Zambia
Republic of Zambia
presidential republicIndependence 24 October 1964 (from the UK)
Zambia as the 2021 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 183 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Multiple waves of Bantu-speaking groups moved into and through what is now Zambia over the past thousand years. In the 1880s, the British began securing mineral and other economic concessions from various local leaders and the territory that is now Zambia eventually came under the control of the former British South Africa Company and was incorporated as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. Administrative control was taken over by the UK in 1924. 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 and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to government. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources.
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 death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. The MMD and BANDA lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) and Michael SATA in the 2011 general elections.
SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in October 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until January 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in August 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in August 2021.
Geography
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
21 fieldsLand useshare of 752,618 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km)
- Fresh water lake(s):
- Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km;
- Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km;
- Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation
Major rivers (by length in km)
- Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km;
- Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Population distribution
- one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa;
- high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map
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 · (2020 est.)
Note
Per 1,000 population(2021 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2010 est.)
Religions(2010 est.)
Languages
Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, 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 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects
Demographic profile
Zambia’s poor, youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia’s high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country’s total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world’s highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country’s lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women.
Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood. HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Zambia and contributes to its low life expectancy.
Zambian emigration is low compared to many other African countries and is comprised predominantly of the well-educated. The small amount of brain drain, however, has a major impact in Zambia because of its limited human capital and lack of educational infrastructure for developing skilled professionals in key fields.
For example, Zambia has few schools for training doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Its spending on education is low compared to other Sub-Saharan countries.
Population distribution
- one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa;
- high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map
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:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
Environment
17 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region;
- chemical runoff into watersheds;
- loss of biodiversity;
- 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 24.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 5.14 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 14.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 45.2% of total population (2021)
- rate of urbanization:
- 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
Food insecurity
- severe localized food insecurity:
- due to reduced incomes - the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have aggravated food insecurity across the country, particularly due to income reductions that have constrained households’ economic access to food;
- cereal production is estimated at a bumper high in 2021 and, as a result, overall food security is expected to improve compared to the previous year (2021)
Major lakes (area sq km)
- Fresh water lake(s):
- Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km;
- Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km;
- Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation
Major rivers (by length in km)
- Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km;
- Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage:
- Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
- Indian Ocean drainage:
- Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 290 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- industrial:
- 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- agricultural:
- 1.152 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly, 156 seats, elected 12 August 2021one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Composition: men 136, women 20, percent of women 13.5%; 156 seats filled;
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Zambia
- conventional short form:
- Zambia
- former:
- Northern Rhodesia
- etymology:
- name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe
Capital
- name:
- Lusaka; note - a proposal to build a new capital city in Ngabwe was announced in May 2017
- geographic coordinates:
- 15 25 S, 28 17 E
- time difference:
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- named after a village called Lusaka, located at Manda Hill, near where Zambia's National Assembly building currently stands;
- the village was named after a headman (chief) Lusakasa
Administrative divisions
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Constitution
- history:
- several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991
- amendments:
- proposed by the National Assembly;
- passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart;
- passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly;
- amended 1996, 2015, 2016;
- note - in late 2020, an amendment which would have altered the structure of the constitution was defeated in the National Assembly
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia
- citizenship by descent only:
- yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia
- dual citizenship recognized:
- yes
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021);
- Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
- elections/appointments:
- president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
- last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
- election results:
- 2021 : Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8%; 2016 : Edgar LUNGU re-elected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral National Assembly (167 seats; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, and up to 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms);
- 3 ex-officio members elected by National Assembly membership
- elections:
- last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - UPND 53.9%, PF 38.1%, PNUP 0.6%, independent 7.4%;
- seats by party - UPND 82, PF 62, PNUP 1, independent 11;
- composition - men 136, women 20, percent of women 13.5%;
- 156 seats filled;
Judicial branch
- highest courts:
- Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges);
- Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges);
- note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
- subordinate courts:
- Court of Appeal;
- High Court;
- Industrial Relations Court;
- subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved);
- Small Claims Court;
- local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
- Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
- Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Felix MUTATI]
- National Democratic Congress or NDC [Chishimba KAMBWILI]
- Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]
- United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
- Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP [Highvie HAMUDUDU]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Lazarous KAPAMBWE (since 8 April 2020)
- chancery:
- 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 234-4009
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 332-0826
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://www.zambiaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David J. YOUNG (since 2 March 2020)
- embassy:
- Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
- mailing address:
- 2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310
- telephone:
- [260] (0) 211-357-000
- FAX:
- [260] (0) 211-357-224
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://zm.usembassy.gov/
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
34 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
Zambia had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the ten years up to 2014, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum, though growth slowed during the period 2015 to 2017, due to falling copper prices, reduced power generation, and depreciation of the kwacha.
