2015 Edition

Background

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the former 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 and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to government. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. 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 death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. The MMD and BANDA lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) and Michael SATA in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in October 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until special elections were held in January 2015. Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and will complete SATA’s term, which expires in late 2016.

Area

land

743,398 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

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

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)

per capita

147 cu m/yr (2002)

total

1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)

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

1,559 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (8)

Angola 1,065 km, Botswana 0.15 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km, Malawi 847 km, Mozambique 439 km, Namibia 244 km, Tanzania 353 km, Zimbabwe 763 km

total

6,043.15 km

Land use

arable land 4.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 26.9%

agricultural land

31.7%

forest

66.3%

other

2% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

46.12% (male 3,490,151/female 3,458,035)

15-24 years

20.02% (male 1,506,925/female 1,509,554)

25-54 years

28.6% (male 2,171,292/female 2,136,987)

55-64 years

2.89% (male 204,767/female 230,244)

65 years and over

2.38% (male 155,179/female 203,132) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

42.13 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)

percentage

41%

total number

1,000,850

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.9% (2007)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

40.8% (2007)

Death rate

12.67 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.7%

potential support ratio

17.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

95.4%

youth dependency ratio

89.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 85.6% of population

rural: 51.3% of population

total: 65.4% of population

urban: 14.4% of population

rural: 48.7% of population

total: 34.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

Health expenditures

5% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.37% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

18,900 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,150,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

59.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

70.19 deaths/1,000 live births

total

64.72 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.2%, unspecified 0.4%

note

Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

53.81 years (2015 est.)

male

50.54 years

total population

52.15 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English

female

56% (2015 est.)

male

70.9%

total population

63.4%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

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

Major urban areas - population

LUSAKA (capital) 2.179 million (2015)

Median age

female

16.8 years (2015 est.)

male

16.6 years

total

16.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Zambian

noun

Zambian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.2% (2014)

Physicians density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

15,066,266

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 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.88% (2015 est.)

Religions

Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 55.6% of population

rural: 35.7% of population

total: 43.9% of population

urban: 44.4% of population

rural: 64.3% of population

total: 56.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

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

0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.72 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total

23.4% (2005 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

40.9% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

15 25 S, 28 17 E

name

Lusaka

time difference

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

Constitution

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, but revisions remain under discussion (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Zambia

conventional short form

Zambia

former

Northern Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Eric T. SCHULTZ (since 12 December 2014)

embassy

Ibex Hill, Lusaka

FAX

[260] ) (211) 357-224

mailing address

P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka

telephone

[260] (211) 357-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Palan MULONDA (since 8 January 2013)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

telephone

[1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Edgar LUNGU elected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 48.8%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.2%, other 4%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); special presidential election held on 20 January 2015 to complete President SATA's term in office (next to be held in late 2016); SATA died 28 October 2014; vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015

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, ICCt, 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, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 7 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission - headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65

subordinate courts

High Court (competence on constitutional issues); Industrial Relations Court; Subordinate Court; magistrate's courts and local courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PF 60, MMD 55, UPND 28, ADD 1, FDD 1, independent 3; seats not determined 2; note - seats as of 8 April 2015 - PF 84, MMD 34, UPND 31, ADD 1, FDD 1, independent 2, other 5

elections

last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016); note - over 25 by-elections, prompted by resignation, death, change of party or legal nullification have taken place since September 2011

National anthem

lyrics/music

multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

name

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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

National symbol(s)

African fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]

Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Daniel PULE]

Forum for Democratic Alternatives or FDA [Ludwig SONDASHI]

Fourth Revolution Party or 4R [Eric CHANDA]

Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]

Green Party or GREENS [Peter SINKAMBA]

Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]

Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Nevers MUMBA]

National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]

National Revolution Party or NRP [Cosmo MUMBA]

Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]

People's Party [Mike MULONGOTI]

Republican Progressive Party or RPP [James LUKUKU]

United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]

United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]

Zambia Direct Democracy Movement or ZDDM [Edwin SAKALA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$6.751 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$5.233 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.39% (31 December 2009)

14.49% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14% (31 December 2014 est.)

9.52% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$61 million (2014 est.)

-$224.6 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$7.384 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.943 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57.5 (2010)

50.8 (2004)

Economy - overview

Zambia has had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the past ten years, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum. 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, spurring economic growth. Copper output increased steadily from 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment, but weakened in 2014 when Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer. 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. Despite strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and by market-distorting agricultural policies. Economic policy inconsistency and poor budget execution in recent years has hindered the economy and contributed to weakness in the kwacha, which was Africa’s worst performing currency during 2014. Zambia has raised $1.75 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in September 2012 and April 2014, significantly increasing the country’s public debt as a share of GDP. On January 1, 2015, a new mineral royalty tax regime dramatically increased mining taxes, and has led to an economic impasse between the government and the mines. If left intact, the new tax could result in the closure of less profitable mines, the loss of thousands of jobs, and the loss of additional foreign investment.

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -

6.1 (2014 est.)

5.4 (2013 est.)

5.1 (2012 est.)

4,860.7 (2011 est.)

4,797.1 (2010 est.)

Exports

$9.214 billion (2014 est.)

$8.908 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Switzerland 23.4%, China 14.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 13.4%, South Africa 6.1%, UAE 4.9% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

44.3%

government consumption

21.2%

household consumption

51.7%

imports of goods and services

-43.6%

investment in fixed capital

26.1%

investment in inventories

0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

10.8%

industry

32.9%

services

56.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,100 (2014 est.)

$3,900 (2013 est.)

$3,600 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.4% (2014 est.)

6.7% (2013 est.)

6.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$26.76 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$61.05 billion (2014 est.)

$57.91 billion (2013 est.)

$54.27 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

30.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

33.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

37.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

47.4% (2010)

lowest 10%

1.5%

Imports

$8.081 billion (2014 est.)

$7.762 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 31.3%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 18.7%, China 9.3%, Kenya 8.3%, Algeria 5.9%, India 4.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

3.6% (2014 est.)

Industries

copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.9% (2014 est.)

7% (2013 est.)

Labor force

6.338 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

85%

industry

6%

services

9% (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.004 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$4.009 billion (31 December 2011)

$2.817 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

60.5% (2010 est.)

Public debt

37.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

31.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.684 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.682 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.437 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$5.325 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.155 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.466 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.369 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2008 est.)

50% (2000 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.054 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

8.06 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

586 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

99.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

23 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.819 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

11.34 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

21,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

254.1 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,272 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

12,900 bbl/day (2010 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 users

percent of population

15.4% (2014 est.)

total

2.3 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Telephone system

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 (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

110,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

69 (2014 est.)

total

10.1 million

Television broadcast stations

9 (2001)

Airports

88 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

8

Airports - with unpaved runways

21 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

53

total

80

Pipelines

oil 771 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Mpulungu (Zambezi)

Railways

narrow gauge

3,126 km 1.067-m gauge

note

includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2014)

total

3,126 km

Roadways

paved

9,403 km

total

40,454 km

unpaved

31,051 km

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

2,948,291 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,041,069

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,688,670 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,745,656

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

158,805 (2010 est.)

male

158,592

Military branches

Zambian Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization) (2015)

Military expenditures

1.55% of GDP (2012)

1.59% of GDP (2011)

1.55% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

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)

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

refugees (country of origin)

18,598 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2014)