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Africa :: Zambia

- ## Introduction :: ZAMBIA

- Background:
  The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the former British South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. 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) to government. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems, 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 August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. The MMD and BANDA lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) and Michael SATA 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 October 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until special elections were held in January 2015. Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and will complete SATA’s term, which expires in late 2016.

- ## Geography :: ZAMBIA

- 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
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Texas
  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 extremes:
  lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
  highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
  Natural resources:
  copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 31.7%
  arable land 4.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 26.9%
  forest: 66.3%
  other: 2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,559 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  105.2 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.57 cu km/yr (18%/8%/73%)
  per capita: 147 cu m/yr (2002)
  Natural hazards:
  periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
  Environment - current issues:
  air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine 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 :: ZAMBIA

- 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:
  Bembe 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 9.2%, unspecified 0.4%
  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 (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.)
  Population:
  15,066,266
  note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 46.12% (male 3,490,151/female 3,458,035)
  15-24 years: 20.02% (male 1,506,925/female 1,509,554)
  25-54 years: 28.6% (male 2,171,292/female 2,136,987)
  55-64 years: 2.89% (male 204,767/female 230,244)
  65 years and over: 2.38% (male 155,179/female 203,132) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 95.4%
  youth dependency ratio: 89.7%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.7%
  potential support ratio: 17.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 16.7 years
  male: 16.6 years
  female: 16.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.88% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Birth rate:
  42.13 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Death rate:
  12.67 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Net migration rate:
  -0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 40.9% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 4.32% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  LUSAKA (capital) 2.179 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 64.72 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 70.19 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 59.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 52.15 years
  male: 50.54 years
  female: 53.81 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Total fertility rate:
  5.72 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  40.8% (2007)
  Health expenditures:
  5% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Physicians density:
  0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 85.6% of population
  rural: 51.3% of population
  total: 65.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 14.4% of population
  rural: 48.7% of population
  total: 34.6% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 55.6% of population
  rural: 35.7% of population
  total: 43.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 44.4% of population
  rural: 64.3% of population
  total: 56.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  12.37% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  1,150,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  18,900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis
  animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  7.2% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  14.9% (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Education expenditures:
  1.3% of GDP (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
  total population: 63.4%
  male: 70.9%
  female: 56% (2015 est.)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 1,000,850
  percentage: 41%
  note: data represents children ages 7-14 (2005 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 23.4% (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42

- ## Government :: ZAMBIA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
  conventional short form: Zambia
  former: Northern Rhodesia
  Government type:
  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)
  Administrative divisions:
  10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
  Independence:
  24 October 1964 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991; amended 1996; note - in late 2013, a constitution committee submitted a draft constitution to the government, but revisions remain under discussion (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President Edgar LUNGU (since 25 January 2015); Vice President Inonge WINA (since 26 January 2015
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); special presidential election held on 20 January 2015 to complete President SATA's term in office (next to be held in late 2016); SATA died 28 October 2014; vice president appointed by the president
  election results: Edgar LUNGU elected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 48.8%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.2%, other 4%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 20 September 2011 (next to be held in 2016); note - over 25 by-elections, prompted by resignation, death, change of party or legal nullification have taken place since September 2011
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PF 60, MMD 55, UPND 28, ADD 1, FDD 1, independent 3; seats not determined 2; note - seats as of 8 April 2015 - PF 84, MMD 34, UPND 31, ADD 1, FDD 1, independent 2, other 5
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 7 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission - headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
  subordinate courts: High Court (competence on constitutional issues); Industrial Relations Court; Subordinate Court; magistrate's courts and local courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
  Christian Democratic Party or CDP [Daniel PULE]
  Forum for Democratic Alternatives or FDA [Ludwig SONDASHI]
  Fourth Revolution Party or 4R [Eric CHANDA]
  Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
  Green Party or GREENS [Peter SINKAMBA]
  Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]
  Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Nevers MUMBA]
  National Restoration Party or NAREP [Elias CHIPIMO]
  National Revolution Party or NRP [Cosmo MUMBA]
  Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]
  People's Party [Mike MULONGOTI]
  Republican Progressive Party or RPP [James LUKUKU]
  United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]
  United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
  Zambia Direct Democracy Movement or ZDDM [Edwin SAKALA]
  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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Palan MULONDA (since 8 January 2013)
  chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
  FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Eric T. SCHULTZ (since 12 December 2014)
  embassy: Ibex Hill, Lusaka
  mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
  telephone: [260] (211) 357-000
  FAX: [260] ) (211) 357-224
  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 symbolizes the struggle for freedom, black the people of Zambia, and orange 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 colors: 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

