Quick facts
Ndola overview
Ndola (orange) and the other large cities of Zambia
Ndola lies in Copperbelt in Zambia at 12.96°S, 28.64°E, about 1,307 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Lusaka (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kitwe (665,961) and larger than Chipata (327,059). 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 275 km away; the nearest large city is Luanshya, 31 km from Ndola.
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 Ndola
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Luanshya Copperbelt | 31 km | 193,293 |
| Kitwe Copperbelt | 49 km | 665,961 |
| Kalulushi Copperbelt | 60 km | 104,046 |
| Mufulira Copperbelt | 63 km | 169,136 |
| Chingola Copperbelt | 95 km | 256,560 |
| Mkushi Central Province | 110 km | 45,927 |
| Chililabombwe Copperbelt | 110 km | 113,876 |
| Kapiri Mposhi Central Province | 113 km | 83,211 |
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 Ndola?
Ndola has about 627,503 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Ndola the capital of Zambia?
No. The capital of Zambia is Lusaka (2,212,301 people), about 275 km away. Ndola is the 3rd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Ndola compared with the rest of Zambia?
Its 627,503 residents are 2.8% of the 22,699,882 people living in Zambia today. Lusaka is larger with 2,212,301 people.
Where is Ndola?
In Copperbelt, Zambia, at latitude -12.96 and longitude 28.64, 1,307 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Luanshya (31 km), Kitwe (49 km), Kalulushi (60 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Ndola Population 2026 — Zambia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/zambia/ndola/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/zambia/ndola/">Ndola 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.