Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [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, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. 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 abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential byelection in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected president in September 2011.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 752,618 sq km
country comparison to the world: 39
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 4.52%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 95.44% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,559 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
105.2 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
per capita: 147 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
African 99.5% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups), other 0.5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans) (2000 Census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11 Bantu languages (Bemba (official) 30.1%, Nyanja (official) 10.7%, Tonga (official) 10.6%, Lozi (official) 5.7%, Chewa 4.9%, Nsenga 3.4%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (official) 2.2%, Kaonde (official) 2%, Lala 2%, Luvale (official) 1.7%), English (official) 1.7%, other 22.5% (2000 Census)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14,222,233 (July 2013 est.)
country 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
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 46.2% (male 3,300,339/female 3,271,389)
15-24 years: 20% (male 1,423,026/female 1,425,654)
25-54 years: 28.5% (male 2,042,023/female 2,009,511)
55-64 years: 2.9% (male 193,758/female 213,927)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 147,705/female 194,901) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 97 %
youth dependency ratio: 91.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 %
potential support ratio: 19.4 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.8 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.89% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42.79 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.17 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 39.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
LUSAKA (capital) 1.413 million (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.2 (2007 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
440 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 68.58 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 19
male: 74.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 51.51 years
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 49.93 years
female: 53.14 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.81 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
40.8% (2007)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 105
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
980,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.9% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 52
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 168
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2000)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 1,000,850
percentage: 41 %
note: data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 23.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 46
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
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
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David A. YOUNG
embassy: Ibex Hill, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (0) (211) 357-000
FAX: [260] (0) (211) 357-224
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
African fish eagle
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-12 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. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately US$6 billion in debt relief. Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, despite a stronger economy. 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. A high birth rate, relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and market distorting agricultural policies have meant that Zambia''s economic growth has not dramatically decreased the stubbornly high poverty rate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$23.69 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$20.31 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 58.8%
government consumption: 26.7%
investment in fixed capital: 19.2%
investment in inventories: 1.1%
exports of goods and services: 36%
imports of goods and services: -41.8%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 20.5%
industry: 33.3%
services: 46.3% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.098 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
64% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
50.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 19
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $4.255 billion
expenditures: $5.253 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-4.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.39% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.15% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.906 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.833 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.009 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 92
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-189.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.414 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.961 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa 36.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 19.8%, China 10.4%, Kuwait 6% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.19 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.96 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
578 million kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.679 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
99.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
174.6 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 207
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19,260 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
254.1 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,272 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 209
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.434 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
82,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 150
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.525 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.zm
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,571 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 122
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
816,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
88 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 63
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
oil 771 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,157 km
country comparison to the world: 69
narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 91,440 km
country comparison to the world: 52
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 3,041,069
females age 16-49: 2,948,291 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,745,656
females age 16-49: 1,688,670 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 158,592
female: 158,805 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.55% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 177
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refugees (country of origin): 14,871 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,963 (Rwanda) (2012)