Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
total: 752,618 sq km
country comparison to the world: 39
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km
slightly larger than Texas
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
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
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
arable land: 4.52%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 95.44% (2011)
total: 1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
per capita: 147 cu m/yr (2002)
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)
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
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)
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)
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
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
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.)
total dependency ratio: 97 %
youth dependency ratio: 91.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 %
potential support ratio: 19.4 (2013)
total: 16.7 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.8 years (2013 est.)
2.89% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
42.79 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
13.17 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
urban population: 39.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
LUSAKA (capital) 1.413 million (2009)
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.)
440 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 26
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.)
total population: 51.51 years
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 49.93 years
female: 53.14 years (2013 est.)
5.81 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
6.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 105
0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
13.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
980,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
45,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
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)
3.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 174
14.9% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 52
1.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 168
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 61.4%
male: 71.9%
female: 51.8% (2007 est.)
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2000)
total number: 1,000,850
percentage: 41 %
note: data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)
total: 23.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 46
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
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; note - in late 2013, a constitution committee submitted a draft constitution to the government (2013)
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
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
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%
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
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
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
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
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 (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
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
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
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.
$23.69 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$20.31 billion (2012 est.)
7.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$1,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
19.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
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%
agriculture: 20.5%
industry: 33.3%
services: 46.3% (2012 est.)
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
5.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
6.098 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9% (2004)
14% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)
50.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 19
revenues: $4.255 billion
expenditures: $5.253 billion (2012 est.)
20.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
-4.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
29.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
6.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
8.39% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
12.15% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$2.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$4.906 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$3.833 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$4.009 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 92
$-189.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$9.414 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
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)
$7.961 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing
South Africa 36.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 19.8%, China 10.4%, Kuwait 6% (2012)
$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$5.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
11.19 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
7.96 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
578 million kWh (2010)
country comparison to the world: 63
23 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
1.679 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
99.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
174.6 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 207
12,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
19,260 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
254.1 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
1,272 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 209
2.434 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
82,500 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 150
10.525 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 76
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)
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)
16,571 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 122
816,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
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:
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)
total: 91,440 km
country comparison to the world: 52
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)
2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)
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)
males age 16-49: 3,041,069
females age 16-49: 2,948,291 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,745,656
females age 16-49: 1,688,670 (2010 est.)
male: 158,592
female: 158,805 (2010 est.)
1.55% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 177
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): 14,871 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,963 (Rwanda) (2012)
