Zambia

Republic of Zambia

republicIndependence 24 October 1964 (from UK)

Zambia as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 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

Area752,614 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, east of Angola

Populationas each edition published it

10.31 million July 2003 est. · 8.11m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.52% 2003 est. · 2.96% in 1993

Median ageyears

16.5 years 2002 · 19 yrs in 2025

Life expectancyyears at birth

35.25 years 2003 est. · 45.56 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.25 children per woman 2003 est. · 7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

99.29 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 80 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$800 2002 est. · $550 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.3% 2002 est. · -3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the 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 and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties.

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. The new president launched a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the 2003 arrest of the previous president Frederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

Geography

Southern Africa, east of Angola

18 fields

Land useshare of 752,614 sq km

arable land 7.08%permanent crops 0.03%other 92.89% (1998 est.)irrigated 460 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

752,614sq km

water: 11,890 sq kmland: 740,724 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

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references

Africa

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

Natural hazards

periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe

People

19 fields

Population

10,307,333

growth rate: 1.52% (2003 est.)

Note

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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth

39.53Death

24.3Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)35.25

35.25 · 35.25Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)99.29

106.58 · 91.77

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)80.6%

86.8% · 74.8%Median age years (2002)16.5

16.4 · 16.6

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

Ethnic groups

African 98.7%European 1.1%other 0.2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

21.5%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46.3% (male 2,396,313; female 2,378,567)
15-64 years:: 50.9% (male 2,626,961; female 2,621,818)
65 years and over:: 2.8% (male 131,196; female 152,478) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.2 million (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

120,000 (2001 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 Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

29%

Levy MWANAWASA 29%Anderson MAZOKA 27%Christon TEMBO 13%Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%Godfrey MIYANDA 8%Benjamin MWILA 5%Michael SATA 3%other 5%election last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)

National Assembly, 148 seats, elected 27 December 2001one dot, one seat

MMD 68UPND 48UNIP 13FDD 12HP 4PF 1ZRP 1independents 1

Percent of vote

MMD 45.9%UPND 32.4%UNIP 8.8%FDD 8.1%HP 2.7%PF 0.7%ZRP 0.7%independents 0.7%

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

Lusaka

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

24 October 1964 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Constitution

2 August 1991

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Nevers MUMBA (since May 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Nevers MUMBA (since May 2003);
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 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006);
vice president appointed by the president
election results:: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote - Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%, Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, Michael SATA 3%, other 5%

Legislative branch

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

elections:: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)
election results:: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%, UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%;
seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP 1, independents 1;
seats not determined 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA];
Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO];
Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA];
Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president];
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA, acting president];
National Leadership for Development or NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE];
National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU];
Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA];
Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA];
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline KONIE];
United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA, president];
United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA
FAX:: [1] (202) 332-0826
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
chancery:: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Martin George BRENNAN
embassy:: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address:: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone:: [260] (1) 250-955
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 economic growth remains below the 5% to 7% necessary to reduce poverty significantly.

37 fields

Real growth rate

2.3%

(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 5.1% (2001 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

21%

(2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

50%

(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

86%

(1993)

GDP - composition by sector(2001)

agriculture 22%industry 26%services 52% (2001)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

7.8%

South Africa

64.4%

10.3%

Malawi

9.2%

Thailand

9.1%

Japan

9.1%

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

8.5%

Taiwan

6.4%

Egypt

6.3%

China

3.6%

5.5%

Netherlands

4.5%

Tanzania

3.7%

Exports $709 million f.o.b. (2001)Imports $1.123 billion f.o.b. (2001)(2002)

Budget

Revenues

$1.2 billionExpenditures

$1.25 billion (2001 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.5%hydro 99.5%other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

7.751 billion (2001)Electricity consumption

5.458 billion (2001)Electricity exports

1.75 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economic growth remains below the 5% to 7% necessary to reduce poverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth.

However, low mineral prices have slowed the benefits of privatizing the mines and have reduced incentives for further private investment in the sector. Cooperation continues with international bodies on programs to reduce poverty.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.24 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

52.6 (1998)

Labor force

4.29 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$709 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton

Imports

$1.123 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$5.8 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient

$651 million (2000 est.)

Currency

Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Currency code

ZMK

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha per US dollar - NA (2002), 3,610.93 (2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

90,000

(2002)

Internet users

(2001)

Fixed lines

130,000

(including approximately 40,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (2002) · country code .zm

Telephone system

general assessment:: facilities are aging but still among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa
domestic:: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities;
several cellular telephone services in operation;
Internet service is widely available;
very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms
international:: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

9 (2002)

Internet users

25,000 (2002)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 11Unpaved 98

Networkskm

Highways

66,781Railways

2,173Waterways

2,250

Highways: paved: NA km · unpaved: NA km (1999 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2002) · Waterways: note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers

Railways

total:: 2,173 km
narrow gauge:: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge

note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2002)

Highways

total:: 66,781 km
paved:: NA km
unpaved:: NA km (1999 est.)

Military

Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary forces

5 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9%

(FY02)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundaries converge

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Zambia.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zambia/2003.

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