World Factbook
Zambia
Introduction
Background
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the former 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 and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to government. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. 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 death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. The MMD and BANDA lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) and Michael SATA 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 October 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until January 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in August 2016 presidential elections.
Geography
Location
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total: 752,618 sq km
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km
country comparison to the world: 40
Area - comparative
almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries
total: 6,043.15 km
border countries (8): Angola 1065 km, Botswana 0.15 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2332 km, Malawi 847 km, Mozambique 439 km, Namibia 244 km, Tanzania 353 km, Zimbabwe 763 km
Coastline
0 km(landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation
mean elevation: 1,138 m
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 31.7% (2011 est.)
arable land: 4.8% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 26.9% (2011 est.)
forest: 66.3% (2011 est.)
other: 2% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
1,560 sq km (2012)
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
Natural hazards
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; 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
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)
People and Society
Population
16,445,079 (July 2018 est.)
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
country comparison to the world: 70
Nationality
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
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.)
Languages
Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family
Religions
Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)
Demographic profile
Zambia’s poor, youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia’s high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country’s total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world’s highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country’s lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood. HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Zambia and contributes to its low life expectancy.Zambian emigration is low compared to many other African countries and is comprised predominantly of the well-educated. The small amount of brain drain, however, has a major impact in Zambia because of its limited human capital and lack of educational infrastructure for developing skilled professionals in key fields. For example, Zambia has few schools for training doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Its spending on education is low compared to other sub-Saharan countries.
Age structure
0-14 years: 45.95%(male 3,796,548 /female 3,759,624)
15-24 years: 20%(male 1,643,364 /female 1,645,713)
25-54 years: 28.79%(male 2,384,765 /female 2,349,877)
55-64 years: 2.95%(male 225,586 /female 260,252)
65 years and over: 2.31%(male 166,224 /female 213,126) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 91.9 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 87.1 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 20.8 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 16.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 16.7 years
female: 16.9 years
country comparison to the world: 222
Population growth rate
2.91% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Birth rate
41.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Death rate
12 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
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
Urbanization
urban population: 44.1% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 4.23% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
2.647 million LUSAKA (capital) (2019)
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: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
19.2 years (2013/14 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate
213 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Infant mortality rate
total: 59.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 64.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 15
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53 years (2018 est.)
male: 51.4 years
female: 54.7 years
country comparison to the world: 222
Total fertility rate
5.58 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Contraceptive prevalence rate
49% (2013/14)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 85.6% of population
rural: 51.3% of population
total: 65.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 14.4% of population
rural: 48.7% of population
total: 34.6% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
4.5% (2016)
Physicians density
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density
2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 55.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 35.7% of population (2015 est.)
total: 43.9% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 44.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 64.3% of population (2015 est.)
total: 56.1% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
11.3% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
1.2 million (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - deaths
17,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2016)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
8.1% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 155
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.9% (2013)
country comparison to the world: 44
Education expenditures
NA
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 63.4%
male: 70.9%
female: 56% (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 24%
male: 23.6%
female: 24.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
etymology: name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Lusaka; note - a proposal to build a new capital city in Ngabwe was announced in May 2017
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence
24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991
amendments: 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; amended 1996, 2015, 2016 (2019)
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia
citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 11 August 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: Edgar LUNGU reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2.0%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Assembly (165 seats; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, and up to 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms); note - 6 additional electoral seats were added for the 11 August 2016 election, up from 150 electoral seats in the 2011 election
elections: last held on 11 August 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party - PF 42%, UPND 41.7%, MMD 2.7%, FDD 2.2%, other 1.9%,independent 9.5%; seats by party - PF 89, UPND 54, MMD 5, FDD 1, NDC 1, independent 14; composition - men 135, women 30, percent of women 18.2%
Judicial branch
highest courts: 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); note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016
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
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)
Political parties and leaders
Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Felix MUTATI]
National Democratic Congress or NDC [Chishimba KAMBWILI]
Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]
United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Ambassador Ngosa SIMBYAKULA (since 29 November 2017)
chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel L. FOOTE (since December 2017)
telephone: [260] 211-357-000
embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 320065, Lusaka
FAX: [260] 211-357-224
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
National symbol(s)
African fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange
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
Economy
Economy - overview
Zambia had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the ten years up to 2014, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum, though growth slowed during the period 2015 to 2017, due to falling copper prices, reduced power generation, and depreciation of the kwacha. Zambia’s lack of economic diversification and dependency on copper as its sole major export makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in the world commodities market and prices turned downward in 2015 due to declining demand from China; Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer. GDP growth picked up in 2017 as mineral prices rose.Despite recent strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, by market-distorting agricultural and energy policies, and growing government debt. Zambia raised $7 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Concurrently, it issued over $4 billion in domestic debt and agreed to Chinese-financed infrastructure projects, significantly increasing the country’s public debt burden to more than 60% of GDP. The government has considered refinancing $3 billion worth of Eurobonds and significant Chinese loans to cut debt servicing costs.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$68.93 billion (2017 est.)
