1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 752,610 sq km land: 740,720 sq km water: 11,890 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than Texas
Climate
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Environment--current issues
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geographic coordinates
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Geography--note
landlocked
Irrigated land
460 sq km (1993 est.)
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
Land use
arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 39% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Location
Southern Africa, east of Angola
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
tropical storms (November to April)
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Terrain
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 49% (male 2,381,937; female 2,355,807) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,308,715; female 2,379,994) 65 years and over: 2% (male 107,427; female 129,655) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
44.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
22.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Infant mortality rate
91.85 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official), major vernaculars--Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 36.96 years male: 36.72 years female: 37.21 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 78.2% male: 85.6% female: 71.3% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian
Net migration rate
-0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
9,663,535 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.12% (1999 est.)
Religions
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Capital
Lusaka
Constitution
2 August 1991
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia
Data code
ZA
Executive branch
chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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; election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); vice president appointed by the president election results: Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of vote--Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%
Flag description
green 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
Government type
republic
Independence
24 October 1964 (from UK)
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Agenda for Zambia or AZ
Legal system
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MMD 130, NP 5, ZADECO 2, AZ 2, independents 11
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, beef, pork, poultry meat, milk, eggs, hides
Budget
revenues: $888 million expenditures: $835 million, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1995 est.)
Currency
1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Debt--external
$7.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$1.991 billion (1995)
Economy--overview
Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over 80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling. Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by Zambia's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed election, also have damaged Zambia's economic prospects. Urged by the World Bank, Zambia has embarked on a privatization program which is to include the all-important copper industry. Until a deal on the copper sector is concluded, perhaps by mid-1999, economic prospects will remain clouded.
Electricity--consumption
6.393 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
1.47 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
23 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
7.84 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 0.51% hydro: 99.49% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1--1,428 (October 1998), 1,333.81 (1997), 1,203.71 (1996), 857.23 (1995), 669.37 (1994)
Exports
$905 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, tobacco
Exports--partners
Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Malaysia (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$8.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 23% industry: 40% services: 37% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$880 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-2% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 31.3% (1993)
Imports
$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities
machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer
Imports--partners
South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
3.5% (1996)
Industries
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
43.9% (1996)
Labor force
3.4 million
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%
Population below poverty line
86% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate
22% (1991)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios
1,889,140
Telephone system
facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
80,900 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations
9 (1997)
Televisions
215,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Airports
112 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 100 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 66 under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 39,700 km paved: 7,265 km (including 60 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,435 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 1,724 km Ports and harbors: Mpulungu
Railways
total: 2,164 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track) note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways
Waterways
2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$76 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.8% (1997)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 2,102,167 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,113,174 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional money-laundering center