Zambia Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Lusaka

Population

22,021,971 (2025 est.)

Area

752,618 sq km

Location

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

🧭 Background

Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. 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) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, 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 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) 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 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

752,618 sq km

Area — land

743,398 sq km

Area — water

9,220 sq km

Area - comparative

Almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries — total

6,043.15 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Angola 1,065 km; Botswana 0.15 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km; Malawi 847 km; Mozambique 439 km; Namibia 244 km; Tanzania 353 km; Zimbabwe 763 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

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

Terrain

Mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Elevation — highest point

Mafinga Central 2,330 m

Elevation — lowest point

Zambezi river 329 m

Elevation — mean elevation

1,138 m

Natural resources

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

Land use — agricultural land

32.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

60.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

7.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

1,560 sq km (2012)

Major lakes (area sq km) — fresh water lake(s)

Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation

Major rivers (by length in km)

Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Major aquifers

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

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

Natural hazards

Periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)

Geography - note

Landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

22,021,971 (2025 est.)

Population — male

11,066,079

Population — female

10,955,892

Nationality — noun

Zambian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Zambian

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.)

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.)

Religions

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

Age structure — 0-14 years

42.1% (male 4,418,980/female 4,337,187)

Age structure — 15-64 years

55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732)

Age structure — 65 years and over

2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

75.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

71.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

4.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

22.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

19 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

18.2 years

Median age — female

18.6 years

Population growth rate

2.51% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

29.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

Urbanization — urban population

46.3% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

85 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

30.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

38.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

32.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

66.9 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

65.2 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

68.7 years

Total fertility rate

3.67 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.81 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 68.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 31.8% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 78.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 57.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 21.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 42.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

11.7% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

21.4% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

2.4% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.7% (2018 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

5.2% (2018)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

29% (2018)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

2.8% (2018)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.5% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

71.1% (2018 est.)

Literacy — male

81.7% (2018 est.)

Literacy — female

62.2% (2018 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

32.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

60.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

7.3% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

46.3% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

9.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

4.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

5.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

2.608 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

12.6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

290 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

1.152 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

104.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Zambia

Country name — conventional short form

Zambia

Country name — former

Northern Rhodesia

Country name — etymology

Name is derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms the southern border with Zimbabwe

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Lusaka

Capital — geographic coordinates

15 25 S, 28 17 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

Named after a village with a headman (chief) called LUSAAKAS

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

Mixed system of English common law and customary law

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991

Constitution — amendment process

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

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

Only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

Yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)

Executive branch — head of government

President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

Executive branch — most recent election date

12 August 2021

Executive branch — election results

2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8% 2016: Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

Executive branch — expected date of next election

2026

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Assembly

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

44420

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

United Party for National Development (UPND) (82); Patriotic Front (PF) (60); Independents (13); Other (1)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

15%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

August 2026

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

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)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — 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)

Political parties

Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP Patriotic Front or PF United Party for National Development or UPND

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 234-4009

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@zambiaembassy.org https://www.zambiaembassy.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[260] (0) 211-357-000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[260] (0) 211-357-224

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ACSLusaka@state.gov https://zm.usembassy.gov/

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, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

24 October 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Flag

Description: green field with a soaring orange eagle in the upper-right corner; a panel of three vertical bands is under the eagle, in red (left side), black, and orange meaning: green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems

National symbol(s)

African fish eagle

National color(s)

Green, red, black, orange

National anthem(s) — title

"Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1964; the melody, which comes from the popular song "God Bless Africa," a popular song and anthem in southern Africa

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

1 (natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy; regional hydroelectricity producer; trade ties and infrastructure investments from China; IMF assistance to restructure debt burden; one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces; systemic corruption; extreme rural poverty

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$79.207 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$76.129 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$72.251 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$3,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$26.326 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

15% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

1.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

37.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

55.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

47.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

13.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

26.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

40.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-37.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans, milk, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, beef (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (2024 est.)

Labor force

7.407 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

9.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

10.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

9.6% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

51.5 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.5% (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

39.1% (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$5.388 billion (2021 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$6.19 billion (2021 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2021

71.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.8% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$582.715 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$1.093 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

$2.63 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$11.454 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$12.444 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$11.728 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

Switzerland 27%, China 15%, India 13%, UAE 12%, DRC 10% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, electricity (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$10.854 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$10.022 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$7.691 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

South Africa 25%, China 15%, UAE 10%, India 5%, Japan 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, sulphur, tractors (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.173 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.968 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$2.754 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$16.597 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

26.166 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

20.212 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

16.938 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

20.018 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

18.344 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

47.8% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

87%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

14.5%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

3.986 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

14.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

3 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

180 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

2.229 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

103,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

945 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

8.265 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

81,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

23.2 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

109 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

47 state-controlled and private TV stations; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has 2 TV channels, controls 1, and owns shares in 2 more; 137 radio stations, with 133 private and 4 state-owned (2019)

Internet country code

.zm

Internet users — percent of population

33% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

99,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9J

Airports

120 (2025)

Heliports

4 (2025)

Railways — total

3,126 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

2 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 1, oil tanker 1

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 16,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items from other suppliers such as Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025)

Military deployments

930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

Military - note

The Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for territorial defense, border security, and providing support to African and UN peacekeeping operations; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency and is involved in socio-economic support; in recent years, ZDF has been directed to assist in agricultural production; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the US the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

88,918 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

131,349 (2024 est.)