1986 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1986 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
main crops — corn, tobacco, cotton; net importer of most major agricultural products
Area
752,614 km2; larger than Texas; 61% scattered wood and grass, 13% dense forest, 10% grazing, 6% marsh, 5% arable and under cultivation
Branches
modified presidential system; unicameral legislature (National Assembly); judiciary
Budget
(central government, 1984) revenues, $900 million (est); expenditures, $840 million (est.)
Capital
Lusaka
Communists
no Communist party, but socialist sympathizers in upper levels of government and UNIP
Elections
general election held 27 October 1983; next general election scheduled for Political parties and leaders: United National Independence Party (UNIP), Kenneth Kaunda; former opposition party banned in December 1972 when one-party state proclaimed
Electric power
1,924,700 kW capacity (1985); 12.645 billion kWh produced (1985), 1,850 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
98.7% African, 1.1% European, 0.2% other
Exports
$916 million (f.o.b., 1984); copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
$2.6 billion (1984), $410 per capita; real growth rate, — 1.3% (1984)
Government leaders
Dr. Kenneth David KAUNDA, President (since October 1964); Kebby MUSOKOTWANE, Prime Minister (April 1985)
Highways
36,370 km total; 6,500 km paved, 7,000 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil; 22,870 km improved and unimproved earth
Imports
$612 million (c.i.f., 1984); machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufactures
Infant mortality rate
140/1,000(1984)
Labor force
2,455,000; 85% agriculture; 6% mining, manufacturing, and construction; 9% transport and services
Land boundaries
6,003 km People
Language
English (official); about 70 indigenous languages
Legal system
based on English common law and customary law; new constitution adopted September 1973; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; legal education at University of Zambia in Lusaka; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Life expectancy
47
Literacy
54%
Major industries
copper mining and refinery, transport, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer
Major trade partners
EC, Japan, South Africa, US, Iraq
Member of
Af DB, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT(de facto), IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, International Lead and Zinc Study Group, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Economy
Monetary conversion rate
5.7 Zambian kwachas=US$l (December 1985)
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 October
Nationality
noun — Zambian(s); adjective — Zambian
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydroelectric power, fertile land
Official name
Republic of Zambia
Organized labor
approximately 238,000 wage earners are unionized Government
Political subdivisions
nine provinces
Population
7,054,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 3.2%
Railroads
1,204 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double track
Religion
50-75% Christian, 1% Muslim and Hindu, remainder indigenous beliefs
Suffrage
universal adult at age 18
Type
one-party state
Voting strength
(1983 election) 63.5% of eligible voters participated; Kaunda, who was the only candidate for president, received a 93% "yes" vote; National Assembly seats were contested by members of UNIP