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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 three parties filing a legal petition
challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy
MWANAWASA. The new president launched a far-reaching
anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the
prosecution of former President Frederick CHILUBA and many of
his supporters in late 2003. Opposition parties currently hold
a majority of seats in the National Assembly. |
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Location:
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Southern Africa,
east of Angola |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 00 S, 30 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total:
752,614 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical;
modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) |
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Terrain:
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mostly high
plateau with some hills and mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301
m |
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Natural resources:
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copper, cobalt,
zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land:
7.08%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 92.89% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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460 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic drought,
tropical storms (November to April) |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the
Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe |
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Population:
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10,462,436
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 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
46.1% (male 2,419,361; female 2,401,538)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,684,001; female 2,667,528)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 132,166; female 157,842)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
16.6 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.6 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.47% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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38.99
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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24.35
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
98.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 105.6 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 35.18 years
male: 35.19 years
female: 35.17 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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21.5% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1.2 million (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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120,000 (2001
est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian |
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Ethnic groups:
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African 98.7%,
European 1.1%, other 0.2% |
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Religions:
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Christian
50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1% |
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Languages:
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English
(official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda,
Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Lusaka |
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Administrative divisions:
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9 provinces;
Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern,
North-Western, Southern, Western |
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Independence:
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24 October 1964
(from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
24 October (1964) |
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Constitution:
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2 August 1991 |
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Legal system:
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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 |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Nevers MUMBA (since May 2003); 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 Nevers MUMBA (since May 2003);
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 December 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%, other 5% |
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Legislative branch:
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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 December 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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
(the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the
president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear
civil and criminal cases) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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
[Levy MWANAWASA, acting 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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Despite
progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's
economic growth remains below the 5% to 7% necessary to reduce
poverty significantly. 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. Copper output increased in 2003 and is
expected to increase again in 2004, due to higher copper
prices. The maize harvest doubled in 2003, helping boost GDP
by 4.0%. Cooperation continues with international bodies on
programs to reduce poverty, including a new lending
arrangement with the IMF expected in the second quarter, 2004.
A tighter monetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia
still has a serious problem with fiscal discipline. |
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GDP:
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purchasing
power parity - $8.596 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $800 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
14.9%
industry: 27.6%
services: 57.6% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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86%
(1993) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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21.5%
(2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.29
million (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture
85%, industry 6%, services 9% |
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Unemployment rate:
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50%
(2000 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$1.2 billion
expenditures: $1.25 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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copper
mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4%
(2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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7.751
billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 0.5%
hydro: 99.5%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.458
billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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11,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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corn,
sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers,
tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats,
pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee |
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Exports:
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$1.039
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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copper
55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton |
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Exports - partners:
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South
Africa 27.8%, Malawi 8.5%, Thailand 7.6%, Japan 7.5%, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon 7.5%, China 5.2%, Egypt 5.2%, Netherlands
4.6% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$1.128
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery,
transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity,
fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing |
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Imports - partners:
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South
Africa 69.4%, US 3.3%, China 3.2% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$5.2
billion (2003) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$651
million (2000 est.) |
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Currency:
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Zambian
kwacha (ZMK) |
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Currency code:
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ZMK |
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Exchange rates:
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Zambian
kwacha per US dollar - 4,733.77 (2003), 4,398.59 (2002),
3,610.93 (2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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87,700 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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139,100 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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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: country code - 260; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 19, FM 5,
shortwave 4 (2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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9 (2002) |
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Internet country code:
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.zm |
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Internet hosts:
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1,621 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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52,400 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
2,173 km
narrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway
Authority (TAZARA) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
66,781 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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2,250 km
note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and
Luapula rivers |
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Pipelines:
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oil 771 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mpulungu |
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Airports:
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109 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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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 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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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 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Zambian National
Defense Force (ZNDF): Army, Air Force, Police, National
Service |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 2,477,494 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 1,310,814 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$42.6 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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the Botswana,
Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundary convergence is not
clearly defined or delimited |
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Illicit drugs:
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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 |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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