Zambia
Republic of Zambia
republicIndependence 24 October 1964 (from the UK)
Zambia as the 2013 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 167 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] 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, economic mismanagement 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. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential byelection in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected president in September 2011.
Geography
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
20 fieldsLand useshare of 752,618 sq km
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
- per capita:
- 147 cu m/yr (2002)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
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)
People and Society
37 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2013 est.)
Note
Per 1,000 population(2013 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups
African 99.5% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups), other 0.5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans) (2000 Census)
Languages
11 Bantu languages (Bemba (official) 30.1%, Nyanja (official) 10.7%, Tonga (official) 10.6%, Lozi (official) 5.7%, Chewa 4.9%, Nsenga 3.4%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (official) 2.2%, Kaonde (official) 2%, Lala 2%, Luvale (official) 1.7%), English (official) 1.7%, other 22.5% (2000 Census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.92 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.75 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact disease:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact disease:
- rabies (2013)
Child labor - children ages 5-14
- total number:
- 1,000,850
- percentage:
- 41 %
note: data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)
Government
Republic; President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly, 148 seats, elected 20 September 2011one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Zambia
- conventional short form:
- Zambia
- former:
- Northern Rhodesia
Capital
- name:
- Lusaka
- geographic coordinates:
- 15 25 S, 28 17 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Constitution
- several previous;
- latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991;
- amended 1996;
- note - in late 2013, a constitution committee submitted a draft constitution to the government (2013)
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011);
- Vice President Guy SCOTT (since 30 September 2011);
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); Vice President Guy SCOTT (since 30 September 2011)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016);
- vice president appointed by the president
- election results:
- Michael Chilufya SATA elected president; percent of vote - Michael SATA 43.3%, Rupiah BANDA 36.2%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 18.5%, other 2.0%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by popular vote, 8 members appointed by the president, to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - PF 60, MMD 55, UPND 28, ADD 1, FDD 1, independents 3;
- seats not determined 2
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the president and ratified by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- High Court; magistrate's courts and local courts
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
- Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
- Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]
- Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Nevers MUMBA]
- National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]
- Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]
- Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]
- United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]
- United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Palan MULONDA (since 8 January 2013)
- 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David A. YOUNG
- embassy:
- Ibex Hill, Lusaka
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
- telephone:
- [260] (0) (211) 357-000
- FAX:
- [260] (0) (211) 357-224
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
National anthem
- name:
- "Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)
- lyrics/music:
- multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
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
Economy
Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-12 more than 6% per year.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-12 more than 6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly increased copper mining output and profitability to spur economic growth.
Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately US$6 billion in debt relief. Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, despite a stronger economy.
Zambia's dependency on copper makes it vulnerable to depressed commodity prices, but record high copper prices and a bumper maize crop in 2010 helped Zambia rebound quickly from the world economic slowdown that began in 2008. Zambia has made some strides to improve the ease of doing business.
A high birth rate, relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and market distorting agricultural policies have meant that Zambia''s economic growth has not dramatically decreased the stubbornly high poverty rate.
Gross national saving
19.4% of GDP (2012 est.) · 23.7% of GDP (2011 est.) · 26.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Agriculture - products
- corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee;
- cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
Industries
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Distribution of family income - Gini index
50.8 (2004) · 52.6 (1998) country comparison to the world: 19
Central bank discount rate
8.39% (31 December 2009) · 14.49% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 12
Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.15% (31 December 2012 est.) · 18.84% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Stock of narrow money
$2.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.63 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Stock of broad money
$4.906 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $4.075 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Stock of domestic credit
$3.833 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $3.291 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Current account balance
$-189.9 million (2012 est.); $553.9 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Imports - commodities
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $2.324 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Debt - external
$5.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $4.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Exchange rates
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 5.1 (2012 est.) · 4.9 (2011 est.) · 4,797.1 (2010 est.) · 5,046.1 (2009) · 3,512.9 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 1.679 million kW(2010 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
2.434 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- 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 and network coverage is improving;
- domestic satellite system being installed to improve telephone service in rural areas;
- Internet service is widely available;
- very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms
- international:
- country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel (2010)
Broadcast media
- state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 1 TV station and is the principal local-content provider;
- several private TV stations;
- multi-channel subscription TV services are available;
- ZNBC operates 3 radio networks;
- about 2 dozen private radio stations;
- relays of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Lusaka and Kitwe (2007)
Transportation
8 fieldsAirports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)
Military service age and obligation
- national registration required at age 16;
- 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent);
- no conscription;
- Zambian citizenship required;
- grade 12 certification required;
- mandatory HIV testing on enlistment;
- mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2012)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 3,041,069
- females age 16-49:
- 2,948,291 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 14,871 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,963 (Rwanda) (2012)
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Zambia.” The World Factbook 2013. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zambia/2013.