Zambia in Brief
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| 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.
Statistics
Total Population (in millions, 2010): 13.05
Density (pop./sq. km., 2010): 17.3
Annual Population Growth Rate (2000-2010): 2.8%
Life Expectancy (2010): 47 years
Literacy Rate (2010): 78.3%
Government
Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Ruling Political Party: Patriotic Front (PF)
Executive Branch: President Michael C. Sata (elected in 2011)
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, 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
GDP (Gross Domestic Product, 2010): $16.9 billion
Annual Growth Rate (2000-2010 Average): 5.9%
Per Capita GDP (2010): $1,500 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 haven of peace in Southern Africa, with a population of more than thirteen million, attained political independence from Britain in 1964 and adopted a predominantly socialist development agenda. In 1991, Zambia began 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 a "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 lower middle-income country and, in terms of basic development progress, it is ranked 164 out of 187 countries in the 2011 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. Recent political and economic changes in the Zambian environment have opened new opportunities for taking a fresh look at developing a responsive strategy.
