Introduction

Background: |  |

`
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. The new president launched an anticorruption investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable for more than USD 41 million. 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 by-election in October 2008. Under President BANDA, the Task Force on Corruption was abolished, President CHILUBA and his wife were acquitted in their criminal cases, and the government declined to register the UK civil verdict.
`

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 km country 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 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: |  |
`0 km (landlocked)`
Maritime claims: |  |
`none (landlocked)`
Climate: |  |
`tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)`
Terrain: |  |
`mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`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: 6.99% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 92.97% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`1,560 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`105.2 cu km (2001)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%) per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)`
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`

People

Population: |  |
`13,881,336 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 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: |  |
`0-14 years: 46.7% (male 3,253,125/female 3,228,844) 15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,544,640/female 3,508,344) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 148,531/female 197,852) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 16.5 years male: 16.5 years female: 16.6 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`3.062% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 11`
Birth rate: |  |
`44.08 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 4`
Death rate: |  |
`12.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 27`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 147`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 36% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`LUSAKA (capital) 1.413 million (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 66.6 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 22 male: 71.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 61.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 52.36 years country comparison to the world: 208 male: 51.13 years female: 53.63 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`5.98 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 8`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`13.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`980,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`45,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10`
Major infectious diseases: |  |
`degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 46% of population total: 60% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 54% of population total: 40% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 59% of population rural: 43% of population total: 49% of population unimproved: urban: 41% of population rural: 47% of population total: 51% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`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)`
Religions: |  |
`Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%`
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)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 80.6% male: 86.8% female: 74.8% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2000)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`1.3% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 160`

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: |  |
`9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western`
Independence: |  |
`24 October 1964 (from the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 24 October (1964)`
Constitution: |  |
`24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term limits`
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 Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008); the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 October 2008 (next to be held by October 2011); vice president appointed by the president; note - due to the death of former President Levy MWANAWASA, early elections were held to identify a replacement to serve out the remainder of his term
election results: Rupiah BANDA elected president; percent of vote - Rupiah BANDA 40.1%, Michael SATA 38.1%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 19.7%, Godfrey MIYANDA 0.8%, other 1.3%
`

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 28 September 2006 (next to be held by October 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not determined 2`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Rupiah BANDA]; National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]; Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Reform Party [Nevers MUMBA]; United Democratic Alliance or UDA (a coalition of RP, ZADECO, PUDD, and ZRP); United Liberal Party or ULP [Sakwiba SIKOTA]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or ZADECO [Langton SICHONE]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`NA`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Sheila Z. SIWELA 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 Mark C. STORELLA embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, 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 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 2005-10 about 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 USD 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. 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 rates.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$20.04 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $18.63 billion (2009 est.) $17.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$16.19 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`7.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 6.4% (2009 est.) 5.7% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201 $1,400 (2009 est.) $1,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 19.7% industry: 33.7% services: 46.6% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`5.524 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 85% industry: 6% services: 9% (2004)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`14% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 50% (2000 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`64% (2006)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`50.8 (2004) country comparison to the world: 19 52.6 (1998)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`20.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $3.2 billion expenditures: $3.743 billion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`24.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 25.9% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`8.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 13.4% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`8.39% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 22 14.49% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`22.06% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 19.06% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$1.234 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $983.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$3.573 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $2.744 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$2.992 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $2.373 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 94 $2.346 billion (31 December 2007) $1.186 billion (31 December 2006)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides`
Industries: |  |
`copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`12.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12`
Electricity - production: |  |
`9.752 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 92`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`8.838 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`268 million kWh (2007)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`222 million kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`159.5 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132`
Oil - exports: |  |
`275.3 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129`
Oil - imports: |  |
`14,730 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 126`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-99 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $-174 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$6.463 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $4.203 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton`
Exports - partners: |  |
`China 21.37%, Saudi Arabia 8.93%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.55%, South Korea 8.32%, Egypt 8.08%, South Africa 6.96%, India 5% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$4.949 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $3.735 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing`
Imports - partners: |  |
`South Africa 51.78%, UAE 7.7%, China 5.85%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.22% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$2.287 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $1.892 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$3.495 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 $3.091 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$NA`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 4,823.6 (2010) 5,046.1 (2009) 3,512.9 (2008) 3,990.2 (2007) 3,601.5 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`90,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 146`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`4.407 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 101`
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
`

Broadcast media: |  |

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

Internet country code: |  |
`.zm`
Internet hosts: |  |
`14,771 (2010) country comparison to the world: 118`
Internet users: |  |
`816,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 105`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`94 (2010) country comparison to the world: 64`
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 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 18 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`oil 771 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`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: |  |
`total: 91,440 km country comparison to the world: 54 paved: 20,117 km unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)`
Waterways: |  |
`2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010) country comparison to the world: 39`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Mpulungu`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambian Army, Zambian Air Force, National Service (2009)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18-27 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian citizenship required; mandatory HIV testing upon enlistment; mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2010)`
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: |  |
`1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 84`

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): 42,565 (Angola); 60,874 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,100 (Rwanda) (2007)`
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`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011