World Facts Index
 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 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 USD 41 million.
MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair.
Geography of Zambia
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Location:
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Southern Africa, east of
Angola |
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Coordinates:
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15 00 S, 30 00 E |
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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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Maritime claims:
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none (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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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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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the Zambezi
forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe
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Population of Zambia
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Population:
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11,669,534 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,673,891/female 2,656,268)
15-64 years: 51.3% (male 2,925,910/female 2,969,324)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 117,877/female 158,740) |
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Median age:
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16.5 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.11% |
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Infant mortality:
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86.84 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 40.03 years
male: 39.76 years
female: 40.31 years |
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Fertility rate:
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5.39 children born/woman |
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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%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
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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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Rupiah BANDA; note -
President BANDA was acting president since the illness and eventual death of
President Levy MWANAWASA on 18 August 2008, he was then elected president on 30
October 2008 to serve out the remainder of MWANAWASA's term; the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rupiah BANDA;
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 (eligible for
a second term); vice president appointed by the president; note - due to the
untimely death of former President Levy MWANAWASA, early elections were held to
identify a replacement to serve out the remainder of his term |
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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) |
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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) |
Economy
Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent years, with real
GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year. Privatization of government-owned
copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses
generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining
to return to profitability and 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. Zambia experienced a bumper harvest in 2007, which helped to
boost GDP and agricultural exports and contain inflation. Although poverty
continues to be significant problem in Zambia, its economy has strengthened,
featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency, decreasing
interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.
|
GDP:
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$16.1 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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5.1% |
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GDP per capita:
|
$900 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 22%
industry: 29%
services: 48.9% |
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Inflation rate:
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18.3% |
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Labor force:
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4.8 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9% |
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Unemployment:
|
50% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.688 billion
expenditures: $1.866 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 0.5%
hydro: 99.5%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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copper mining and processing, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture |
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Agriculture:
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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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copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco,
flowers, cotton |
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Export partners:
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South Africa 24.2%, Switzerland 13.7%, China 12.4%,
Tanzania 6.9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.6%, Zimbabwe 5.5%, Thailand 4.7% |
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Imports:
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machinery, transportation equipment,
petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing |
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Import partners:
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South Africa 53.1%, UAE 8.6%, Zimbabwe 6.9%, UK 4.1% |
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Currency:
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Zambian kwacha (ZMK) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |