2012 Edition

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. 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. Michael SATA was elected President in September 2011.

Area

752,618 sq km 743,398 sq km 9,220 sq km

total

752,618 sq km

water

9,220 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Climate

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

Zambezi river 329 m unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

highest point

unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

lowest point

Zambezi river 329 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%) 149 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

149 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

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)

Irrigated land

1,560 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

5,664 km 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

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

total

5,664 km

Land use

6.99% 0.04% 92.97% (2005)

arable land

6.99%

other

92.97% (2005)

permanent crops

0.04%

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

periodic drought; 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

Total renewable water resources

105.2 cu km (2001)

Age structure

46.3% (male 3,210,553/ female 3,183,169) 51.3% (male 3,549,980/ female 3,538,503) 2.4% (male 144,145/ female 191,129) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

46.3% (male 3,210,553/ female 3,183,169)

15-64 years

51.3% (male 3,549,980/ female 3,538,503)

65 years and over

2.4% (male 144,145/ female 191,129) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

43.1 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.9% (2007)

Death rate

13.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2008)

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)

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

13.5% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

45,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

980,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

70.6 deaths/1,000 live births 76.2 deaths/1,000 live births 64.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

64.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

70.6 deaths/1,000 live births

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)

Life expectancy at birth

52.57 years 51.35 years 53.83 years (2012 est.)

female

53.83 years (2012 est.)

total population

52.57 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write English 80.6% 86.8% 74.8% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English

female

74.8% (2003 est.)

male

86.8%

total population

80.6%

Major cities - population

LUSAKA (capital) 1.413 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and plague are high risks in some locations schistosomiasis rabies (2009)

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

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

Maternal mortality rate

440 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

16.5 years 16.5 years 16.6 years (2012 est.)

female

16.6 years (2012 est.)

male

16.5 years

total

16.5 years

Nationality

Zambian(s) Zambian

adjective

Zambian

noun

Zambian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.055 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

13,817,479 (July 2012 est.) 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

Population growth rate

2.89% (2012 est.)

Religions

Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 59% of population rural: 43% of population total: 49% of population urban: 41% of population rural: 57% of population total: 51% of population

rural

57% of population

total

51% of population

urban

41% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

7 years 8 years 7 years (2000)

female

7 years (2000)

male

8 years

total

7 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.85 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

36% of total population (2010) 3.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

36% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Capital

Lusaka 15 25 S, 28 17 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

15 25 S, 28 17 E

name

Lusaka

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term limits

Country name

Republic of Zambia Zambia Northern Rhodesia

conventional long form

Republic of Zambia

conventional short form

Zambia

former

Northern Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Mark C. STORELLA corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka [260] (211) 357-000 [260] (211) 357-224

chief of mission

Ambassador Mark C. STORELLA

embassy

corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka

FAX

[260] (211) 357-224

mailing address

P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka

telephone

[260] (211) 357-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Bernard KANGWA 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 [1] (202) 332-0826

chancery

2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Bernard KANGWA

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

telephone

[1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719

Executive branch

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 President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); Vice President Guy SCOTT (since 30 September 2011) Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly 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 Michael Chilufya SATA elected president; percent of vote - Michael SATA 43.3%, Rupiah BANDA 36.2%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 18.5%, other 2.0%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

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

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%

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

head of government

President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); Vice President Guy SCOTT (since 30 September 2011)

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

Government type

republic

Independence

24 October 1964 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

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)

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council

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) last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016) 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

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

elections

last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

"Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free) multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA 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

lyrics/music

multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

name

"Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

National symbol(s)

African fish eagle

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 [Nevers MUMBA]; National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]; Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides

Budget

$4.092 billion $5.369 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$5.369 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$4.092 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.39% (31 December 2009) 14.49% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13% (31 December 2012 est.) 18.84% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.048 billion (2012 est.) $215 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.445 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.619 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.8 (2004) 52.6 (1998)

Economy - overview

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 rates.

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 5,100 (2012 est.) 4,860.7 (2011 est.) 4,797.1 (2010 est.) 5,046.1 (2009) 3,512.9 (2008)

Exports

$8.346 billion (2012 est.) $8.672 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners

China 34.8%, Switzerland 18.2%, South Africa 7.8%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5.4%, South Korea 4.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

20.2% 33.5% 46.3% (2012 est.)

agriculture

20.2%

industry

33.5%

services

46.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,700 (2012 est.) $1,600 (2011 est.) $1,600 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.5% (2012 est.) 6.6% (2011 est.) 7.6% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.68 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.68 billion (2012 est.) $22.24 billion (2011 est.) $20.87 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.2% 38.8% (2004)

highest 10%

38.8% (2004)

lowest 10%

1.2%

Imports

$7.279 billion (2012 est.) $6.454 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners

South Africa 36.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 20.6%, China 10%, Kuwait 5.9% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

8.8% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.5% (2012 est.) 8.7% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

5.839 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

85% 6% 9% (2004)

agriculture

85%

industry

6%

services

9% (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.009 billion (31 December 2011) $2.817 billion (31 December 2010) $2.804 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

64% (2006)

Public debt

31.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 26.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.616 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.324 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.906 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.075 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$3.956 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.293 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.919 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.631 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

14% (2006 est.) 50% (2000 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.416 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

10,790 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

7.704 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

110 million kWh (2010)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

99.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

33 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.679 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

10.2 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,260 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

21.18 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

17,570 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

9,664 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.zm

Internet hosts

16,571 (2012)

Internet users

816,200 (2009)

Telephone system

among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa 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 country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel

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

general assessment

among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa

international

country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel

Telephones - main lines in use

85,700 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.165 million (2011)

Airports

88 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1

total

8

Airports - with unpaved runways

21 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

53

total

80

under 914 m

21 (2012)

Pipelines

oil 771 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Mpulungu

Railways

2,157 km 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2008)

total

2,157 km

Roadways

91,440 km 20,117 km 71,323 km (2001)

total

91,440 km

unpaved

71,323 km (2001)

Waterways

2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

3,041,069 2,948,291 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,948,291 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,041,069

Manpower fit for military service

1,745,656 1,688,670 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,688,670 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,745,656

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

158,592 158,805 (2010 est.)

female

158,805 (2010 est.)

male

158,592

Military branches

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF)

Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

national registration required at age 16; 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) (2012)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

23,500 (Angola); 12,509 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,559 (Rwanda) (2011)

refugees (country of origin)

23,500 (Angola); 12,509 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,559 (Rwanda) (2011)