Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
99,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
47 state-controlled and private TV stations; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has 2 TV channels, controls 1, and owns shares in 2 more; 137 radio stations, with 133 private and 4 state-owned (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.zm
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
33% (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
81,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
109 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
23.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans, milk, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, beef (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$6.19 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5.388 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$161.5 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$387.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$767.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$954.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$435.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$342.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$140.7 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$2.139 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$2.63 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$1.093 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$582.715 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.116 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$28.423 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$16.597 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
26.1664 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
5.3965 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
6.1542 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
8.6317 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
10.3075 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
9.5175 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
10.4583 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
12.8900 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
18.3441 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
20.0185 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
16.9376 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
20.2120 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
26.1664 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, electricity (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$9.494 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$10.537 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$7.892 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$7.403 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$9.054 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$9.987 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$8.073 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$8.474 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$11.728 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$12.444 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$11.454 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$8.852 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
40.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
13.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
47.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-37.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
26.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
37.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
55.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,215 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$26.326 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$89.840 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
55.8 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
51.5 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
39.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, sulphur, tractors (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$5.672 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$9.080 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$8.097 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$9.468 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$9.717 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$7.961 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$5.892 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$7.691 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$10.022 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$10.854 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$6.972 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
10.11% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
17.87% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
6.58% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
7.49% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
9.15% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
15.73% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
22.02% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10.99% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
10.88% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
14.99% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
7.407 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
60.00% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
24.22% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
44.40% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
46.43% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
52.28% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
59.71% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
61.93% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
103.54% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
71.41% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$54.701 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$54.732 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$56.043 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$59.154 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$62.232 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$60.176 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$68.672 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$72.251 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$76.129 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$79.207 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.92% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.76% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.53% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.03% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.44% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-2.79% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.23% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.21% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.37% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.82% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$3,441 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$3,337 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,313 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,392 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$3,361 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$3,157 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$3,503 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$3,841 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,077 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$54.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$58.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$47.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$134.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$334.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$2.968 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$2.353 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$2.082 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$1.569 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.449 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.203 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.754 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.968 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$3.173 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$4.090 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
16.8% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
5.54% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
6.03% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.20% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.99% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.86% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.90% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
9.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
10.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
9.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
103,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
945 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
14.5%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
47.8% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
87%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
14.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
180 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.986 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
2.229 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
8.265 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
4.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
5.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
9.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
32.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
60.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
7.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
104.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.152 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
290 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
45.47% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.608 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
12.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas
Geography: Area: land
743,398 sq km
Geography: Area: water
9,220 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mafinga Central 2,330 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Zambezi river 329 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,138 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)
Geography: Irrigated land
1,560 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Angola 1,065 km; Botswana 0.15 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km; Malawi 847 km; Mozambique 439 km; Namibia 244 km; Tanzania 353 km; Zimbabwe 763 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
6,043.15 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
32.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
60.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
7.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Geography: Population distribution
one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Government: Administrative divisions
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Government: Capital: etymology
named after a village with a headman (chief) called LUSAAKAS
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
15 25 S, 28 17 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Zambia
Government: Country name: etymology
name is derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms the southern border with Zimbabwe
Government: Country name: former
Northern Rhodesia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSLusaka@state.gov https://zm.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[260] (0) 211-357-224
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[260] (0) 211-357-000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@zambiaembassy.org https://www.zambiaembassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 332-0826
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 234-4009
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2021 : Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8% 2016 : Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
12 August 2021
Government: Flag
description: green field with a soaring orange eagle in the upper-right corner; a panel of three vertical bands is under the eagle, in red (left side), black, and orange meaning: green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
August 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
44420
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
United Party for National Development (UPND) (82); Patriotic Front (PF) (60); Independents (13); Other (1)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
15%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1964; the melody, which comes from the popular song "God Bless Africa," a popular song and anthem in southern Africa
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
Government: National color(s)
green, red, black, orange
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Government: National symbol(s)
African fish eagle
Government: Political parties
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP Patriotic Front or PF United Party for National Development or UPND
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. 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 and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, 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 death in 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for territorial defense, border security, and providing support to African and UN peacekeeping operations; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency and is involved in socio-economic support; in recent years, ZDF has been directed to assist in agricultural production; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the US the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 16,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items from other suppliers such as Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.75% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.43% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.30% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.44% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.26% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.17% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.98% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.12% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.34% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.33% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
42.1% (male 4,418,980/female 4,337,187)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
29.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
2.8% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
5.2% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
29% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.8% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.98% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.7% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
4.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
22.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
75.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
71.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 68.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 31.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.5% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.07% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.81 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
9.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.0 beds/1,000 population (2010 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
32.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
38.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
34.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
68.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
64.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
62.2% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
81.7% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
71.77% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
85 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
18.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
18.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.2 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Zambian
People and Society: Net migration rate
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
21,314,956 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.81% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
10,955,892
People and Society: Population: male
11,066,079
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 57.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 78.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 42.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 21.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.82 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
2.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
21.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
11.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.04 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
45.47% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
131,349 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
88,918 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
120 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9J
Transportation: Heliports
4 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 1, oil tanker 1
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
2 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
3,126 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.