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Zambia in Brief
Basic Geography
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, World Bank 2000): 10.2
Density
(pop./sq. km., 1999): 13.5
Annual
Population Growth Rate (1990-2000): 2.9%
Total
Fertility Rate (1996): 6.1
Infant
Mortality Rate (1996): 109/1,000
Under-five
Mortality Rate (1996): 197/1,000
Maternal
Mortality Rate (1996): 649/100,000
Life
Expectancy (USBC 1999):37 years
Literacy
Rate (1995-96): 78.3%
Percentage
of women 15-49 with completed basic education (1996):
48.1
Percentage
of men 15-49 with completed basic education (1996):
65.7
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, 2001): US$3.6 billion
Annual
Growth Rate (2001): 5.2%
Per
Capita GDP (2001): 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 is a dual economy consisting of a modern and urban-oriented sector
and a rural agricultural sector. Copper and cobalt mining are the country's
main economic activities. These two commodities accounted for 95 percent
of export earnings and contributing 45 percent of government revenues
during the decade following the attainment of political independence (i.e.,
1965-1975). After 1975 however, the falling price of copper, a rise in
oil prices, the slow pace of industrialization and a heavy dependence
on imports put the country's economy under serious pressure.(From the
Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, 1996. Central Statistical Office/Ministry
of Health, Lusaka, Zambia).
During the 1990s, after the liberalization of the Zambian economy and
privatization of most state owned firms, there was phenomenal growth
in the country's non-traditional agricultural and natural resources
exports. Key components in unleashing this growth were government policies
and reforms to open up the agricultural sector for direct foreign investment,
elimination of foreign exchange controls and simplification of tax and
tariff policies. Such changes enabled an environment for exports and
further privatization.
(Information for this page compiled from the
Bank of Zambia Fortnightly Statistics, 1998 Living Conditions Monitoing
Survey Report, Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, 1996 - Central
Statistical Office/Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia, U.S. Department
of State Background Notes: Zambia, 1999, 2000 Population Census report
and TheWorld Bank Country Data Profie)
For further information:
Government of the Republic of
Zambia (GRZ) - government website
US Embassy
US State Department Travel
Services and Information
US Consular Information
Sheet - travel warnings
The
World Factbook,
US Central Intelligence Agency - Country Listing: Zambia
www.africa-insites.com/zambia,
www.lonelyplanet.com,
www.onsafari.com - Zambian history,
culture, tourism, etc.
www.zambia-online.zm, www.zamnet.zm
- Information on Zambia and links to other Zambia sites
Page Last Updated: January 23,2003
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