Zambia

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 43,365 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.)

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: 2,351,646 | percent of population: 14.3% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: service is among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; regulatory promotes competition and is a partner to private sector service providers, offering mobile voice and Internet at some of the lowest prices in the region; investment made in data centers, education centers and computer assembly training plants; operators invest in 3G and LTE-based services; Chinese company Huawei is helping to upgrade state-owned mobile infrastructure for 5G services; 3 cellular telephone providers currently in operation, plus several data only ISPs; 1,010 towers project to soon be completed (2020) | domestic: fiber optic connections are available between most larger towns and cities with microwave radio relays serving more rural areas; 3G and LTE 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 96 per 100 (2019) | 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 | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 91,422 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 16,322,168 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.41 (2019 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

Budget

revenues: 4.473 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 6.357 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: RD (2020) | Moody's rating: Ca (2020) | Standard & Poors rating: SD (2020)

Current account balance

-$1.006 billion (2017 est.) | -$934 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external

$11.66 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $9.562 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores

56.9 (2020)

Economic 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.

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - | 21.065 (2020 est.) | 15.3736 (2019 est.) | 11.855 (2018 est.) | 8.6 (2014 est.) | 6.2 (2013 est.)

Exports

$8.216 billion (2017 est.) | $6.514 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners

Switzerland 44.8%, China 16.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.2%, Singapore 6%, South Africa 5.9% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$25.71 billion (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$68.93 billion (2017 est.) | $66.66 billion (2016 est.) | $64.25 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

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.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,000 (2017 est.) | $4,000 (2016 est.) | $4,000 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP real growth rate

3.4% (2017 est.) | 3.8% (2016 est.) | 2.9% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving

38.3% of GDP (2017 est.) | 37.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 38.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% | highest 10%: 47.4% (2010)

Imports

$7.852 billion (2017 est.) | $6.539 billion (2016 est.)

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)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.1% (2019 est.) | 7.4% (2018 est.) | 6.5% (2017 est.)

Labor force

6.898 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 54.8% | industry: 9.9% | services: 35.3% (2017 est.)

Population below poverty line

54.4% (2015 est.)

Public debt

63.1% of GDP (2017 est.) | 60.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.082 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $2.353 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2008 est.) | 50% (2000 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.777 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

12,860 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

11.04 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.176 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

93% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.185 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.573 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

11.55 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

population without electricity: 11 million (2019) | electrification - total population: 37% (2019) | electrification - urban areas: 76% (2019) | electrification - rural areas: 6% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

23,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

371 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

10,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

13,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Area

total: 752,618 sq km | land: 743,398 sq km | water: 9,220 sq km

Area - comparative

almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Zambia Print Image Description almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

mean elevation: 1,138 m | lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m | highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

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)

Irrigated land

1,560 sq km (2012)

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

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.)

Location

Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)

Natural resources

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

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

Terrain

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Administrative divisions

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

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) | etymology: named after a village called Lusaka, located at Manda Hill, near where Zambia's National Assembly building currently stands; the village was named after a headman (chief) Lusakasa

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires David J. YOUNG (since 2 March 2020) | telephone: [260] (0) 211-357-000 | embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka | mailing address: P. O. Box 320065, Lusaka | FAX: [260] 211-357-224

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lazarous KAPAMBWE (since 8 April 2020) | chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 | FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

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%

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

24 October 1964 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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)

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

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%

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

National symbol(s)

African fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Multiple waves of Bantu-speaking groups moved into and through what is now Zambia over the past thousand years. In the 1880s, the British began securing mineral and other economic concessions from various local leaders and the territory that is now Zambia eventually came under the control of the former British South Africa Company and was incorporated as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. Administrative control was taken over by the UK in 1924. 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.

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 and security service personnel strengths

the Zambia Defense Force (ZDF) has an estimated 17,000 active troops (15,500 Army; 1,500 Air); 1,400 paramilitary Police (2019 est.)

Military deployments

920 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Soviet-era and older Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to Zambia (2019 est.)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2019) | 1.3% of GDP (2018) | 1.3% of GDP (2017) | 1.4% of GDP (2016) | 1.8% of GDP (2015)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 45.74% (male 4,005,134/female 3,964,969) | 15-24 years: 20.03% (male 1,744,843/female 1,746,561) | 25-54 years: 28.96% (male 2,539,697/female 2,506,724) | 55-64 years: 3.01% (male 242,993/female 280,804) | 65 years and over: 2.27% (male 173,582/female 221,316) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Zambia Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Zambia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

40.4 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2018/19)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.5% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

4.5% (2017)

Death rate

11.6 deaths/1,000 population (2020 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.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 85.7 | youth dependency ratio: 81.7 | elderly dependency ratio: 4 | potential support ratio: 25.3 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 89.5% of population | rural: 50.9% of population | total: 67.5% of population | unimproved: urban: 10.5% of population | rural: 49.1% of population | total: 32.5% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP NA (2018)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

12.1% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

17,000 (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.2 million (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 56 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 61.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 50.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 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; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 53.6 years | male: 51.9 years | female: 55.3 years (2020 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English | total population: 86.7% | male: 90.6% | female: 83.1% (2018)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact diseases: schistosomiasis | animal contact diseases: rabies

Major urban areas - population

2.774 million LUSAKA (capital) (2020)

Maternal mortality rate

213 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 16.9 years | male: 16.7 years | female: 17 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2013/14 est.) | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s) | adjective: Zambian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2016)

Physicians density

0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

17,426,623 (July 2020 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

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

Population growth rate

2.89% (2020 est.)

Religions

Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 69.6% of population | rural: 24.8% of population | total: 44.1% of population | unimproved: urban: 31.4% of population | rural: 75.2% of population | total: 55.9% of population (2017 est.)

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 (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.49 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24% | male: 23.6% | female: 24.4% (2017 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 44.6% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 4.23% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 55,523 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 18,815 (Angola), 7,997 (Burundi), 5,982 (Rwanda) (2020)

Airports

88 (2013)

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)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9J (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 1 | by type: other 1 (2019)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,904 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 75.08 million mt-km (2018)

Pipelines

771 km oil (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)

Railways

total: 3,126 km (2014) | narrow gauge: 3,126 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)

Roadways

total: 67,671 km (2018) | paved: 14,888 km (2018) | unpaved: 52,783 km (2018)

Waterways

2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula Rivers) (2010)