›››
Zambia
Zambia
Population
21.3M
Rank #62Source: World Bank
Capital
Lusaka
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$25.30B
Rank #116Source: World Bank
Land Area
752.6K km²
Rank #39Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
66.349 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 752,612 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
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 Hazards: periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Environmental 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,...
Land Use: agricultural land: 31.7% (2011 est.) forest: 66.3% (2011 est.) other: 2% (2011 est.)
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)
Natural Resources
coppercobaltzincleadcoalemeraldsgoldsilveruraniumhydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
4.10
Population
21.3M
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%)
Religions
Protestant (75.3%)Roman Catholic (20.2%)other (2.7%)none (1.8%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$1,187.109
GDP per Capita PPP
4,214.893
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
1,220
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
51.5
(2022)
(2022)
Unemployment
5.898%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
14.986%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
71.411%
(2021)
(2021)
Energy
Electricity Access
51.1%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
83%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
11.573 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
7.82 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
92.084%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
59.524% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
33%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
102.062%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
0.681%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
104.32 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
12,748
Rail Lines
1,248 km
Roads Total
67,671 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization); the Zambia Police includes a paramilitary battalion
Personnel Strength
the Zambia Defense Force (ZDF) has an estimated 17,000 active troops (15,500 Army; 1,500 Air); 1,400 paramilitary Police
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.35B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.33%
Military Expenditure History
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)
Deployments
920 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
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.)
Service Age & 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)
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
8.703%
(2017)
(2017)
Primary Enrollment
115.551%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
56.789%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
3.962%
(2012)
(2012)
Education Spending
4.074% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
82.042%
(2023)
(2023)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
42.06:1
(2017)
(2017)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.324
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
73.412%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
44.7 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
13.518 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
60.969
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
62
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
91%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
71.7%
(2022)
(2022)
Food Insecurity
37.2%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
10.009%
(2023)
(2023)
Governance
Women in Government
14.97%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-0.05
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.20
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.66
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.50
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.53
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.48
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
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...
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;...
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);...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
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...
Safety
Homicide Rate
5.202 per 100,000
(2015)
(2015)
Travel Information
Language(s): English
Currency: ZMW (ZK)
Timezone(s): UTC+02:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +260
Car Sign: RNR
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
CIA World Factbook • 2020
Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River as seen from space. The Zambezi flows southeast in a wide bed before plunging suddenly 108 meters over the Victoria Falls into a narrow gorge. The falls and their famous spray clouds are 1.7 km (1.1 mi) long during flood season, the longest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls appear as a ragged white line in this image. The small town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe appears just west of the falls, with smaller tourist facilities on the east bank in Zambia. Image courtesy of NASA.
Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River as seen from space. The Zambezi flows southeast in a wide bed before plunging suddenly 108 meters over the Victoria Falls into a narrow gorge. The falls and their famous spray clouds are 1.7 km (1.1 mi) long during flood season, the longest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls appear as a ragged white line in this image. The small town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe appears just west of the falls, with smaller tourist facilities on the east bank in Zambia. Image courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A view of one of the gorges carved out by Victoria Falls. The local name for the falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders).
A view of one of the gorges carved out by Victoria Falls. The local name for the falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders). • CIA World Factbook • 2020
CIA World Factbook • 2020
View of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River as seen from the Zambian (eastern) side.
View of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River as seen from the Zambian (eastern) side. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
6 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data