2024 Edition Primary

Background

Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. 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) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, 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 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) 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 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021.

Area

land

743,398 sq km

total

752,618 sq km

water

9,220 sq km

Area - comparative

almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Mafinga Central 2,330 m

lowest point

Zambezi river 329 m

mean elevation

1,138 m

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 (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

agricultural land

31.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.)

forest

66.3% (2018 est.)

other

2% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation

Major rivers (by length in km)

Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

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

Population distribution

one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Age structure

0-14 years

42.1% (male 4,418,980/female 4,337,187)

15-64 years

55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732)

65 years and over

2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

34.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

2.8% (2018 est.)

women married by age 15

5.2%

women married by age 18

29%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2018/19)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.6% (2018)

Current health expenditure

5.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.3% (2023 est.)

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Zambia’s poor, youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia’s high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3% annually between 2000 and 2010, and reaching over 3.3% in 2022. The country’s total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world’s highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country’s lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood. HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Zambia and contributes to its low life expectancy. Zambian emigration is low compared to many other African countries and is comprised predominantly of the well-educated. The small amount of brain drain, however, has a major impact in Zambia because of its limited human capital and lack of educational infrastructure for developing skilled professionals in key fields. For example, Zambia has few schools for training doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Its spending on education is low compared to other Sub-Saharan countries.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

3.2

potential support ratio

31.6 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

81.8

youth dependency ratio

78.7

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 56.6% of population

improved: total

total: 71.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 90.2% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 43.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 28.4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 9.8% of population

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2020)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.18 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

female

32.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

38.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Bemba 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 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)

note

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; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.7 years

male

65.2 years

total population

66.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English

female

83.1% (2018)

male

90.6%

total population

86.7%

Major urban areas - population

3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

135 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

18.6 years

male

18.2 years

total

18.4 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Nationality

adjective

Zambian

noun

Zambian(s)

Net migration rate

0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2016)

Physician density

1.17 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

female

10,391,863 (2024 est.)

male

10,407,253

total

20,799,116

Population distribution

one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.83% (2024 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

improved: rural

rural: 31.9% of population

improved: total

total: 51.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 76.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 68.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 48.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 23.7% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

3.7% (2020 est.)

male

25.1% (2020 est.)

total

14.4% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.42 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

46.3% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

named after a village called Lusaka, located at Manda Hill, near where Zambia's National Assembly building currently stands; the village was named after a headman (chief) LUSAKASA

geographic coordinates

15 25 S, 28 17 E

name

Lusaka

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia

citizenship by descent only

yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly; amended 1996, 2015, 2016; note - in late 2020, an amendment which would have altered the structure of the constitution was defeated in the National Assembly

history

several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Zambia

conventional short form

Zambia

etymology

name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe

former

Northern Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)

email address and website

ACSLusaka@state.govhttps://zm.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka

FAX

[260]  (0) 211-357-224

mailing address

2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310

telephone

[260] (0) 211-357-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)

email address and website

info@zambiaembassy.orghttps://www.zambiaembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

telephone

[1] (202) 234-4009

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly

chief of state

President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021) 

election results

2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8%2016: Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government

President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)

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

presidential 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, UNCTAD, UNDOF, 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 at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges); note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016

judge selection and term of office

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

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (167 seats statutory, 166 seats current; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, and up to 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms); 3 ex-officio members elected by National Assembly membership

election results

percent of vote by party - UPND 53.9%, PF 38.1%, PNUP 0.6%, independent 7.4%; seats by party - UPND 82, PF 62, PNUP 1, independent 11; composition - men 142, women 25, percentage women 15%

elections

last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

name

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

note

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 heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

total World Heritage Sites

1 (natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties

Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP Patriotic Front or PF United Party for National Development or UPND 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, cassava, maize, milk, soybeans, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, beef, sweet potatoes (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$5.554 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$5.388 billion (2021 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

RD (2020)

Moody's rating

Ca (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

SD (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

$2.139 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$2.63 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$1.093 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy; regional hydroelectricity producer; trade ties and infrastructure investments from China; IMF assistance to restructure debt burden; one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces; systemic corruption; extreme rural poverty

Exchange rates

Currency

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

12.89 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

18.344 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

20.018 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

16.938 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

20.212 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$8.558 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$11.728 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$12.444 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, iron alloys (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Switzerland 30%, China 18%, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 10%, Pitcairn Islands 10%, UAE 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

40.8% (2023 est.)

government consumption

14.3% (2022 est.)

