01
Physical geography
Mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains.
Local timeLusaka ·
Africa / Eastern Africa · Card 058
Zambia
Zambia is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Lusaka.
Find Zambia
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Lusaka
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Zambian kwacha (ZMW)
- Population
- 21.9 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 752,612 km²290,585 square miles
- Independence
- 1964from the UK
Zambia in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Lusaka; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English.
03
Location
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Flag
Green field with a soaring orange eagle in the upper-right corner; a panel of three vertical bands is under the eagle, in red (left side), black, and orange
History & independence
Northern Rhodesia became independent from Britain as Zambia on 24 October 1964 after nationalist campaigning and constitutional negotiations. The country introduced multiparty elections in 1991 following a period of one-party rule.
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Independence as Zambia
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One-party rule is introduced
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Multiparty elections bring a change of government
Economy
Main activities
Copper mining is central to export earnings. Agriculture, services and tourism also contribute. Changes in copper prices, electricity supply and rainfall affect economic performance.
Industry and production
copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people21.92025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,321,718 | 4.322 |
| 1980 | 5,802,833 | 5.803 |
| 1990 | 7,786,169 | 7.786 |
| 2000 | 10,017,631 | 10.018 |
| 2010 | 13,965,594 | 13.966 |
| 2020 | 19,059,395 | 19.059 |
| 2025 | 21,913,874 | 21.914 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars29.72025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,840,844,039 | 6.841 |
| 1991 | 6,838,372,211 | 6.838 |
| 1992 | 6,720,005,310 | 6.720 |
| 1993 | 7,176,782,487 | 7.177 |
| 1994 | 6,557,753,280 | 6.558 |
| 1995 | 6,747,775,257 | 6.748 |
| 1996 | 7,167,388,798 | 7.167 |
| 1997 | 7,440,753,544 | 7.441 |
| 1998 | 7,412,051,124 | 7.412 |
| 1999 | 7,756,725,565 | 7.757 |
| 2000 | 8,059,030,210 | 8.059 |
| 2001 | 8,487,518,231 | 8.488 |
| 2002 | 8,869,967,014 | 8.870 |
| 2003 | 9,485,983,916 | 9.486 |
| 2004 | 10,153,075,785 | 10.153 |
| 2005 | 10,887,711,636 | 10.888 |
| 2006 | 11,748,243,096 | 11.748 |
| 2007 | 12,729,507,610 | 12.730 |
| 2008 | 13,719,086,270 | 13.719 |
| 2009 | 14,984,033,822 | 14.984 |
| 2010 | 16,527,123,088 | 16.527 |
| 2011 | 17,447,560,253 | 17.448 |
| 2012 | 18,773,117,889 | 18.773 |
| 2013 | 19,722,575,263 | 19.723 |
| 2014 | 20,648,211,567 | 20.648 |
| 2015 | 21,251,216,799 | 21.251 |
| 2016 | 22,049,221,308 | 22.049 |
| 2017 | 22,826,646,594 | 22.827 |
| 2018 | 23,747,586,257 | 23.748 |
| 2019 | 24,089,861,649 | 24.090 |
| 2020 | 23,418,945,737 | 23.419 |
| 2021 | 24,879,098,748 | 24.879 |
| 2022 | 26,175,604,214 | 26.176 |
| 2023 | 27,580,695,690 | 27.581 |
| 2024 | 28,634,291,575 | 28.634 |
| 2025 | 29,710,290,472 | 29.710 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.595Medium human developmentRank 154 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.422
20000.429
20100.533
20200.578
20230.595
66.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.4 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. National Assembly has one chamber (a unicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Zambia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Zambia?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.