 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kitwe?
Kitwe has about 665,961 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Kitwe the capital of Zambia?
No. The capital of Zambia is Lusaka (2,212,301 people), about 290 km away. Kitwe is the 2nd largest city of the country.
How big is Kitwe compared with the rest of Zambia?
Its 665,961 residents are 2.9% of the 22,699,882 people living in Zambia today. Lusaka is larger with 2,212,301 people.
Where is Kitwe?
In Copperbelt, Zambia, at latitude -12.8 and longitude 28.21, 1,224 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Kalulushi (14 km), Mufulira (28 km), Luanshya (43 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Kitwe Population 2026 — Zambia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/zambia/kitwe/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/zambia/kitwe/">Kitwe Population 2026 — Zambia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.