Zambia
Country Guide

Explore Zambia

Zambia with its capital Lusaka is located in Africa (Southern Africa, east of Angola). It covers some 752,619 square kilometers (almost five times the size of Georgia) with a population of 15,972,000. English and Nyanja are some of the languages spoken by the majority in Zambia. Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are bordering countries.

Zambia is a state in Southern Africa. Roughly the size of Texas or France, Zambia is a landlocked country, bordered by Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, a narrow strip of Namibia known as the Caprivi Strip to the southwest, Angola to the west, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the northwest. Zambia offers travelers some of the world's best safari opportunities, a glimpse into real Africa, and Victoria Falls, one of the World's Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A highlight of any trip to Zambia is a visit to any of the many traditional festivals held throughout the country. Planning ahead can be tough though, as schedules are variable and not all are held yearly.

Popular Destinations in Zambia

Administrative regions of Zambia

• Central Province
• Copperbelt Province
• Eastern Province
• Luapula Province
• Lusaka Province
• Muchinga Province
• North-Western Province
• Northern Province
• Southern Province
• Western Province

About the country

The terrain is mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains. The average density of population is about 21 per km². The climate in Zambia can be described as tropicalmodified by altitude, rainy season (October to April). Possible natural disasters include periodic drought tropical storms (November to April)

To reach someone Zambia dial +260 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".zm". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, D, G). The sign for the locally used currency Kwacha is ZMK.

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.

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the former 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 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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 40)	752,618	sq km
Land (World Rank: 39)	743,398	sq km
Water (World Rank: 51)	9,220	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 66)	26.90	%
Comparative	almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas
Landborder
6043.15
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 12)	329	m
Highest point (World Rank: 112)	2,301	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 131)	31.70	%
Arable (World Rank: 153)	4.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 66)	26.90	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 82)	1,560	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region - and large cat populations - antelope - chemical runoff into watersheds - deforestation - desertification - elephant - lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks - poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros - soil erosion
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Hazzards	- periodic drought - tropical storms (November to April)
Location
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Climate
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 69)	15,972,000
Deathrate (World Rank: 21)	1.22	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 5)	4.15	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 10)	2.93	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 8)	5.63	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 220)	16.60
Female (World Rank: 220)	16.90
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 53)	3,693,260
0 14 female (World Rank: 51)	3,657,890
15 24 male (World Rank: 62)	1,595,630
15 24 female (World Rank: 62)	1,598,060
25 54 male (World Rank: 74)	2,310,960
25 54 female (World Rank: 77)	2,276,020
55 64 male (World Rank: 110)	217,954
55 64 female (World Rank: 109)	250,134
65 x male (World Rank: 113)	162,605
65 x female (World Rank: 113)	209,490
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 16)	6.11	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 216)	53	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 214)	54	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 217)	51	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 153)	0.16
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 110)	2.00
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 166)	43.90	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 154)	8.10	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 182)	65.40	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 88)	13,280,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 87)	11,620,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 55)	1,176,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 69)	785,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 212)	0.30	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 6)	97.90	%
Source renew (World Rank: 120)	1.80	%
Crude oil
Imports (World Rank: 73)	11,200	bbl / day
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 97)	14,290	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 129)	23,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 105)	937	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 145)	7,917	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 144)	15	m³
Carbon footprint
3500000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 171)	1	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 71)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 140)	5	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 192)	-10	% of GDP
National symbol
African fish eagle
National colours
red
Adjective
Zambian
Noun
Zambian(s)
Background
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the former 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 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.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 100)	65,130,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 80)	3.40	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 175)	3,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 124)	5.40	%
Source industry (World Rank: 42)	35.70	%
Source service (World Rank: 125)	60.00	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 68)	6,690,000
In poverty (World Rank: 12)	60.50	%
Products
Industries	- beverages - chemicals - construction - copper mining - emerald mining - fertilizer - foodstuffs - horticulture - processing - textiles
Agriculture	- cassava - cattle - coffee - corn - cotton - eggs - flowers - goats - hides - manioc - milk - peanuts - pigs - poultry - rice - sorghum - sugarcane - sunflower seeds - tapioca - tobacco - vegetables
Exports	- cobalt - copper/cobalt - cotton - electricity - flowers - tobacco
Imports	- clothing - electricity - fertilizer - foodstuffs - machinery - petroleum products - transportation equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 140)	101,407
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 185)	1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 169)	77.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 89)	3,956,250
Population (World Rank: 170)	25.50	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 125)	8.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 44)	80.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 58)	3,126
Road
Total length (World Rank: 87)	40,454
Paved length (World Rank: 78)	9,403
Unpaved length (World Rank: 50)	31,051
Water
Total length (World Rank: 38)	2,250

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