Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. The United Nations Statistics Division classifies it under UN M49 code 894, in the Africa region and Sub-Saharan Africa subregion, with ISO alpha-2 code ZM and ISO alpha-3 code ZMB. Zambia is a UN member state. The World Bank capital field identifies Lusaka as the capital. These classification facts come from the UN M49 overview and the World Bank country API; they are statistical and administrative labels, not political or territorial claims.

For any changing figure, the number of residents, the exchange rate, government composition, or visa rules, check the primary source and note the reference year. This framework gives you the named sources; it does not freeze volatile numbers.

Country profile

Zambia is a landlocked nation in south-central Africa. Its eight neighbours are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe to the south, Botswana to the southwest, and Namibia and Angola to the west. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on 24 October 1964 and is a member of both the United Nations and the African Union.

The official language is English. Seven regional tongues hold recognised status: Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Luvale, Kaonde and Lunda. Dozens of additional local languages and dialects are spoken across the ten provinces. The national currency is the Zambian kwacha (ZMW). The economy depends heavily on copper mining, which generates the majority of export earnings. The climate ranges from humid subtropical to tropical, and seasonal flooding affects parts of the country.

Government and legal system

Zambia is a unitary presidential republic. The president serves as both chief of state and head of government, appointing the cabinet. The legislature is the unicameral National Assembly, with 156 directly elected members, up to eight appointed members and the Speaker; members serve five-year terms. Presidential elections occur every five years. The last national elections were held on 12 August 2021, and the next are due in 2026. Hakainde Hichilema has held the presidency since 2021.

The legal system is a mixed system of English common law and customary law. The current constitution was approved on 24 August 1991 and amended in 2016. Suffrage is universal at 18 years. Administrative divisions consist of ten provinces.

Population and demographics

No single number for the number of residents is permanent. The most recent national census (2022) recorded 19.6 million people. The World Bank estimated 20,017,675 for 2024, while UN DESA projections and figures from the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) differ because each uses distinct base years and projection methods. For a current figure, consult the World Bank country API or the UN World Population Prospects. Always cite the reference year and the exact source.

The median age is 17.6 years (2024 CIA World Factbook estimate). The urban share of inhabitants was 45.8% in 2023 (World Bank). Life expectancy at birth is 61.2 years (2022 WHO estimate), and the infant mortality rate stands at 37.9 deaths per 1,000 live births (2022 UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation). The literacy rate was 86.7% in 2018 (UNESCO Institute for Statistics). Internet penetration reached 21% in 2021 (ITU estimate).

Economy

The Zambian kwacha (ZMW) is the national currency. For volatile economic indicators, use the World Bank API directly. The indicator code for total population is SP.POP.TOTL; for GDP per capita (PPP), use NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Always check the latest IMF or UN figure at the primary source and note the reference year.

Recent World Bank estimates include a nominal GDP per capita of roughly US$1,307 for 2024 and a PPP-based GDP per capita of approximately US$4,068 for the same year. The IMF reported a PPP figure of 4,519 international dollars for 2024. GDP growth reached 5.6% in 2024, while inflation sat at 12.8% (both World Bank figures). The Gini index, a measure of inequality, was 57.1 in the 2015 World Bank estimate and again in the 2022 estimate; it is among the highest inequality measures globally and is based on survey data with known limitations. CO2 emissions per capita were 0.41 metric tons in 2019 (World Bank).

Practical reference

• Calling code: +260
• Internet TLD: .zm
• Time zone: CAT (UTC+2, no DST); IANA zone Africa/Lusaka
• Driving side: left
• Emergency numbers: Police 999, ambulance 992, fire 993
• Power plugs: Type C, D, G (230V, 50Hz)
• Date format: yyyy/mm/dd
• Surface area: 752,610 km² (World Bank, 2021)

Using the primary sources

For current country codes and classifications, consult the UN M49 overview at The World Bank country API returns standard country codes and metadata. Both sources are maintained, but the reference year for any figure must be checked at the time of use.

For population estimates, the World Bank’s Population, total indicator (SP.POP.TOTL) is updated annually. For GDP per capita (PPP), use indicator code NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. For the latest IMF or UN figures, check the primary source directly and note the reference year. The Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) provides census-based and survey-based data that may differ from international projections.

What to check before you travel or cite

• Visa rules: Confirm current requirements with the Zambian embassy or consulate in your jurisdiction. Rules change and are not captured by any static dataset.
• Currency and exchange rates: Use a live central-bank or IMF feed. Do not rely on a printed figure.
• Health requirements: Check WHO and national health-authority advice for yellow-fever certification, malaria prophylaxis and any outbreak-related entry rules.
• Safety and logistics: Seasonal flooding affects road networks. Verify route conditions with local authorities or your accommodation before setting out overland.

Distinctive claim

Zambia is one of the few countries where you can cross from a capital city into a second country on a tarred road in under two hours, the drive from Lusaka to the Zimbabwe border post at Chirundu takes roughly 90 minutes, yet the same country contains the vast, sparsely peopled wetlands of the Bangweulu system, where the next tarmac ends hundreds of kilometres away.