Zambia

Republic of Zambia

republicIndependence 24 October 1964 (from the UK)

Zambia as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 167 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, UTC+2
Position15 00 S, 30 00 E
Area752,618 sq km
LocationSouthern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Populationas each edition published it
14.64 million July 2014 est. · 8.11m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.88% 2014 est. · 2.96% in 1993
Median ageyears
16.7 years 2014 est. · 16.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
51.83 years 2014 est. · 45.56 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.76 children per woman 2014 est. · 7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
66.62 deaths per 1,000 live births 2014 est. · 80 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,800 2013 est. · $550 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6% 2013 est. · -3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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 by-election 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 fields

Land useshare of 752,618 sq km

arable land 4.52%permanent crops 0.05%other 95.44% (2011)irrigated 1,559 sq km (2003)
Area
752,618sq km
country comparison to the world: 39land: 743,398 sq kmwater: 9,220 sq kmslightly larger than Texas
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Highest point
2,301m
unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hillslowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
Land boundaries
5,664.1km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Botswana 0.1 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, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
per capita:
147 cu m/yr (2002)

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, 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 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)

151,471
65 and over2.4%
198,838
199,098
55-642.9%
222,214
2,105,768
25-5428.5%
2,072,314
1,465,009
15-2420%
1,467,555
3,393,388
0-1446.2%
3,362,850
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 96.4 % · youth dependency ratio: 91.3 % · elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 % · potential support ratio: 19.6 (2014 est.)
Population
14,638,505
country comparison to the world: 71growth rate: 2.88% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 16
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)

Birth
42.46Death
12.92Net migration
-0.72

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2014 est.)51.83
50.24 · 53.48Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)66.62
72.15 · 60.94Literacy (2007 est.)61.4%
71.9% · 51.8%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2014 est.)16.7
16.6 · 16.8School life expectancy years (2012)14
14 · 13
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 216 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 17 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write English

Ethnic groups(2010 est.)

Bemba 21%Tonga 13.6%Chewa 7.4%Lozi 5.7%Nsenga 5.3%Tumbuka 4.4%Ngoni 4%Lala 3.1%Kaonde 2.9%Namwanga 2.8%Lunda (north Western) 2.6%Mambwe 2.5%Luvale 2.2%Lamba 2.1%Ushi 1.9%Lenje 1.6%Bisa 1.6%Mbunda 1.2%other 13.8%unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

Religions(2010 est.)

Protestant 75.3%Roman Catholic 20.2%other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i)none 1.8% (2010 est.)
Urban population
39.2%of total population
(2011)rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population: LUSAKA (capital) 1.802 million (2011)
Improved drinking water
63.3%of population
improved: urban: 84.8% of populationrural: 49.2% of populationunimproved: urban: 15.2% of populationrural: 50.8% of populationtotal: 36.7% of population (2012 est.)
Improved sanitation
42.8%of population
improved: urban: 56.4% of populationrural: 33.9% of populationunimproved: urban: 43.6% of populationrural: 66.1% of populationtotal: 57.2% of population (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
440deaths/100,000 live births
(2010)country comparison to the world: 26Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Zambian(s)
adjective:
Zambian

Languages

Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Chewa 4.5%, Lozi 5.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.4%, unspecified 0.4%; note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although man of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family (2010 est.)

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:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.76 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Health expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 105

Physicians density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,106,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

HIV/AIDS - deaths

30,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

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)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.6% (2008) country comparison to the world: 174

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.9% (2007) country comparison to the world: 50

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 170

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number:
1,000,850
percentage:
41 %

note: data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 23.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 46

Government

Republic; President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011); President Michael Chilufya SATA (since 23 September 2011)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

43.3%
Michael SATA 43.3%Rupiah BANDA 36.2%Hakainde HICHILEMA 18.5%other 2.0%election last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016)

National Assembly, 148 seats, elected 20 September 2011one dot, one seat

PF 60MMD 55UPND 28ADD 1FDD 1independents 3

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

Independence

24 October 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

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, but the government has not yet publicly released the final copy or presented a plan to adopt the document (2013)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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, along with eight unelected members; (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);
  • note - over 25 by-elections, prompted by resignation, death, change of party or legal nullification have taken place since September 2011
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;
  • note - seats as of 4 March 2014 - PF 69, MMD 41, UPND 31, ADD 1, FDD 1, independents 2, pending court decision 7, other 6

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]
  • Alliance for a Better Zambia or ABZ [Frank BWALYA]
  • Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Daniel PULE]
  • 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]
  • National Revolution Party or NRP [Cosmo MUMBA]
  • Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]
  • Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]
  • Republican Progressive Party or RPP [James LUKUKU]
  • 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 J. YOUNG
embassy:
Ibex Hill, Lusaka
mailing address:
P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone:
[260] (211) 357-000
FAX:
[260] ) (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 symbol(s)

African fish eagle

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 2005-13 more than 6% per year.

