Introduction :: ZAMBIA
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The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the former British South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement, and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to government. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems, with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. The MMD and BANDA lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) and Michael SATA in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in October 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until special elections were held in January 2015. Edgar LUNGU won the presidential by election and will complete SATA's term, which expires in August 2016 when new presidential, as well as parliamentary and local elections, will be held.
Geography :: ZAMBIA
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Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Africa
total: 752,618 sq km
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km
country comparison to the world: 39
slightly larger than Texas
total: 6,043.15 km
border countries (8): Angola 1,065 km, Botswana 0.15 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km, Malawi 847 km, Mozambique 439 km, Namibia 244 km, Tanzania 353 km, Zimbabwe 763 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
mean elevation: 1,138 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
agricultural land: 31.7%
arable land 4.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 26.9%
forest: 66.3%
other: 2% (2011 est.)
1,560 sq km (2012)
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
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
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
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 :: ZAMBIA
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15,510,711
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 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
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.)
Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, 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 9.7%, unspecified 0.2%
note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family (2010 est.)
Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)
Zambia’s poor, youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia’s high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country’s total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world’s highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country’s lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood. HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Zambia and contributes to its low life expectancy.
Zambian emigration is low compared to many other African countries and is comprised predominantly of the well-educated. The small amount of brain drain, however, has a major impact in Zambia because of its limited human capital and lack of educational infrastructure for developing skilled professionals in key fields. For example, Zambia has few schools for training doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Its spending on education is low compared to other sub-Saharan countries.
0-14 years: 46.08% (male 3,590,466/female 3,556,756)
15-24 years: 20% (male 1,550,183/female 1,552,706)
25-54 years: 28.65% (male 2,239,661/female 2,204,823)
55-64 years: 2.91% (male 211,039/female 240,156)
65 years and over: 2.35% (male 158,827/female 206,094) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Africa
::ZAMBIA
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 95.4%
youth dependency ratio: 89.7%
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7%
potential support ratio: 17.6% (2015 est.)
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 16.9 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
2.94% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
41.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
12.4 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
urban population: 40.9% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 4.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
LUSAKA (capital) 2.179 million (2015)
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: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
19.2
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013/14 est.)
224 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
total: 62.9 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 68.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 57.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
total population: 52.5 years
male: 50.8 years
female: 54.1 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
5.67 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
40.8% (2007)
5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 95
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
improved:
urban: 85.6% of population
rural: 51.3% of population
total: 65.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14.4% of population
rural: 48.7% of population
total: 34.6% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 55.6% of population
rural: 35.7% of population
total: 43.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 44.4% of population
rural: 64.3% of population
total: 56.1% of population (2015 est.)
12.91% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
1,211,900 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
19,800 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
7.2% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 174
14.8% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 49
1.1% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 170
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 63.4%
male: 70.9%
female: 56% (2015 est.)
total number: 1,000,850
percentage: 41%
note: data represent children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)
total: 15.2%
male: 14.6%
female: 15.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Government :: ZAMBIA
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conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
etymology: name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe
presidential republic
name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
24 October 1964 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991; amended 1996, 2015 (2016)
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: not specified
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 August 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2.0%
description: unicameral National Assembly (164 seats; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms); note - 6 additional electoral seats were added for the 11 August 2016 election, up from 150 electoral seats in the 2011 election
elections: last held on 11 August 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PF 80, UPND 58, MMD 3, FDD 1, independent 14
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and deputy chief justices, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice-president, and 11 judges); note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (three levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Nevers MUMBA]
Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]
United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric T. SCHULTZ (since 12 December 2014)
embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (211) 357-000
FAX: [260] ) (211) 357-224
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
African fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange
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 :: ZAMBIA
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Zambia has had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the past ten years, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum, though growth slowed in 2015 to just over 3%, due to falling copper prices, reduced power generation, and depreciation of the kwacha. Zambia’s lack of economic diversification and dependency on copper as its sole major export makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in the world commodities market and prices turned downward in 2015 due to declining demand from China; Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer.
Despite recent strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and by market-distorting agricultural and energy policies. Economic policy inconsistency and poor budget execution in recent years has hindered the economy and contributed to weakness in the kwacha, which was Africa’s worst performing currency during 2015. Zambia has raised $7 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in September 2012, April 2014, and July 2015, significantly increasing the country’s public debt as a share of GDP.
Poor management of water resources has also contributed to a power generation shortage, which has hampered industrial productivity and contributed to an increase in year-on-year inflation to 23% by March 2016. Zambia’s currency, the kwacha, also depreciated sharply against the dollar through 2015, before the central bank restricted lending.
$65.17 billion (2016 est.)
$63.27 billion (2015 est.)
$61.43 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 102
$20.57 billion (2015 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
3% (2015 est.)
5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$3,900 (2016 est.)
$3,900 (2015 est.)
$3,900 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 178
27% of GDP (2016 est.)
31.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
37.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
household consumption: 53%
government consumption: 21.7%
investment in fixed capital: 26%
investment in inventories: 1.2%
exports of goods and services: 43.8%
imports of goods and services: -45.7% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 9.2%
industry: 29.2%
services: 61.7% (2016 est.)
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
0.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
7.116 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9% (2004)
15% (2008 est.)
50% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
60.5% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 47.4% (2010)
57.5 (2013)
50.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 9
revenues: $3.418 billion
expenditures: $5.079 billion (2016 est.)
16.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
-8.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
57.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
58.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
calendar year
20.7% (2016 est.)
10.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
9.1% (31 December 2012)
19% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 30
15.7% (31 December 2016 est.)
13.25% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$1.328 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.288 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$5.682 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$5.437 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$3.672 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$3.682 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$3.004 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$4.009 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$2.817 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
-$932 million (2016 est.)
-$768 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$6.609 billion (2016 est.)
$6.998 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
China 25.5%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 13%, South Africa 6.4%, South Korea 4.9%, India 4.3% (2015)
$6.752 billion (2016 est.)
$7.711 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing
South Africa 34.5%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 18.2%, Kenya 9.7%, China 7.3%, India 4.4% (2015)
$2.046 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.968 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$9.27 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$8.88 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
$NA
$NA
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
10.8 (2016 est.)
8.6 (2015 est.)
8.6 (2014 est.)
6.2 (2013 est.)
5.1 (2012 est.)
Energy :: ZAMBIA
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14 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
11 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
1.3 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
13 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
2.3 million kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
0.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
99.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
12,120 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 102
12,760 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
19,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
966.2 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
8,490 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 109
3.5 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Communications :: ZAMBIA
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total subscriptions: 116,165
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
total: 11.558 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
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
international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel (2010)
state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 3 TV stations, is the principal local-content provider, and owns about 45% of multi-channel Zambia shares; several private TV stations and multi-channel subscription TV services are avai (2015)
.zm
total: 3.164 million
percent of population: 21% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Transportation :: ZAMBIA
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number of registered air carriers: 1
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,796
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 79,092,826 mt-km (2015)
9J (2016)
88 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 63
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)
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)
oil 771 km (2013)
total: 3,126 km
narrow gauge: 3,126 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2014)
country comparison to the world: 57
total: 40,454 km
paved: 9,403 km
unpaved: 31,051 km (2005)
country comparison to the world: 87
2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)
Military and Security :: ZAMBIA
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Zambian Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization) (2015)
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)
1.55% of GDP (2012)
1.59% of GDP (2011)
1.55% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 59
Transnational Issues :: ZAMBIA
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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 (country of origin): 19,293 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2015)
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
