Zambia

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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

land: 743,398 sq km

water: 9,220 sq km

comparison ranking: total 40

Area – comparative

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

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 6,043.15 km

border countries (8): 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

lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m

mean elevation: 1,138 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 32.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 5.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 26.9% (2022 est.)

forest: 59.8% (2022 est.)

other: 8.2% (2022 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)
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

Population

total: 20,799,116 (2024 est.)

male: 10,407,253

female: 10,391,863

comparison rankings: total 63; female 64; male 63

Nationality

noun: Zambian(s)

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.)

note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia’s major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects

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)

15-64 years: 55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732)

65 years and over: 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 81.4 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 76.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 19.8 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 18.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 18.2 years

female: 18.6 years

comparison ranking: total 219

Population growth rate

2.83% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 10

Birth rate

34.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 16

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 160

Net migration rate

0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 76

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023)

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

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio

135 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 56

Infant mortality rate

total: 35.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 32.1 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 37

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 65.2 years

female: 68.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 199

Total fertility rate

4.42 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 18

Gross reproduction rate

2.18 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.6% (2018)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 90.2% of population

rural: 56.6% of population

total: 71.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 9.8% of population

rural: 43.4% of population

total: 28.4% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

6.6% of GDP (2021)

8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 76.3% of population

rural: 31.9% of population

total: 51.7% of population

unimproved:

urban: 23.7% of population

rural: 68.1% of population

total: 48.3% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2016)

comparison ranking: 155

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 98

Tobacco use

total: 11.7% (2025 est.)

male: 21.4% (2025 est.)

female: 2.4% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 116

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.8% (2018/19)

comparison ranking: 42

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.3% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 5.2% (2018)

women married by age 18: 29% (2018)

men married by age 18: 2.8% (2018)

Education expenditure

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

14.5% national budget (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 101

Literacy

total population: 71.1% (2018 est.)

male: 81.7% (2018 est.)

female: 62.2% (2018 est.)

Environment

Environment – current 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

Environment – international 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

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023)

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

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 16.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 5.14 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 14.1 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,608,268 tons (2002 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Major aquifers

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 290 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 1.15 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

104.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Zambia

conventional short form: Zambia

former: Northern Rhodesia

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

geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E

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

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

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 by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

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)

head of government: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly

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)

most recent election date: 12 August 2021

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

expected date of next election: 2026

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 8/12/2021

parties elected and seats per party: United Party for National Development (UPND) (82); Patriotic Front (PF) (60); Independents (13); Other (1)

percentage of women in chamber: 15%

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)

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

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)

chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 234-4009

FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://www.zambiaembassy.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)

embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka

mailing address: 2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310

telephone: [260] (0) 211-357-000

FAX: [260] (0) 211-357-224

email address and website:
[email protected]

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 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 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

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 same as that of Tanzania but with different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa’s anthem

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

Economy

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)

$76.129 billion (2023 est.)
$72.251 billion (2022 est.)
$68.672 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 106

Real GDP growth rate

5.37% (2023 est.)
5.25% (2022 est.)
6.23% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 38

Real GDP per capita

$3,700 (2023 est.)
$3,600 (2022 est.)
$3,500 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 189

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.578 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.9% (2023 est.)
11% (2022 est.)
22% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 191

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.2% (2023 est.)

industry: 35.1% (2023 est.)

services: 56.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 114; industry 39; agriculture 153

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 47.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 26.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 5% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 40.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -37.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.87% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 133

Labor force

7.407 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 68

Unemployment rate

6% (2024 est.)
5.9% (2023 est.)
6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 120

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 9.9% (2024 est.)

male: 10.1% (2024 est.)

female: 9.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 130

Population below poverty line

60% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

51.5 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 8

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 39.1% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.89% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.83% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.08% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $5.388 billion (2021 est.)

expenditures: $5.554 billion (2021 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

71.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 54

Taxes and other revenues

16.8% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 120

Current account balance

-$582.715 million (2023 est.)
$1.093 billion (2022 est.)
$2.63 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 122

Exports

$11.454 billion (2023 est.)
$12.444 billion (2022 est.)
$11.728 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 113

Exports – partners

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$10.854 billion (2023 est.)
$10.022 billion (2022 est.)
$7.691 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 117

Imports – partners

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.173 billion (2023 est.)
$2.968 billion (2022 est.)
$2.754 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 122

Debt – external

$16.597 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 38

Exchange rates

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
26.166 (2024 est.)
20.212 (2023 est.)
16.938 (2022 est.)
20.018 (2021 est.)
18.344 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 47.8% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 87%

electrification – rural areas: 14.5%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 3.986 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 14.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 3 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 180 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2.229 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 127; imports 110; exports 50; consumption 90; installed generating capacity 99

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 103,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 945 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

9.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 5.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 109

Energy consumption per capita

8.265 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 158

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 81,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 142

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 21.2 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 63

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.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total 134

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

120 (2025)

comparison ranking: 44

Heliports

4 (2025)

comparison ranking: 108

Railways

total: 3,126 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)

Merchant marine

total: 2 (2023)

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1

comparison ranking: total 178

Military and Security

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)

note 1: the Zambia National Service is a support organization that also does public work projects; its main objectives revolve around land development, agriculture, industries, youth skills training as well as arts, sports and culture; the ZDF also includes a Defense Force Medical Service

note 2: the Zambia Army comprises the Regular Force, the Home Guard, and the Territorial Reserve

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
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–particularly aircraft–from such suppliers as Israel and the US (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2023)

note: Zambia had military conscription from 1975-1980

Military deployments

930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

Military – note

the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for preserving the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency; border security and support to African and UN peacekeeping operations are priorities; 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) (2024)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,436 (Burundi) (2023); 62,660 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2024)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of cannabis