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Zambia in Brief

Map of Zambia

Name of Country: Republic of Zambia
Capital: Lusaka
Location: Southern Africa
Border Countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Total Area : 752,614 sq. km. (2.5% of the area of Africa)
Climate: Tropical with three distinct seasons: May to August is cool and dry, September to October is hot and dry, and November to April is warm and wet. Population Statistics

Total Population (in millions, 2000): 10.2
Density (pop./sq. km., 2000): 13.5
Annual Population Growth Rate (1990-2000): 2.9%
Total Fertility Rate (2002): 5.9
Infant Mortality Rate (2002): 95/1,000
Under-five Mortality Rate (2002): 168/1,000
Life Expectancy (USBC (2000):37 years
Literacy Rate (2000): 78.3%

         Government

Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Ruling Political Party: Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD)
Executive Branch: President Levy Mwanawasa (elected in 2001)
Legislative Branch: Unicameral National Assembly of the Republic of Zambia. Members are elected by direct, universal, adult suffrage on a secret ballot for a term of five years.
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court. Judges are appointed (with security of tenure) by the President and ratified by the National Assembly.
Languages: English (official), over 70 local languages and dialects, including Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja, Lozi, Luvale, Ndembu (Lunda), and Kaonde
Administrative Divisions: 9 provinces (Copperbelt, Luapula, Lusaka, Central, Southern, Northern, Northwestern, Western and Eastern); subdivided into 72 districts
Independence from British colonial rule: October 24, 1964

          Economy

Currency: Zambian Kwacha (zmk)
GDP (Gross Domestic Product, 2002): US$3.6 billion
Annual Growth Rate (1999-2002 Average): 3.9%
Per Capita GDP (2002): US$353
National Resources: Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydroelectric power, fertile land, wildlife, forest, abundant surface and ground water

Zambia, a landlocked, peace haven in Southern Africa, with a population of about ten million, attained political independence from Britain in 1964 and adopted a predominantly socialist development agenda. Beginning in 1991, however, Zambia has been undergoing a political transition from one-party rule to multi-party democracy. Zambia has pursued policies of economic liberalization and structural reform programs that have transformed her from being a centrally-planned and controlled economy to one of the more open market economies in Africa. Free universal basic education for every child in Zambia and access to health services as close to the family as possible are continuing to be emphasized. In addition, the President has commenced an unprecedented politically driven "zero tolerance for corruption" campaign to get at the roots of corruption in Zambia and is engaging in constitutional reforms to address issues of governance.

The World Bank classifies Zambia as a severely indebted, low-income country and, in terms of basic development progress, it is ranked 153 out of 173 countries in the 2002 UN Human Development Report. At 78% of the population, Zambia has one of the highest percentages of people living below the poverty line in the world. Zambia has much to improve on. Recent political and economic changes in the Zambian environment have opened new opportunities for taking a fresh look at developing a responsive strategy.

(Information for this page compiled from the Bank of Zambia Fortnightly Statistics, Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, 2001-2002 - Central Statistical Office/Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia, U.S. Bureau of Census, Zambia, 2000 Population Census report and TheWorld Bank Country Data Profie)

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