Zambia

Republic of Zambia

republicIndependence 24 October 1964 (from UK)

Zambia as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 103 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

9.66 million July 1999 est. · 8.11m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.12% 1999 est. · 2.96% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 16.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

36.96 years 1999 est. · 45.56 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.35 children per woman 1999 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

91.85 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 80 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$880 1998 est. · $550 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-2% 1998 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

unnamed location 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

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:: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

15 fields

Population

9,663,535

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 2.12% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

44.51Death

22.56Net migration

-0.78

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)36.96

36.72 · 37.21

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)78.2%

85.6% · 71.3%

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

Ethnic groups

African 98.7%European 1.1%other 0.2%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 49% (male 2,381,937; female 2,355,807)
15-64 years:: 49% (male 2,308,715; female 2,379,994)
65 years and over:: 2% (male 107,427; female 129,655) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

91.85 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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)

18 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 NA 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 NA 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 NA 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 NA October 2001);
vice president appointed by the president
election results:: Frederick CHILUBA reelected 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 NA 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

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, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, 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

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

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.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$880

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

-2%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 3.5% (1996)

Inflation, consumer prices

43.9%

(1996)

Unemployment rate

22%

(1991)

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

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.51%hydro 99.49%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

7.84 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

6.393 billion (1996)Electricity exports

1.47 billion (1996)Electricity imports

23 million (1996)

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, also have damaged 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. Until a deal on the copper sector is concluded, perhaps by mid-1999, economic prospects will remain clouded.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$8.3 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

86% (1993 est.)

Labor force

3.4 million

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%

Industries

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

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

$905 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, tobacco

Exports--partners

Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Malaysia (1997)

Imports

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities

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

Imports--partners

South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe (1997)

Debt--external

$7.1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$1.991 billion (1995)

Currency

1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1--1,428 (October 1998), 1,333.81 (1997), 1,203.71 (1996), 857.23 (1995), 669.37 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

80,900

(1987 est.)

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

9 (1997)

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: 100 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 66

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 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 Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways