Zambia

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet country code

.zm

Internet users

25,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

1.2 million (2001)

Telephone system

general assessment: facilities are aging but still 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 aperture 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

130,000 (including more than 40,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

75,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

9 (2002)

Televisions

277,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.25 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Currency

Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Currency code

ZMK

Debt - external

$5.8 billion (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$651 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. However, low mineral prices have slowed the benefits from privatizing the mines and reduced incentives for further private investment in the sector. In late 2000, Zambia was determined to be eligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, but Zambia has not yet finalized its Poverty Reduction Strategy paper. Unemployment rates remain high, but GDP growth should continue at about 4%. Inflation should remain close to 20%.

Electricity - consumption

5.838 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

1.536 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

100 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

7.822 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 1% hydro: 99% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 3,848.65 (January 2002), 3,610.94 (2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998), 1,314.50 (1997)

Exports

$876 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners

UK 25.2%, South Africa 24.5%, Switzerland 9.4%, Malawi 7.5% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.5 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 24% industry: 25% services: 51% (2000)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $870 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 41% (1998)

Imports

$12.05 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 67.1%, UK 9.8%, Zimbabwe 7.5%, US 5.9% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

21.5% (2001)

Labor force

3.4 million

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%

Population below poverty line

86% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

50% (2000 est.)

Area

total: 752,614 sq km water: 11,890 sq km land: 740,724 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; 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, 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; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe

Irrigated land

460 sq km (1998 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: 7.08% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 92.89% (1998 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Enoch KAVINDELE (since 4 May 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Enoch KAVINDELE (since 4 May 2001); 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 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); vice president appointed by the president election results: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote - Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%, Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, Michael SATA 3%

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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)

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 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%, UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%; seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP 1, independents 1; seats not determined 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Political parties and leaders

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA, president]; National Citizens Coalition or NCC [Nevers MUMBA, president]; National Leadership for Development or NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline Konie]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA, president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the 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 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 at least two parties filing legal petitions challenging the results. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

Military branches

Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$32.5 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,313,567 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,228,385 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 47.1% (male 2,357,581; female 2,335,644) 15-64 years: 50.4% (male 2,497,360; female 2,519,227) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 106,160; female 143,065) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

41.01 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

21.89 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

19.95% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

99,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

870,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

89.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 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: 37.35 years female: 37.66 years (2002 est.) male: 37.05 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 78.9% male: 85.7% female: 72.6%

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Net migration rate

-0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

9,959,037 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 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

1.9% (2002 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.43 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

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

Airports

111 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 98 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 30 (2002)

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: 2,157 km narrow gauge: 2,157 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 the Zambia Railways system; Zambia Railways assets are scheduled for concessioning (2002)

Waterways

2,250 km note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers