Zambia

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

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

• 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 km

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage:

Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage:

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

• 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

• landlocked;
• the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zimbabwe;
• Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

noun:

Zambian(s)

adjective:

Zambian

total:

19 years (2025 est.)

male:

18.2 years

female:

18.6 years

• 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

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.82 male(s)/female

total population:

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

total:

30.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

38.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

32.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

66.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

65.2 years

female:

68.7 years

total:

3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

11.7% (2025 est.)

male:

21.4% (2025 est.)

female:

2.4% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

5.2% (2018)

women married by age 18:

29% (2018)

men married by age 18:

2.8% (2018)

• air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region;
• chemical runoff into watersheds;
• loss of biodiversity;
• poaching;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• lack of adequate water treatment

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

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

urban population:

46.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

municipal solid waste generated annually:

2.608 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

12.6% (2022 est.)

municipal:

290 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

1.152 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Zambia

conventional short form:

Zambia

former:

Northern Rhodesia

etymology:

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

name:

Lusaka

geographic coordinates:

15 25 S, 28 17 E

time difference:

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

etymology:

named after a village with a headman (chief) called LUSAAKAS

history:

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

amendment process:

• 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

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

legislature name:

National Assembly

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed)

electoral system:

plurality/majority

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

44420

parties elected and seats per party:

• United Party for National Development (UPND) (82);
• Patriotic Front (PF) (60);
• Independents (13);
• Other (1)

percentage of women in chamber:

15%

expected date of next election:

August 2026

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)

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)

• 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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)

chancery:

2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 234-4009

FAX:

[1] (202) 332-0826

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://www.zambiaembassy.org/

chief of mission:

Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)

embassy:

Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka

mailing address:

2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310

telephone:

[260] (0) 211-357-000

FAX:

[260] (0) 211-357-224

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://zm.usembassy.gov/

description:

green field with a soaring orange eagle in the upper-right corner; a panel of three vertical bands is under the eagle, in red (left side), black, and orange

meaning:

• green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth;
• the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems

title:

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

lyrics/music:

multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

history:

adopted 1964; the melody, which comes from the popular song "God Bless Africa," a popular song and anthem in southern Africa

total World Heritage Sites:

1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

• 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

agriculture:

1.8% (2024 est.)

industry:

37.5% (2024 est.)

services:

55.1% (2024 est.)

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

total:

9.9% (2024 est.)

male:

10.1% (2024 est.)

female:

9.6% (2024 est.)

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

lowest 10%:

1.5% (2022 est.)

highest 10%:

39.1% (2022 est.)

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

production:

2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

103,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

945 million metric tons (2023 est.)

total subscriptions:

81,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

• 47 state-controlled and private TV stations;
• state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has 2 TV channels, controls 1, and owns shares in 2 more;
• 137 radio stations, with 133 private and 4 state-owned (2019)

total:

99,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2023 est.) less than 1

total:

3,126 km (2014)

narrow gauge:

3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

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

• 18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women;
• no conscription;
• initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025)

refugees:

88,918 (2024 est.)

IDPs:

131,349 (2024 est.)