As of the 2022 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 327,059 people.

Thus, Chipata accesses its imports mainly from Nacala and Dar es Salaam ports in Mozambique and Tanzania respectively, all routes passing through Malawi to Mwami Border.

The District has a firm foundation of being a trade centre dating back to the colonial era of the current Zambia, when it was called Fort Jameson and was the capital of North-Eastern Rhodesia up to 1911.

This cornerstone has left the town as the hub of Eastern Province, by maintaining its position as a Provincial Headquarters.

[2] Chipata was declared a city on 24 February 2017 (no-longer a town).