$66.66 billion (2016 est.)
$64.25 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 102
GDP (official exchange rate)
$25.71 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.4% (2017 est.)
3.8% (2016 est.)
2.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,000 (2017 est.)
$4,000 (2016 est.)
$4,000 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 178
Gross national saving
38.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
37.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
38.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 52.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 21% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -44.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 7.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 35.3% (2017 est.)
services: 57% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
Industries
copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate
4.7% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Labor force
6.898 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 54.8%
industry: 9.9%
services: 35.3% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
15% (2008 est.)
50% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Population below poverty line
54.4% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 47.4% (2010)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
57.5 (2013)
50.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 7
Budget
revenues: 4.473 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 6.357 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
17.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-7.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Public debt
63.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
60.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.6% (2017 est.)
17.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Central bank discount rate
9.1% (31 December 2012)
19% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 29
Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
15.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Stock of narrow money
$1.764 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.582 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Stock of broad money
$1.764 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.582 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Stock of domestic credit
$5.401 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.167 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Market value of publicly traded shares
$3.004 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$4.009 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$2.817 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Current account balance
-$1.006 billion (2017 est.)
-$934 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exports
$8.216 billion (2017 est.)
$6.514 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Exports - partners
Switzerland 44.8%, China 16.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.2%, Singapore 6%, South Africa 5.9% (2017)
Exports - commodities
copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
Imports
$7.852 billion (2017 est.)
$6.539 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Imports - commodities
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners
South Africa 28.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 20.8%, China 12.9%, Kuwait 5.4%, UAE 4.6% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.082 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.353 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Debt - external
$11.66 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$9.562 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
NA
Exchange rates
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
9.2 (2017 est.)
10.3 (2016 est.)
10.3 (2015 est.)
8.6 (2014 est.)
6.2 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
population without electricity: 12 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 33% (2017)
electrification - urban areas: 67% (2017)
electrification - rural areas: 6% (2017)
Electricity - production
11.55 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - consumption
11.04 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - exports
1.176 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - imports
2.185 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - installed generating capacity
2.573 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - from fossil fuels
5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
93% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - from other renewable sources
2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Crude oil - imports
12,860 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Refined petroleum products - production
13,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Refined petroleum products - consumption
23,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Refined petroleum products - exports
371 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Refined petroleum products - imports
10,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
3.777 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 101,444
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 13,438,539
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 84 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Telephone system
general assessment: service is among the best in sub-Saharan Africa; regulatory approach promotes competition and a cohort of private sector service providers offering mobile voice and Internet at some of the lowest prices in the region (2018)
domestic: fiber optic connections are available between most larger towns and cities with microwave radio relays serving more rural areas; 3 cellular telephone providers currently in operation plus several data only ISPs; fixed-line infrastructure has degraded significantly and is often being discontinued or replaced with fixed wireless service; Internet service is widely available via mobile or fixed wireless terminals (LTE and 3G), with FTTx in limited urban areas and private Ku or Ka band VSAT terminals in remote locations; fixed-line 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 84 per 100 (2018)
international: country code - 260; multiple providers operate overland fiber optic routes via Zimbabwe/South Africa, Botswana/Namibia and Tanzania provide access to the major undersea cables
Broadcast media
according to the Independent Broadcast Authority, there are 137 radio stations and 47 television stations in Zambia; out of the 137 radio stations, 133 are private (categorized as either commercial or community radio stations), while 4 are public-owned; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 2 television channels and 3 radio stations; ZNBC owns 75% shares in GoTV, 40% in MultiChoice, and 40% in TopStar Communications Company, all of which operate in-country (2019)
Internet country code
.zm
Internet users
total: 3,956,252
percent of population: 25.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 35,912
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Military and Security
Military expenditures
1.25% of GDP (2018)
1.31% of GDP (2017)
1.43% of GDP (2016)
1.75% of GDP (2015)
1.63% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 101
Military and security forces
Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization); the Zambia Police includes a paramilitary battalion (2019)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2019)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,796 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 79,092,826mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9J (2016)
Airports
88 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 63
Airports - with paved runways
total: 8 (2013)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 80 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 53 (2013)
under 914 m: 21 (2013)
Pipelines
771 km oil (2013)
Railways
total: 3,126 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 3,126 km1.067-m gauge (2014)
note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)
country comparison to the world: 59
Roadways
total: 67,671 km (2018)
paved: 14,888 km (2018)
unpaved: 52,783 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 71
Waterways
2,250 km(includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula Rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 38
Merchant marine
total: 1
by type: other 1 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 177
Ports and terminals
river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)
Transnational Issues
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 46,384 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 18,179 (Angola), 6,419 (Burundi), 5,849 (Rwanda) (2019)
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
