Zambia

Republic of Zambia

republicIndependence 24 October 1964 (from UK)

Zambia as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 96 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLusaka

Position15 00 S, 30 00 E

Area752,610 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, east of Angola

Populationas each edition published it

9.46 million July 1998 est. · 8.11m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.13% 1998 est. · 2.96% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

37.07 years 1998 est. · 45.56 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.41 children per woman 1998 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

92.57 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 80 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$950 1997 est. · $550 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.5% 1997 est. · -3% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, east of Angola

18 fields

Land useshare of 752,610 sq km

arable land 7%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 40%forests and woodland 39%other 14% (1993 est.)irrigated 460 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

752,610sq km

land: 740,720 sq kmwater: 11,890 sq kmslightly larger than Texas

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

2,301m

in Mafinga Hillslowest point: Zambezi river 329 m

Land boundaries

5,664km

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

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Natural resources

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential

Environment-current issues

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region;
poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations;
deforestation;
soil erosion;
desertification;
lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

9,460,736

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 2.13% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

44.6Death

22.55Net migration

-0.8

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)37.07

36.81 · 37.33

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)78.2%

85.6% · 71.3%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write in English

Ethnic groups

African 98.7%European 1.1%other 0.2%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 49% (male 2,342,043; female 2,316,357)
15-64 years:: 48% (male 2,244,251; female 2,326,159)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 106,950; female 124,976) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.85 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

92.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Zambian(s)
adjective:: Zambian

Religions

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

Languages

English (official), major vernaculars-Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages

Government

Republic; President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

70%

Frederick CHILUBA 70%Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%Humphrey MULEMBA 6%Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%others 5%election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001)

National Assembly, 150 seats, elected 18 November 1996one dot, one seat

MMD 130NP 5ZADECO 2AZ 2independents 11

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form:: Zambia
former:: Northern Rhodesia

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991);
Vice President Christon TEMBO (since December 1997);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991);
Vice President Christon TEMBO (since December 1997);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001);
vice president appointed by the president
election results:: Frederick CHILUBA elected president; percent of vote-Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001)
election results:: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-MMD 130, NP 5, ZADECO 2, AZ 2, independents 11

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Akashambatwa LEWANIKA];
Labor Party or LP [Chibiza MFUNI];
Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president];
Movement for Democratic Process or MDP [Chama CHAKOM BOKA];
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA];
National Lima Party or NLP [Guy SCOTT and Ben KAPITA];
National Party or NP [Daniel LISULO];
United National Independence Party or UNIP [Kenneth KAUNDA];
Zambia Democratic Congress or ZADECO [Dean MUNG'OMBA]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA
chancery:: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy:: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address:: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone:: [260] (1) 250-955, 252-230

FAX

[260] (1) 252-225

Flag description

green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag

Economy

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary | reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$8.8billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$950

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

3.5%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 3.5% (1996)

Inflation, consumer prices

43.9%

(1996)

GDP-composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 23%industry 40%services 37% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$888 millionExpenditures

$835 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $110 million

Fixed lines

80,900

(1987 est.)

Economy-overview

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over 80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling.

Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by Zambia's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed election, will severely damage Zambia's economic prospects. Urged by the World Bank, Zambia has embarked on a privatization program which is to include the all-important copper industry.

Labor force

total:: 3.4 million
by occupation:: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%

Unemployment rate

22% (1991)

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

2.436 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

7.79 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

668 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca);
cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, beef, pork, poultry meat, milk, eggs, hides

Exports

total value:: $975 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
partners:: EU countries, Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Malaysia

Imports

total value:: $990 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, miscellaneous manufactured goods
partners:: South Africa, EU countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, US

Debt-external

$7.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $2 billion (1995 est.)

Currency

1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1-1,351.,35 (October 1997), 1,203.71 (1996), 857.23 (1995), 669.37 (1994), 452.76 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa

domestic:: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities
international:: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios

1,889,140

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

215,000 (1995 est.)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 99 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 64

Networkskm

Highways

39,700Railways

2,164 (1995)Waterways

2,250

Highways: paved: 7,265 km (including 60 km of expressways) · unpaved: 32,435 km (1996 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track) note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways · Waterways: , including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika

Railways

total:: 2,164 km (1995)
narrow gauge:: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)

note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways

Highways

total:: 39,700 km
paved:: 7,265 km (including 60 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 32,435 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika

Pipelines

crude oil 1,724 km

Ports and harbors

Mpulungu

Airports

111 (1997 est.)

Military

Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police

5 fields

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.7%

(1995)

Military branches

Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 2,037,123 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 1,078,085 (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$96 million (1995)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes-international

quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
Democratic Republic of the Congo-Tanzania-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zambia boundary has been settled

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional money-laundering center ZIMBABWE

Central Intelligence Agency. “Zambia.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zambia/1998.

How to cite ← 1997 edition 1999 edition →