- ## Economy :: ZAMBIA

- Economy - overview:
  Zambia has had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the past ten years, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly increased copper mining output and profitability, spurring economic growth. Copper output increased steadily from 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment, but weakened in 2014 when Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer. Zambia's dependency on copper makes it vulnerable to depressed commodity prices, but record high copper prices and a bumper maize crop in 2010 helped Zambia rebound quickly from the world economic slowdown that began in 2008. Despite strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, and by market-distorting agricultural policies. Economic policy inconsistency and poor budget execution in recent years has hindered the economy and contributed to weakness in the kwacha, which was Africa’s worst performing currency during 2014. Zambia has raised $1.75 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in September 2012 and April 2014, significantly increasing the country’s public debt as a share of GDP. On January 1, 2015, a new mineral royalty tax regime dramatically increased mining taxes, and has led to an economic impasse between the government and the mines. If left intact, the new tax could result in the closure of less profitable mines, the loss of thousands of jobs, and the loss of additional foreign investment.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $61.05 billion (2014 est.)
  $57.91 billion (2013 est.)
  $54.27 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 100
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $26.76 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.4% (2014 est.)
  6.7% (2013 est.)
  6.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $4,100 (2014 est.)
  $3,900 (2013 est.)
  $3,600 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Gross national saving:
  30.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  33.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  37.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 51.7%
  government consumption: 21.2%
  investment in fixed capital: 26.1%
  investment in inventories: 0.3%
  exports of goods and services: 44.3%
  imports of goods and services: -43.6%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 10.8%
  industry: 32.9%
  services: 56.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
  Industries:
  copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
  Industrial production growth rate:
  3.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Labor force:
  6.338 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 85%
  industry: 6%
  services: 9% (2004)
  Unemployment rate:
  15% (2008 est.)
  50% (2000 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Population below poverty line:
  60.5% (2010 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.5%
  highest 10%: 47.4% (2010)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  57.5 (2010)
  50.8 (2004)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Budget:
  revenues: $5.233 billion
  expenditures: $6.751 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  20.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Public debt:
  37.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  31.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  7.9% (2014 est.)
  7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Central bank discount rate:
  8.39% (31 December 2009)
  14.49% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  14% (31 December 2014 est.)
  9.52% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Stock of narrow money:
  $2.466 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.369 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Stock of broad money:
  $5.682 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.437 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $5.325 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.155 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $3.004 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $4.009 billion (31 December 2011)
  $2.817 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Current account balance:
  -$61 million (2014 est.)
  -$224.6 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Exports:
  $9.214 billion (2014 est.)
  $8.908 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Exports - commodities:
  copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
  Exports - partners:
  Switzerland 23.4%, China 14.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 13.4%, South Africa 6.1%, UAE 4.9% (2014)
  Imports:
  $8.081 billion (2014 est.)
  $7.762 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer, foodstuffs, clothing
  Imports - partners:
  South Africa 31.3%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 18.7%, China 9.3%, Kenya 8.3%, Algeria 5.9%, India 4.4% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.684 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Debt - external:
  $7.384 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.943 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
  6.1 (2014 est.)
  5.4 (2013 est.)
  5.1 (2012 est.)
  4,860.7 (2011 est.)
  4,797.1 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ZAMBIA

- Electricity - production:
  11.34 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Electricity - consumption:
  8.06 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Electricity - exports:
  586 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Electricity - imports:
  23 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.819 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  0.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  99.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Crude oil - imports:
  12,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  12,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  21,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  254.1 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  1,272 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  3.054 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141

- ## Communications :: ZAMBIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 110,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 10.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: among the best in sub-Saharan Africa
  domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation and network coverage is improving; domestic satellite system being installed to improve telephone service in rural areas; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms
  international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel (2010)
  Broadcast media:
  state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 1 TV station and is the principal local-content provider; several private TV stations; multi-channel subscription TV services are available; ZNBC operates 3 radio networks; about 2 dozen private radio stations; relays of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Lusaka and Kitwe (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  9 (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .zm
  Internet users:
  total: 2.3 million
  percent of population: 15.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94

- ## Transportation :: ZAMBIA

- Airports:
  88 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 8
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 80
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 53
  under 914 m:
  21 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  oil 771 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 3,126 km
  narrow gauge: 3,126 km 1.067-m gauge
  note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Roadways:
  total: 40,454 km
  paved: 9,403 km
  unpaved: 31,051 km
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Waterways:
  2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Ports and terminals:
  river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)

- ## Military :: ZAMBIA

- Military branches:
  Zambian Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service (support organization) (2015)
  Military service age and obligation:
  national registration required at age 16; 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian citizenship required; grade 12 certification required; mandatory HIV testing on enlistment; mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 3,041,069
  females age 16-49: 2,948,291 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,745,656
  females age 16-49: 1,688,670 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 158,592
  female: 158,805 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.55% of GDP (2012)
  1.59% of GDP (2011)
  1.55% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 59

- ## Transnational Issues :: ZAMBIA

- Disputes - international:
  in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 18,598 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2014)
  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

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