Mbala Population 2026

Mbala has a population of 42,424, making it the #36 biggest city in 🇿🇲 Zambia, located in Northern Province. Roughly 0.2% of Zambia's population lives here. It is about 52× smaller than Lusaka, the country's biggest city.

Location of Mbala (capital Lusaka shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

42,424

Rank in Zambia

#36

Coordinates

8.84°S, 31.37°E

~1,622 m elevation · Africa/Lusaka

Distance to capital (Lusaka)

803 km

499 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Northern Province

City	Population	Rank in Zambia
Kasama	179,636	#9
Mpulungu	55,405	#29
Kaputa	35,663	#40
Mporokoso	30,381	#47
Luwingu	28,436	#52

Cities near Mbala

Mpulungu55,405 people · ~29 km away
Mporokoso30,381 people · ~149 km away
Kasama179,636 people · ~154 km away
Nakonde91,107 people · ~161 km away
Kaputa35,663 people · ~192 km away
Isoka31,739 people · ~202 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Mbala?

Mbala has a population of 42,424 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #36 biggest city in Zambia.

What region is Mbala in?

Mbala is located in Northern Province, Zambia.

Is Mbala the capital of Zambia?

No, the capital of Zambia is Lusaka, about 803 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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