Country Guide

Zambia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo


Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 30 00 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:752,618 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 39
land:743,398 sq km
water:9,220 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas


Land boundaries:
total:5,664.1 km
border countries:Angola 1,110 km, Botswana 0.1 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Zambezi river 329 m
highest point:unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m


Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower


    Land use:
arable land:4.52%
permanent crops:0.05%
other:95.44% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1,559 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
105.2 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
105.2 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)


Environment - current issues:
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective:Zambian


Ethnic groups:
Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)


Languages:
Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Chewa 4.5%, Lozi 5.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.4%, unspecified 0.4%


Religions:
Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)


Population:
14,638,505country comparison to the world: 71
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:46.2% (male 3,393,388/female 3,362,850)
15-24 years:20% (male 1,465,009/female 1,467,555)
25-54 years:28.5% (male 2,105,768/female 2,072,314)
55-64 years:2.9% (male 199,098/female 222,214)
65 years and over:2.4% (male 151,471/female 198,838) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:96.4 %
youth dependency ratio:91.3 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.1 %
potential support ratio:19.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:16.7 years
male:16.6 years
female:16.8 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.88% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 16


Birth rate:
42.46 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 4


Death rate:
12.92 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 21


Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 142


Urbanization:
urban population:39.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
LUSAKA (capital) 1.802 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.2


Maternal mortality rate:
440 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:66.62 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 17
male:72.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female:60.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:51.83 yearscountry comparison to the world: 216
male:50.24 years
female:53.48 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
5.76 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 7


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
40.8% (2007)


Health expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
2 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 84.8% of population
rural: 49.2% of population
total: 63.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.2% of population
rural: 50.8% of population
total: 36.7% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 56.4% of population
rural: 33.9% of population
total: 42.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 43.6% of population
rural: 66.1% of population
total: 57.2% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
12.7% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 7


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,106,400 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 11


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
30,300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
3.6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 174


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
14.9% (2007)country comparison to the world: 50


Education expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2008)country comparison to the world: 170

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write English
total population:61.4%
male:71.9%
female:51.8% (2007 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:14 years
male:14 years
female:13 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:23.4% (2005)country comparison to the world: 46

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form:Zambia
former:Northern Rhodesia


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Lusaka
geographic coordinates:15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western


Independence:
24 October 1964 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)


Constitution:
several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991; amended 1996; note - in late 2013, a constitution committee submitted a draft constitution to the government, but the government has not yet publicly released the final copy or presented a plan to adopt the document (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); Vice President Guy SCOTT (since 30 September 2011); the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); Vice President Guy SCOTT (since 30 September 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly, along with eight unelected members
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016); vice president appointed by the president
election results:Michael Chilufya SATA elected president; percent of vote - Michael SATA 43.3%, Rupiah BANDA 36.2%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 18.5%, other 2.0%


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by popular vote, 8 members appointed by the president, to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016); note - over 25 by-elections, prompted by resignation, death, change of party or legal nullification have taken place since September 2011
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PF 60, MMD 55, UPND 28, ADD 1, FDD 1, independents 3; seats not determined 2; note - seats as of 4 March 2014 - PF 69, MMD 41, UPND 31, ADD 1, FDD 1, independents 2, pending court decision 7, other 6


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the president and ratified by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts:High Court; magistrate's courts and local courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
Alliance for a Better Zambia or ABZ [Frank BWALYA]
Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Daniel PULE]
Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Nevers MUMBA]
National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]
National Revolution Party or NRP [Cosmo MUMBA]
Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]
Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]
Republican Progressive Party or RPP [James LUKUKU]
United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]
United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Palan MULONDA (since 8 January 2013)
chancery:2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
FAX:[1] (202) 332-0826


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David J. YOUNG
embassy:Ibex Hill, Lusaka
mailing address:P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone:[260] (211) 357-000
FAX:[260] ) (211) 357-224


Flag description:
green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag; green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red symbolizes the struggle for freedom, black the people of Zambia, and orange the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems


