Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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 2006-2007, 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.
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Location:
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Southern Africa, east of Angola
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 00 S, 30 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 752,614 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Texas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
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Terrain:
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mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
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Natural resources:
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copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 6.99%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 92.97% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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1,560 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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105.2 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%)
per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe
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Population:
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11,477,447
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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 45.7% (male 2,633,578/female 2,608,714)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 2,969,913/female 2,990,923)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 116,818/female 157,501) (2007 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 16.8 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 16.9 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.664% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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40.78 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death rate:
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21.46 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.993 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.742 male(s)/female
total population: 0.994 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 100.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 95.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 38.44 years
male: 38.34 years
female: 38.54 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.31 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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16.5% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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920,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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89,000 (2003 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)
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Nationality:
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noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
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Ethnic groups:
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African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
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Religions:
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Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
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Languages:
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English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
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Independence:
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24 October 1964 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
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Constitution:
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24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term limits
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Legal system:
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based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Levy MWANAWASA reelected president; percent of vote - Levy MWANAWASA 43.0%, Michael SATA 29.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 25.3%, Godfrey MIYANDA 1.6%, Winright NGONDO 0.8%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by popular vote, 8 members are appointed by the president, to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not determined 2
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)
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Political parties and leaders:
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All Peoples Congress Party [Winright NGONDO]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA]; National Democratic Focus or NDF; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD [Dan PULE]; Reform Party [Nevers MUMBA]; United Democratic Alliance or UDA; United Liberal Party or ULP [Sakwiba SIKOTA]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or ZADECO [Langton SICHONE]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen M. MARTINEZ
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (1) 250-955
FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
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Flag description:
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green 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
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Economy - overview:
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Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Zambia experienced a bumper harvest in 2007, which helped to boost GDP and agricultural exports and contain inflation. Although poverty continues to be significant problem in Zambia, its economy has strengthened, featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$15.93 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$10.89 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$1,400 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 17.6%
industry: 26%
services: 56.5% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.989 million (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9% (2004)
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Unemployment rate:
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50% (2000 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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86% (1993)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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50.8 (2004)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8.9% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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25.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.508 billion
expenditures: $2.838 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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31.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
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Industries:
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copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.2% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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8.85 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - consumption:
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8.655 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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243 million kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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465 million kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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150 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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14,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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169 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - imports:
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13,370 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$856 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$4.017 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
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Exports - partners:
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Switzerland 38.4%, South Africa 21.6%, China 10.3%, UK 7.6%, Tanzania 6.4% (2006)
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Imports:
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$2.993 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
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Imports - partners:
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South Africa 47.3%, UAE 10.4%, Zimbabwe 5.7%, Norway 4% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$504 million (2007)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$1.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$2.798 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$NA
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$NA
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$4.5 billion (2007)
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Currency (code):
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Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
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Exchange rates:
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Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 3,990.2 (2007), 3,601.5 (2006), 4,463.5 (2005), 4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Airports:
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107 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 64
under 914 m: 29 (2007)
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Pipelines:
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oil 771 km (2007)
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Railways:
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total: 2,157 km
narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 91,440 km
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)
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Waterways:
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2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers) (2005)
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Ports and terminals:
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Mpulungu
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Military branches:
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Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Army, Air Force, Police, National Service
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age (est.) (2004)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 2,219,739
females age 18-49: 2,159,688 (2005 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 1,043,702
females age 18-49: 953,328 (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.8% (2005 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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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; 42,250 Congolese refugees in Zambia are offered voluntary repatriation in November 2006, most of whom are expected to return in the next two years; Angolan refugees too have been repatriating but 26,450 still remain with 90,000 others from other neighboring states in 2006
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 75,468 (Angola), 61,243 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 5,669 (Rwanda) (2006)
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Illicit drugs:
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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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This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008
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