Zambia’s lack of economic diversification and dependency on copper as its sole major export makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in the world commodities market and prices turned downward in 2015 due to declining demand from China; Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer. GDP growth picked up in 2017 as mineral prices rose.
Despite recent strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, by market-distorting agricultural and energy policies, and growing government debt.
Zambia raised $7 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Concurrently, it issued over $4 billion in domestic debt and agreed to Chinese-financed infrastructure projects, significantly increasing the country’s public debt burden to more than 60% of GDP. The government has considered refinancing $3 billion worth of Eurobonds and significant Chinese loans to cut debt servicing costs.
Agricultural products
sugar cane, cassava, maize, milk, vegetables, soybeans, beef, tobacco, wheat, groundnuts
Industries
copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Exports
$8.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) · $8.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $9.98 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports
$5.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) · $8.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $10.19 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.082 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $2.353 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 21.065 (2020 est.) · 15.3736 (2019 est.) · 11.855 (2018 est.) · 8.6 (2014 est.) · 6.2 (2013 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2019)
Installed generating capacity, 2.573 million kW(2016 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2019–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- service is among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa;
- regulator promotes competition and is a partner to private sector service providers, offering mobile voice and Internet at some of the lowest prices in the region;
- investment made in data centers, education centers, and computer assembly training plants;
- operators invest in 3G and LTE-based services;
- Chinese company Huawei is helping to upgrade state-owned mobile infrastructure for 5G services;
- operators focused on improvements to towers (2020)
- domestic:
- fiber optic connections are available between most larger towns and cities with microwave radio relays serving more rural areas;
- 3G and LTE with FttX in limited urban areas and private Ku or Ka band VSAT terminals in remote locations;
- fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 96 per 100 (2019)
- international:
- country code - 260; multiple providers operate overland fiber optic routes via Zimbabwe/South Africa, Botswana/Namibia and Tanzania provide access to the major undersea cables
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production;
many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes;
the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
- according to the Independent Broadcast Authority, there are 137 radio stations and 47 television stations in Zambia;
- out of the 137 radio stations, 133 are private (categorized as either commercial or community radio stations), while 4 are public-owned;
- state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 2 television channels and 3 radio stations;
- ZNBC owns 75% shares in GoTV, 40% in MultiChoice, and 40% in TopStar Communications Company, all of which operate in-country (2019)
Transportation
11 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 3 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 8,904 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 75.08 million mt-km (2018)
Railways
- total:
- 3,126 km (2014)
- narrow gauge:
- 3,126 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)
Military and Security
7 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2021)
Military and security forces
- Zambia Defense Force (ZDF):
- Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization that also does public work projects);
- Defense Force Medical Service;
- Ministry of Home Affairs: Zambia Police (includes a paramilitary battalion) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era armaments; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to Zambia (2021)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 with parental consent);
- no conscription;
- 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2019)
Military - note
- the Zambian Defense Force (ZDF) traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II;
- the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces;
- it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s;
- Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)
Transnational Issues
4 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): 64,321 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 7,847 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021)
Trafficking in persons
- current situation:
- human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Zambia and Zambians abroad;
- most trafficking occurs within Zambia’s borders, with traffickers exploiting women and children from rural areas in cities in domestic servitude or forced labor in agriculture, textile production, mining, construction, small businesses, such as bakeries, and forced begging;
- Jerabo gangs force Zambian children into illegal mining operations, such as loading stolen copper or crushing rocks;
- truck drivers exploit Zambian boys and girls in sex trafficking in towns along the Zimbabwean and Tanzanian borders, and miners exploit them in Solwezi;
- Zambian boys are exploited for sex trafficking in Zimbabwe and women and girls in South Africa;
- traffickers exploit victims from Tanzania and Malawi in the Zambian timber industry
- tier rating:
- Tier 2 Watch List — Zambia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making efforts to do so;
- efforts included increasing law enforcement training, establishing two fast-track human trafficking courts, conducting awareness campaigns about human trafficking, slightly increasing prosecutions and convictions, and strengthening prison sentences given to traffickers;
- however;
- investigations of trafficking crimes and funding to shelters and other victim assistance programs decreased;
- authorities did not proactively screen for trafficking among vulnerable populations, including foreign nationals and those involved in commercial sex;
- authorities detained and deported potential trafficking victims involved in smuggling;
- the national inter-ministerial committee is weak in overseeing national anti-trafficking efforts and trends (2020)
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 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/zambia/2021.