Zambia

Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

In total, Zambia spends US$293 million on its military, or 1.55 percent of its GDP. This makes Zambia the 114th highest military spender in the world and represents 0.015 percent of total global military expenditure.

The military of Zambia, the Zambian defence force consists of an army and an air force. It does not have a Navy, but it has maritime patrol boats for its internal bodies of water. Its main task is to defend Zambia against external aggression as well as safeguarding internal peace.

Military membership

Zambia is also a member of 4 international military organizations. This makes it the 143rd most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
International Atomic Energy Agency
Non-Aligned Movement

Military membership

International wars

Zambia has partaken in 2 international wars. These are:

Malayan Emergency 1948-1960
South African Border War 1966-1989

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Zambia is a member of 10 international political organizations. This makes it the 146th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Member state of the United Nations
International Labour Organization
African Union
Commonwealth of Nations
International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
International Criminal Court
Interpol
Permanent Court of Arbitration
Association of World Election Bodies
World Organization for Animal Health

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

It is the 110th most democratic state in the world. This is largely due to the rule of a single political party which has limited opposition parties, civil rights as well as violent crackdowns on opposition movements.

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Zambia take place in the form of a presidential republic where the president of Zambia is head of state, head of government as well as head of a multiparty system.

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If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover Zimbabwe.

Known for its wildlife, its copper reserves as well as being formerly known as Rhodesia, Zambia, or the Republic of Zambia, has had an unstable history. In its early history, the area was inhabited by the Batwa and Bantu people which lived a hunter gatherer lifestyle. Throughout the centuries, the area developed into smaller kingdoms and by the end of the 18th century, a first contact with Portuguese explorers was established. Throughout the 19th century, the area was colonized by the Portuguese and English and was mainly used for the African slave trade. Following the second world war, the United Kingdom started a period of decolonization which led to the creation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1953 which was a combination between Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was named after Cecil Rodes who was an owner of large mining companies. After calls for independence in 1960, Zambia gained its full independence in 1964. Since then, it has seen much unrest in regard to coup attempts, food shortages, and frequent deposing of sitting presidents.

Being a landlocked state located in the southern part of Africa, the geography of Zambia consists of high mountains, low mountains and low hills. Its terrain is densely forested to the north and lightly forested to the south. In total, Zambia borders eight other states with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Mozambique to the east, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south and Angola to the west.

It is the 38th largest state with a total surface area of 756.375 square kilometers or 292.038 square miles. This makes Zambia slightly smaller than Myanmar and slightly larger than Chile.

It has a total water surface area of 9.266 square kilometers or 3.578 square miles. This makes Zambia the 52nd largest state in the world.

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Water in Zambia is widely available through its many lakes and rivers. However, this water is mostly contaminated and is unsafe to drink.

The climate of Zambia is a subtropical climate with a hot wet season and a cool dry season. Because of its high elevation, it has a lower temperature compared to other states on the same latitude. The average temperature is 21.2 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Zambia the 100th warmest state in the world.

The average high temperature, between August and November, is 27.3 degrees Celsius or 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

The average low temperature, between May and August, is 14.1 degrees Celsius or 57.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rain mainly occurs between August and November and it receives up to two times as much rainfall in its northern parts compared to its southern part. On average, Zambia receives 14.5 centimetres or 41.2 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 93rd highest in the world.

The capital of Zambia, Lusaka, is home to roughly 2.3 million people. The closest capital is Harare, Zimbabwe, with a distance of 395 kilometers or 245 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Apia, Samoa, with a distance of 16.089 kilometers or 9.997 miles.

The economy of Zambia is mainly focused on the extraction of minerals. Since its independence, it has had inefficient extractions as well as low global prices. By the end of the 20th century, the government of Zambia allowed privatization which attracted foreign industries which stimulated its GDP. Its current economy is a developing economy with a mixed system. The majority of its population lives under the poverty line and a lack of investment in industry and infrastructure has slowed its growth. Most of its exported products are copper as well as gold which are mainly exported to China and Switzerland which combined represent more than 60 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from south Africa which is solely responsible for more than 30 percent of all imports.

Zambia is a member of 11 international economic organizations. This makes it the 144th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations:

Alliance for Financial Inclusion
African development Bank
International Monetary Fund
World Bank Group
World Customs Organization
World Trade Organization
Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
Southern African Development Community
International Renewable Energy Agency
International Solar Alliance
Group of 77

It has a GDP of US$22.793 million, which makes it the 116th highest in the world and represents 0.027 percent of total global GDP.

Its GDP per surface area is the 178th highest in the world with US$30.135 per square kilometer or US$78.048 per square mile.

Its GDP per capita is the 161st highest in the world with US$1.297.

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 187th highest in the world with US$1.297.

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

It is the 66th most populous state in the world with a total population of 17.6 million people. Its population is made up of more than 20 African tribes which have migrated to Zambia throughout the centuries. These tribes each speak their own language, and Zambia has chosen English has its official language.

It has the 160th highest population density in the world with 23 people per square kilometer or 60 people per square mile.

1.9 percent of the population, or just over 300,000 people, have migrated to other states. This makes Zambia the 125th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.12 percent of total global emigration. The main reason has been low employment and education opportunities in Zambia. The main destination has been South Africa which is responsible for roughly a third of all migrants.

Immigration to Zambia is represented by 0.94 percent of the population, or just over 150,000 people. This makes Zambia the 95th state with the highest number of immigrants and represents 0.062 percent of total global immigration. The largest supplier of migrants has been the Democratic Republic of the Congo which mostly supplied refugees due to its internal unrest.

The literacy rate in Zambia is 78.2 percent which is the 148th highest in the world. Its education is intended to be free and mandatory, but in poorer regions it lacks adequate enforcement and funding.

The health care system in Zambia is a developing health care system which has been growing over the last two decades. This has led to the establishment of hospitals with the ability to provide basic healthcare. However, there is a lack of specialized equipment and experience. The main health threats in Zambia are related to communicable diseases such as HIV AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and diarrheal diseases. The average life expectancy is 64.7 years which is the 182nd highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 67.7 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 61.7 years.

The government of Zambia provides freedom of religion towards all religions, but has Christianity as its state religion.

Christianity is represented by 81.5 percent of the population which makes it the 42nd most Christian state in the world. The majority of Zambians adhere to the Protestant denomination followed by the Catholic denomination which were introduced by the British and the Portuguese.

On the right, the global share of Christians per state is displayed

Islam is represented by 0.8 percent of the population which makes Zambia the 130th most Islamic state in the world. Islam arrived during the 12th century and has converted a small number of people. The largest Muslim population are Indian immigrants which adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam.

There are no official Buddhist organizations in Zambia, but it has recognized Buddhism as an official religion in 2010.

Hinduism is represented by 0.11 percent of the population and mainly consists of Indian immigrants.

Judaism is represented by less than 0.01 percent of the population and mainly consists of a small Jewish community.

Other religions are represented by 0.8 percent of the population and are mainly adherents of the Baha'i faith.

Irreligion is represented by 0.3 percent of the population.