National symbol(s):
African fish eagle


National anthem:
name:'Lumbanyeni Zambia' (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)
lyrics/music:multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
note:adopted 1964; the melody, from the popular song 'God Bless Africa,' is the same as that of Tanzania but with different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-13 more than 6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly increased copper mining output and profitability to spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. Zambia's dependency on copper makes it vulnerable to depressed commodity prices, but record high copper prices and a bumper maize crop in 2010 helped Zambia rebound quickly from the world economic slowdown that began in 2008. Zambia has made some strides to improve the ease of doing business. Regulatory changes by the current government in 2012-2013 included Statutory Instruments (SI) Number 33 (mandating use of the kwacha for domestic transactions) and SI Number 55 (monitoring foreign exchange transactions). Along with problems of fiscal management and weakening global copper prices, these SI's were perceived as undermining confidence in Zambia's economy and currency, leading to sharp depreciation of the kwacha in March 2014. In response, the Minister of Finance revoked SI 33 and 55 in late March 2014. Despite a strong economy, poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, made worse by a high birth rate, relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and by market distorting agricultural policies.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$25.47 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$24.01 billion (2012 est.)
$22.39 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.24 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
7.2% (2012 est.)
6.8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
$1,700 (2012 est.)
$1,600 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
14.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
19.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
23.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:60%
government consumption:26.5%
investment in fixed capital:19.1%
investment in inventories:1%
exports of goods and services:36.2%
imports of goods and services:-42.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:19.8%
industry:33.8%
services:46.5% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides


Industries:
copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture


Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Labor force:
6.275 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:85%
industry:6%
services:9% (2004)


Unemployment rate:
15% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
50% (2000 est.)


Population below poverty line:
60.5% (2010)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:1.5%
highest 10%:47.4% (2010)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
57.5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 9
50.8 (2004)


Budget:
revenues:$4.814 billion
expenditures:$6.687 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
21.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-8.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199


Public debt:
31.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
6.6% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
8.39% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
14.49% (31 December 2008)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.4% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
12.15% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$2.299 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$2.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$5.047 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$4.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$5.458 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$3.833 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.004 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$1.25 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
-$189.9 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$8.547 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$9.414 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton


Exports - partners:
China 43.4%, South Africa 7.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.7%, South Korea 5.4%, India 4.7%, UAE 4.3%, Egypt 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$8.216 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$7.961 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing


Imports - partners:
South Africa 36.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 19.8%, China 10.4%, Kuwait 6% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.833 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$5.985 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$5.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
5.3 (2013 est.)
5.1 (2012 est.)
4,797.1 (2010 est.)
5,046.1 (2009)
3,512.9 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
11.19 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93


Electricity - consumption:
7.96 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Electricity - exports:
578 million kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 65


Electricity - imports:
23 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.679 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
99.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144


Crude oil - production:
174.6 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209


Crude oil - imports:
12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210


Refined petroleum products - production:
12,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
19,260 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130


Refined petroleum products - exports:
254 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Refined petroleum products - imports:
1,272 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
2.434 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
82,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 150


Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.525 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76


Telephone system:
general assessment:among the best in sub-Saharan Africa
domestic:high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation and network coverage is improving; domestic satellite system being installed to improve telephone service in rural areas; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms
international:country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel (2010)



    Broadcast media:
state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 1 TV station and is the principal local-content provider; several private TV stations; multi-channel subscription TV services are available; ZNBC operates 3 radio networks; about 2 dozen private radio stations; relays of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Lusaka and Kitwe (2007)


Internet country code:
.zm


Internet hosts:
16,571 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 122


Internet users:
816,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105

Transportation

Airports
88 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 63


Airports - with paved runways
total:8
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:80
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:5
914 to 1,523 m:53
under 914 m:
21 (2013)


    Pipelines
oil 771 km (2013)


Railways
total:2,922 kmcountry comparison to the world: 58
narrow gauge:2,157 km 1.067-m gauge
note:includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2013)


Roadways
total:67,671 kmcountry comparison to the world: 68
paved:9,403 km
unpaved:31,051 km


Waterways
2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39


Ports and terminals
river port(s):Mpulungu (Zambezi)

Military

Military branches
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)


Military service age and obligation
national registration required at age 16; 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian citizenship required; grade 12 certification required; mandatory HIV testing on enlistment; mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:3,041,069
females age 16-49:2,948,291 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,745,656
females age 16-49:1,688,670 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:158,592
female:158,805 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.55% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 59
1.59% of GDP (2011)
1.55% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):16,684 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2013)


    Illicit drugs
transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of cannabis
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook