Solwezi Population 2026

Solwezi has a population of 301,370, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇿🇲 Zambia, located in North-Western. Roughly 1.3% of Zambia's population lives here. It is about 7.3× smaller than Lusaka, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

301,370

Rank in Zambia

Coordinates

12.17°S, 26.39°E

~1,381 m elevation · Africa/Lusaka

Distance to capital (Lusaka)

414 km

257 miles, straight line

Other big cities in North-Western

City	Population	Rank in Zambia
Kansanshi	40,705	#38
Kasempa	28,894	#50
Manyama	28,825	#51
Zambezi	26,885	#55
Mufumbwe	25,667	#56
Mwinilunga	25,425	#57
Manyinga	19,317	#66
Chavuma	18,902	#68

Cities near Solwezi

Kansanshi40,705 people · ~9 km away
Manyama28,825 people · ~61 km away
Chisasa17,169 people · ~97 km away
Kasempa28,894 people · ~156 km away
Chililabombwe113,876 people · ~157 km away
Chingola256,560 people · ~167 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Solwezi?

Solwezi has a population of 301,370 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Zambia.

What region is Solwezi in?

Solwezi is located in North-Western, Zambia.

Is Solwezi the capital of Zambia?

No, the capital of Zambia is Lusaka, about 414 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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