Zambia

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

1.03 million (1997)

Telephone system

facilities are 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 aperature terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

77,935 (in addition there are about 40,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

9 (1997)

Televisions

277,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $606 million expenditures: $547 million, including capital expenditures of $61 million (1998 est.)

Currency

1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee

Debt - external

$6.7 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$1.99 billion (1995)

Economy - overview

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. The recent privatization of the huge government-owned Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) should greatly improve Zambia's prospects for international debt relief, as the government will no longer have to cover the mammoth losses generated by that sector. Inflation and unemployment rates remain high, however.

Electricity - consumption

6.419 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

1.2 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

30 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

8.16 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0.49% hydro: 99.51% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 2,661.82 (January 2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998), 1,314.50 (1997), 1,207.90 (1996), 864.12 (1995)

Exports

$900 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper, cobalt, electricity, tobacco

Exports - partners

Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, South Africa, US, Malaysia (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 20.6% industry: 30.6% services: 48.8% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $880 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 31.3% (1993)

Imports

$1.15 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

-4% (1998)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

27.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force

3.4 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%

Population below poverty line

86% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

25% (1998)

Area

total: 752,614 sq km land: 740,724 sq km water: 11,890 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Climate

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant 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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked

Irrigated land

460 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 5,664 km 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

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 39% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

tropical storms (November to April)

Natural resources

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Terrain

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Lusaka

Constitution

2 August 1991

Country name

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

Data code

ZA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David DUNN embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (1) 250-955, 252-230 FAX: [260] (1) 252-225

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 2 November 1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since 2 December 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 2 November 1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since 2 December 1997); 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 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); vice president appointed by the president election results: Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of vote - Frederick CHILUBA 72.5%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12.6%, Humphrey MULEMBA 7%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4.7%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3.2%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

24 October 1964 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 131, NP 5, Zadeco 2, AZ 2, independents 10

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Political parties and leaders

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Akashambatwa LEWANIKA]; Labor Party or LP [Chibiza MFUNI]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Democratic Process or MDP [Chama CHAKOM BOKA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA]; National Party or NP [Daniel LISULO]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Kenneth KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]; Zambia Alliance for Progress or ZAP [Ben KAPILA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or Zadeco [Azwell BANDA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until takeover 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.

Military branches

Army, Air Force, National Service, police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$76 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY97)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,179,563 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,157,479 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 2,290,559; female 2,270,945) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,369,317; female 2,413,070) 65 years and over: 2% (male 105,443; female 133,084) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

41.9 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

22.08 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

Infant mortality rate

92.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 37.24 years male: 37.08 years female: 37.41 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 78.2% male: 85.6% female: 71.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Net migration rate

-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

9,582,418 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 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.95% (2000 est.)

Religions

Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.62 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional money-laundering center [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

112 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 100 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 67 under 914 m: 30 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 66,781 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 1,724 km

Ports and harbors

Mpulungu

Railways

total: 2,164 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track) note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways

Waterways

2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika