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; multi-channel subscription TV services are available; ZNBC operates 3 radio networks; about 2 dozen private radio stations; relays of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Lusaka and Kitwe (2007)

Internet country code

.zm

Internet hosts

16,571 (2012) country comparison to the world: 122

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 (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

82,500 (2012) country comparison to the world: 150

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.525 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 76

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: $4.255 billion expenditures: $5.253 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Central bank discount rate

8.39% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 12 14.49% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.15% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 18.84% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-189.9 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $553.9 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$5.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117 $4.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.8 (2004) country comparison to the world: 19 52.6 (1998)

Economy - overview

Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-12 more than 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 US$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. Zambia has made some strides to improve the ease of doing business. 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 rate.

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 5.1 (2012 est.) 4.9 (2011 est.) 4,797.1 (2010 est.) 5,046.1 (2009) 3,512.9 (2008)

Exports

$9.414 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $8.66 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 43.4%, South Africa 7.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.7%, South Korea 5.4%, India 4.7%, UAE 4.3%, Egypt 4.1% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.31 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.69 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 $22.09 billion (2011 est.) $20.68 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 58.8% government consumption: 26.7% investment in fixed capital: 19.2% investment in inventories: 1.1% exports of goods and services: 36% imports of goods and services: -41.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 20.5% industry: 33.3% services: 46.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,700 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $1,600 (2011 est.) $1,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 6.8% (2011 est.) 7.6% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving

19.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 23.7% of GDP (2011 est.) 26.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$7.961 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $6.454 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Africa 36.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 19.8%, China 10.4%, Kuwait 6% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 8.7% (2011 est.)

Labor force

6.098 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.009 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 92 $2.817 billion (31 December 2010) $2.804 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

64% (2006)

Public debt

29.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 29.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.324 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.906 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $4.075 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$3.833 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $3.291 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $1.63 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Unemployment rate

14% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 50% (2000 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.434 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Crude oil - imports

12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Crude oil - production

174.6 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - consumption

7.96 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - exports

578 million kWh (2010) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

99.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - imports

23 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.679 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - production

11.19 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 209

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,260 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Refined petroleum products - exports

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

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,272 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Refined petroleum products - production

12,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

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: 1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%) per capita: 147 cu m/yr (2002)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

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)

Irrigated land

1,559 sq km (2003)

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: 4.52% permanent crops: 0.05% other: 95.44% (2011)

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 (2011)

Administrative divisions

10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, 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

several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991; amended 1996; note - in late 2013, a constitution committee submitted a draft constitution to the government (2013)

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David A. YOUNG embassy: Ibex Hill, Lusaka mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (0) (211) 357-000 FAX: [260] (0) (211) 357-224

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Palan MULONDA (since 8 January 2013) 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, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president and ratified by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: High Court; magistrate's courts and local courts

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 [Nevers MUMBA] National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO] Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE] Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA] United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA] United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]

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. 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 byelection in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected president in September 2011.

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) (2012)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 79

Military service age and obligation

national registration required at age 16; 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian citizenship required; grade 12 certification required; mandatory HIV testing on enlistment; mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.2% (male 3,300,339/female 3,271,389) 15-24 years: 20% (male 1,423,026/female 1,425,654) 25-54 years: 28.5% (male 2,042,023/female 2,009,511) 55-64 years: 2.9% (male 193,758/female 213,927) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 147,705/female 194,901) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

42.79 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 1,000,850 percentage: 41 % note: data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.9% (2007) country comparison to the world: 52

Contraceptive prevalence rate

40.8% (2007)

Death rate

13.17 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 97 % youth dependency ratio: 91.8 % elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 % potential support ratio: 19.4 (2013)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 46% of population total: 61% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 54% of population total: 39% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 168

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: 10

Health expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 105

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 68.58 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 19 male: 74.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages

11 Bantu 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: 51.51 years country comparison to the world: 216 male: 49.93 years female: 53.14 years (2013 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 61.4% male: 71.9% female: 51.8% (2007 est.)

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 dengue fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population

LUSAKA (capital) 1.413 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

440 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 26

Median age

total: 16.7 years male: 16.5 years female: 16.8 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Net migration rate

-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

3.6% (2008) country comparison to the world: 174

Physicians density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

14,222,233 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 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

2.89% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 57% of population rural: 43% of population total: 48% of population unimproved: urban: 43% of population rural: 57% of population total: 52% of population (2010 est.)

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 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.81 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 23.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization

urban population: 39.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 4.15% 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): 14,871 (Democratic Republic of the Congo); 5,963 (Rwanda) (2012)

Airports

88 (2013) country comparison to the world: 63

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 80 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 21 (2013)

Pipelines

oil 771 km (2013)

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) (2008)

Roadways

total: 91,440 km country comparison to the world: 52 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