41 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$25.47billion
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 124$24.01 billion (2012 est.) · $22.39 billion (2011 est.)note: data are in 2013 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $22.24 billion (2013 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,800
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 196$1,700 (2012 est.) · $1,600 (2011 est.)note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Real growth rate
6%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 377.2% (2012 est.) · 6.8% (2011 est.)industrial production growth: 8% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 25
Inflation, consumer prices
7.1%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 1896.6% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)

agriculture 19.8%industry 33.8%services 46.5% (2013 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

43.4%
China
10.4%
7.2%
South Africa
36.7%
6.7%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
19.8%
Kuwait
6%
5.4%
South Korea
4.7%
India
4.3%
UAE
4.1%
Egypt
Exports $8.547 billion (2013 est.)Imports $8.216 billion (2013 est.)(2012)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
60%Government consumption
26.5%Fixed capital
19.1%Inventories
1%Exports
36.2%Imports
-42.9%
(2013 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$4.814 billionExpenditures
$6.687 billion (2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-13 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. 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. Regulatory changes by the current government in 2012-2013 included Statutory Instruments (SI) Number 33 (mandating use of the kwacha for domestic transactions) and SI Number 55 (monitoring foreign exchange transactions). Along with problems of fiscal management and weakening global copper prices, these SI's were perceived as undermining confidence in Zambia's economy and currency, leading to sharp depreciation of the kwacha in March 2014.

In response, the Minister of Finance revoked SI 33 and 55 in late March 2014. Despite a strong economy, poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, made worse by a high birth rate, relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and by market distorting agricultural policies.

Gross national saving

14.5% of GDP (2013 est.) · 19.4% of GDP (2012 est.) · 23.7% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Labor force

6.275 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
85%
industry:
6%
services:
9% (2004)

Unemployment rate

15% (2008 est.) · 50% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1.5%
highest 10%:
47.4% (2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57.5 (2010) · 50.8 (2004) country comparison to the world: 9

Taxes and other revenues

21.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Public debt

31.8% of GDP (2013 est.) · 29.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Fiscal year

calendar year

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

10.4% (31 December 2013 est.) · 12.15% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Stock of narrow money

$2.299 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Stock of broad money

$5.047 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.86 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Stock of domestic credit

$5.458 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $3.833 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.004 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $4.009 billion (31 December 2011); $NA (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Current account balance

-$1.25 billion (2013 est.) · -$189.9 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Exports

$8.547 billion (2013 est.) · $9.414 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Exports - commodities

copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton

Imports

$8.216 billion (2013 est.) · $7.961 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.833 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Debt - external

$5.985 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $5.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 5.3 (2013 est.) · 5.1 (2012 est.) · 4,797.1 (2010 est.) · 5,046.1 (2009) · 3,512.9 (2008)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 1.679 million kW(2010 est.)

Fossil fuels 0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Hydroelectric plants 99.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
11.19 billion (2010 est.)Electricity consumption
7.96 billion (2010 est.)Electricity exports
578 million (2010)Electricity imports
23 million (2011 est.)Refined petroleum imports
1,272 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
19,260 (2011 est.)Refined petroleum production
12,900 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum exports
254 (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

174.6 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Crude oil - imports

12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
10.525 million
(2012)
Internet users
16,571
(2012)
Fixed lines
82,500
(2012) · country code .zm

Telephone 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)

Internet users

816,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 105

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1
1 (2013)

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
21

Networkskm

Roadways
67,671Railways
2,922Waterways
2,250 (2010)
Roadways: paved: 9,403 km · unpaved: 31,051 km · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2013) · Waterways: (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers)

Airports

88 (2013) country comparison to the world: 63

Pipelines

oil 771 km (2013)

Railways

total:
2,922 km

country comparison to the world: 58

narrow gauge:
2,157 km 1.067-m gauge

note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2013)

Roadways

total:
67,671 km

country comparison to the world: 68

paved:
9,403 km
unpaved:
31,051 km

Waterways

2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010) country comparison to the world: 39

Ports and terminals

river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)

Military

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2012)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.55%of GDP
(2012)country comparison to the world: 591.59% of GDP (2011) · 1.55% of GDP (2010)

Military 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.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
1,745,656
females age 16-49:
1,688,670 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
158,592
female:
158,805 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - 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): 16,684 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2013)

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 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zambia/2014.