Zambia

Broadcast media

state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 1 TV station and is the principal local-content provider; several private TV stations are available; multi-channel subscription TV services are obtainable; ZNBC operates 3 radio networks; about 2 dozen private radio stations also broadcasting; relays of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Lusaka and Kitwe (2007)

Internet country code

.zm

Internet hosts

14,771 (2010) country comparison to the world: 118

Internet users

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

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

Telephones - main lines in use

90,100 (2010) country comparison to the world: 148

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.947 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 101

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $3.217 billion expenditures: $3.76 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Central bank discount rate

8.39% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 17 14.49% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

20.92% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 22.06% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$464.6 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 -$404 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$3.461 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $3.049 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.8 (2004) country comparison to the world: 21 52.6 (1998)

Economy - overview

Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-10 about 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. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, despite a stronger economy. 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. A high birth rate, relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and market distorting agricultural policies have meant that Zambia's economic growth has not dramatically decreased the stubbornly high poverty rates.

Electricity - consumption

7.614 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - exports

96 million kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports

279 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

9.597 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 4,823.6 (2010) 5,046.1 (2009) 3,512.9 (2008) 3,990.2 (2007) 3,601.5 (2006)

Exports

$7.251 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $4.319 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners

Switzerland 51.3%, China 20.3%, South Africa 9.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.19 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.04 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $18.63 billion (2009 est.) $17.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 21.5% industry: 34.5% services: 44.1% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 $1,400 (2009 est.) $1,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 6.4% (2009 est.) 5.7% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)

Imports

$4.71 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $3.413 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 35%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 23.5%, Kuwait 8.9%, China 5.6% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

11.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193 13.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Labor force

5.46 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.817 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 93 $2.346 billion (31 December 2007) $1.186 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Oil - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Oil - exports

360 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Oil - imports

17,570 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Oil - production

190 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Population below poverty line

64% (2006)

Public debt

26.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 26% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.094 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $1.892 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.983 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$3.061 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 $2.581 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.455 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $1.069 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Unemployment rate

14% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 50% (2000 est.)

Area

total: 752,618 sq km country comparison to the world: 39 land: 743,398 sq km water: 9,220 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 elevation 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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%) per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe

Irrigated land

1,560 sq km (2008)

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: 6.99% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 92.97% (2005)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

periodic drought; 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

Total renewable water resources

105.2 cu km (2001)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Lusaka geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term limits

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. STORELLA embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (211) 357-000 FAX: [260] (211) 357-224

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sheila Z. SIWELA 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 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 (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%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

24 October 1964 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council

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) 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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

National symbol(s)

African fish eagle

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Rupiah BANDA]; National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]; Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Reform Party [Nevers MUMBA]; United Democratic Alliance or UDA (a coalition of RP, ZADECO, PUDD, and ZRP); United Liberal Party or ULP [Sakwiba SIKOTA]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or ZADECO [Langton SICHONE]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. The new president launched an anticorruption investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable for more than USD 41 million. 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. Under President BANDA, the Task Force on Corruption was abolished, President CHILUBA and his wife were acquitted in their criminal cases, and the government declined to register the UK civil verdict.

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.)

Military branches

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, National Service (paramilitary youth organization) (2011)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian citizenship required; mandatory HIV testing upon enlistment; mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.7% (male 3,253,125/female 3,228,844) 15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,544,640/female 3,508,344) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 148,531/female 197,852) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

44.08 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.9% (2007) country comparison to the world: 54

Death rate

12.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 46% of population total: 60% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 54% of population total: 40% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 159

Ethnic groups

African 99.5% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups), other 0.5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans) (2000 Census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

13.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

HIV/AIDS - deaths

45,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

980,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Health expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 142

Hospital bed density

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 106

Infant mortality rate

total: 66.6 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 23 male: 71.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 61.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

Bemba (official) 30.1%, Nyanja (official) 10.7%, Tonga (official) 10.6%, Lozi (official) 5.7%, Chewa 4.9%, Nsenga 3.4%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (official) 2.2%, Kaonde (official) 2%, Lala 2%, Luvale (official) 1.7%, English (official) 1.7%, other 22.5% (2000 Census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.36 years country comparison to the world: 207 male: 51.13 years female: 53.63 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 80.6% male: 86.8% female: 74.8% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

LUSAKA (capital) 1.413 million (2009)

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 plague are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

470 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 28

Median age

total: 16.5 years male: 16.5 years female: 16.6 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Net migration rate

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Physicians density

0.055 physicians/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 173

Population

13,881,336 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 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

Population growth rate

3.062% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 59% of population rural: 43% of population total: 49% of population unimproved: urban: 41% of population rural: 47% of population total: 51% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 7 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2000)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.98 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Urbanization

urban population: 36% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 42,565 (Angola); 60,874 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 4,100 (Rwanda) (2007)

Airports

94 (2010) country comparison to the world: 64

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 86 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 18 (2010)

Pipelines

oil 771 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Mpulungu

Railways

total: 2,157 km country comparison to the world: 69 narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2010)

Roadways

total: 91,440 km country comparison to the world: 53 paved: 20,117 km unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Waterways

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