Zambia

Radio broadcast stations

AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios

1,889,140

Telephone system

facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa domestic : high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

80,900 (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations

9

Televisions

215,000 (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, beef, pork, poultry meat, milk, eggs, hides

Budget

revenues: $888 million expenditures: $835 million, including capital expenditures of $110 million (1995 est.)

Currency

1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee

Debt - external

$7.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $734 million (1993)

Economy - overview

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA government. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over 80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling. Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by Zambia's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed election, will severely damage Zambia's economic prospects. Urged by the World Bank, Zambia has embarked on a privatization program which is to include the all-important copper industry.

Electricity - capacity

2.44 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

610 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

7.78 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 1,250 (January 1997), 1,250 (1996), 833.33 (1995), 769.23 (1994), 434.78 (1993), 156.25 (1992)

Exports

total value : $975 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco partners: EU countries, Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Malaysia

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 32% industry : 33% services: 35% (1994 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $990 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, miscellaneous manufactured goods partners: South Africa, EU countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, US

Industrial production growth rate

-1% (1992)

Industries

copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer

Inflation rate - consumer price index

34% (1995 est.)

Labor force

total: 3.4 million by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%

Unemployment rate

22% (1991)

Area

total: 752,610 sq km land: 740,720 sq km water: 11,890 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Texas

Climate

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m highest point: in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Environment - international agreements

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked

Irrigated land

460 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 7% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 39% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

tropical storms (November to April)

Natural resources

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower potential

Terrain

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Administrative divisions

9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Constitution

2 August 1991

Country name

conventional long form : Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia

Data code

ZA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER embassy: corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (1) 250-955, 252-230

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719

Executive branch

chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since NA August 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice President General Godfrey MIYANDA (since NA August 1994); 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 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001); vice president appointed by the president election results: Frederick CHILUBA elected president; percent of vote - Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

FAX

[260] (1) 252-225

Flag description

green 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

Government type

republic

Independence

24 October 1964 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held October 2001) election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 130, NP 5, ZDC 2, AZ 2, independents 11

National capital

Lusaka

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Political parties and leaders

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Akashambatwa LEWANIKA]; Labor Party or LP [Chibiza MFUNI]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Democratic Process or MDP [Chama CHAKOM BOKA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA]; National Lima Party or NLP [Guy SCOTT and Ben KAPITA]; National Party or NP [Humphrey MULEMBIA]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Kenneth KAUNDA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or ZADACO [Dean MUNG'OMBA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$96 million (1995)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (1995)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,990,403 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 1,051,227 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 49% (male 2,315,739; female 2,286,829) 15-64 years: 48% (male 2,212,021; female 2,301,354) 65 years and over : 3% (male 112,134; female 121,898) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

44.37 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

24.18 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

Infant mortality rate

96.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 35.58 years male : 35.58 years female: 35.59 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write in English total population: 78.2% male: 85.6% female: 71.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

9,349,975 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

2.02% (1997 est.)

Religions

Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Sex ratio

at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.48 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement; Democratic Republic of the Congo-Tanzania-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it has been informally reported that the indefinite section of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zambia boundary has been settled

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional money-laundering center ZIMBABWE

Airports

103 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 42 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: 32 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 61 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 56 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 37,359 km paved: 6,575 km (including 56 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,784 km (1993 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 1,724 km

Ports and harbors

Mpulungu

Railways

total: 2,164 km (1995) narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track) note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways

Waterways

2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake Tanganyika