About Zambia
Location:
Zambia is in south central Africa, slightly larger than the state of Texas, and landlocked by eight other countries: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Background:
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [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 and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. 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. The new president launched an anticorruption investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable for USD 41 million. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his Vice-president Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential election in October 2008.
Population:
Over 11 million
0-14 years: 45.1%
15-64 years: 52.6%
65 years and over: 2.3%
National Language:
English (official), major vernaculars – Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages. Since the national language is English, many can speak enough English for you to have a conversation with them.
Climate:
Although lying within the Tropic Zone, much of Zambia enjoys a pleasant subtropical climate because of the high altitude.
Cold and Dry Season – May to August. The coolest time of the year, with temperatures 24-28°C during the day, can drop as low as 7°C at night.
Hot Season – September to November. Temperatures rocket up to a scorching 38-42°C and clouds of swirling dust.
Wet or Rainy Season – December to April. Temperatures cool down to 32°C or so and there is a lot of rain.
Literacy Rate:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
Employment:
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9%
Much of Zambia lives on $400 a year.
Religious breakdown:
Christian 50%-75%
Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%
Indigenous beliefs 1%
Zambia’s Currency: Kwacha. 1 US Dollar equals approximately 4,780 Kwacha (ZMK).
The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html