Profile of Zambia

Official Name: Republic of Zambia

Geography:

• Area: 752,612 sq. km. (290,585 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Texas.
• Cities: Capital--Lusaka (pop. approx. 1.7 million).
• Other cities: Kitwe, Ndola, Livingstone, Kabwe.
• Terrain: Varies; mostly plateau savanna.
• Climate: Generally dry and temperate.

People:

• Nationality: Noun and adjective--Zambian(s).
• Population (mid-2009 est.): Approx. 12.9 million.
• Annual growth rate (2009): 2.9%.
• Ethnic groups: More than 70 ethnic groups.
• Religions: Christian, indigenous beliefs, Muslim, Hindu.
• Languages: English (official), about 70 local languages and dialects, including Bemba, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale, Tonga, and Nyanja.
• Education: No compulsory education; seven years free education. Literacy--women: 60.6%; men: 81.6%.
• Health: Infant mortality rate--70/1,000. Life expectancy--38.63 years. HIV prevalence (15-49)--14.3%.
• Work force: Agriculture--75%; mining and manufacturing--6%; services--19%.

Government:

• Type: Republic.
• Independence: October 24, 1964.
• Constitution: 1991 (as amended in 1996).
• Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral National Assembly. Judicial--Supreme Court, high court, magistrate courts, and local courts.
• Ruling political party: Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).
• Suffrage: Universal adult.
• Subdivisions: Nine provinces subdivided into 72 districts.

Economy:

• GDP (2008, purchasing power parity): $17.39 billion.
• Annual growth rate (2009, projected): 4.3%.
• Per capita GDP (2008, current prices): $1,500.
• Natural resources: Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydroelectric power, fertile land.
• Agriculture: Products--corn, sorghum, rice, groundnuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables, fruits, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, livestock, coffee, and soybeans.
• Industry: Types--mining, transport, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, and textiles.
• Trade (2008 est.): Exports--$5.08 billion: copper, cobalt, lead, and zinc, cut vegetables, cotton, tobacco. Major markets--Switzerland, China, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Malawi. Imports--$5.06 billion: crude oil, refined petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals. Major suppliers--South Africa, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Kingdom.
• Major donors: Donor contributions totaled $989 million in 2008, as reported by Ministry of Finance and National Planning. The World Bank is Zambia's largest multilateral donor. Other key multilateral donors include the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Union, UN agencies, and the African Development Bank. Counting direct bilateral assistance and assistance through multilateral agencies, the United States is Zambia's largest country donor, amounting to approximately $330 million in 2008.