household consumption

35.6% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-39.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

25.1% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

1.9% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.8% (2023 est.)

industry

36.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

54.9% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$28.163 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

51.5 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

39.1% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

1.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2020

$5.866 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$7.691 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$10.022 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

fertilizers, refined petroleum, trucks, copper ore, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

South Africa 26%, Equatorial Guinea 18%, China 14%, UAE 7%, DRC 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

1.73% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

22.02% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

10.99% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.88% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

7.051 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

60% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2021

71.41% of GDP (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$68.672 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$72.277 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$76.493 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

6.23% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.25% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.83% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$3,500 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$3,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,700 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.08% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.83% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.89% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$1.203 billion (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$2.754 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.968 billion (2022 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.78% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

5.2% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.99% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.91% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

9.8% (2023 est.)

male

9.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

9.8% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

1.857 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

5.068 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

6.924 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

823,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

200 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

300 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

831,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

944.999 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

14.966 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

2.152 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

36.599 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.863 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.392 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

14.5%

electrification - total population

47.8% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

87%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

11.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

87.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

7.088 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.5 (2020 est.)

total

82,317 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

according to the Independent Broadcast Authority, there are 137 radio stations and 47 television stations in Zambia; out of the 137 radio stations, 133 are private (categorized as either commercial or community radio stations), while 4 are public-owned; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 2 television channels and 3 radio stations; ZNBC owns 75% shares in GoTV, 40% in MultiChoice, and 40% in TopStar Communications Company, all of which operate in-country (2019)

Internet country code

.zm

Internet users

percent of population

21% (2021 est.)

total

3.99 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 100 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

following elections held in August 2021, the new government immediately established a Ministry of Technology and Science to promote the use of ICT in developing economic growth and social inclusion; this focus on ICT, and on telecoms in particular, has been central to government strategies for some years; as part of the Smart Zambia initiative, investment has been made in data centers, a computer assembly plant, ICT training centers, and a Smart Education program; these efforts have been combined with the extension of broadband access and improved connectivity to international submarine cables; in turn, this has resulted in a considerable reduction in fixed-line and mobile access pricing for end-users; mobile network operators continue to invest in 3G and LTE-based services, the government contracted to upgrade the state-owned mobile infrastructure for 5G services; delays in holding spectrum have stymied the development of 5G thus far; in mid-2021 the regulator completed a consultation of auctioning low, medium, and high band spectrum for 5G, aiming to provide sufficient spectrum to meet the anticipated increase in data traffic in coming years; fixed-line broadband services remain underdeveloped (2022)

international

country code - 260; multiple providers operate overland fiber optic routes via Zimbabwe/South Africa, Botswana/Namibia and Tanzania provide access to the major undersea cables

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions

96,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

99 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

19.838 million (2022 est.)

Airports

119 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9J

Heliports

4 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1, oil tanker 1

total

2 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

75.08 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

8,904 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

Pipelines

771 km oil (2013)

Railways

narrow gauge

3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

note

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

total

3,126 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

10,150 km

total

67,671 km

unpaved

57,520 km (2021)

Waterways

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

Military - note

the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for preserving the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency; border security and support to African and UN peacekeeping operations are priorities; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the USthe ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2024)

Military and security forces

Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service; Defense Force Medical ServiceMinistry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (includes a paramilitary battalion) (2024)

note

note 1: the Zambia National Service is a support organization that also does public work projects; its main objectives revolve around land development, agriculture, industries, youth skills training as well as arts, sports and culture  note 2: the Zambia Army comprises the Regular Force, the Home Guard, and the Territorial reserve

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 17,000 active troops (15,000 Army; 2,000 Air) (2024)

Military deployments

930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items--particularly aircraft--from such suppliers as Israel and the US (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2023)

note

note: Zambia had military conscription from 1975-1980

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)

8,436 (Burundi) (2023); 62,660 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

5.14 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

14.1 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

16.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity

due to reduced incomes and localized shortfalls in cereal production -an estimated 1.95 million people were projected to face acute food insecurity between October 2022 and March 2023, an increase compared to the 1.6 million people estimated in 2021/22; the high level of acute food insecurity is associated with the effects of a below-average cereal harvest and high food prices that adversely impacted households’ food availability and access (2023)

Land use

agricultural land

31.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.)

forest

66.3% (2018 est.)

other

2% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation

Major rivers (by length in km)

Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

4.45% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

104.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.15 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

290 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

46.3% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2,608,268 tons (2002 est.)