Zambia

Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. <br><br>Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement, and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his death in 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021.

Land

743,398 sq km

Total

752,618 sq km

Water

9,220 sq km

almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

0 km (landlocked)

Africa

Highest point

Mafinga Central 2,330 m

Lowest point

Zambezi river 329 m

Mean elevation

1,138 m

15 00 S, 30 00 E

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

1,560 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Angola 1,065 km; Botswana 0.15 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km; Malawi 847 km; Mozambique 439 km; Namibia 244 km; Tanzania 353 km; Zimbabwe 763 km

number of neighbors

8

Total

6,043.15 km

Agricultural land

32.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)

arable land

5.11%

Forest

60.6% (2023 est.)

Other

7.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.05%

Yes

Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin

Fresh water lake(s)

Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation

<p>Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth</p>

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage

Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/mweBcqvW8TppZW6q9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/195271

Africa

none (landlocked)

periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map

Eastern Africa

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

UTC+02:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

42.1% (male 4,418,980/female 4,337,187)

15-64 years

55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732)

65 years and over

2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944)

Beer

1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

29.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

2.8% (2018)

Women married by age 15

5.2% (2018)

Women married by age 18

29% (2018)

11.8% (2018 est.)

55.7% (2018 est.)

4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

155 per 1,000

adult male

233 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

4.5 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

22.3 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

75.8 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

71.3 (2025 est.)

Improved: rural

rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 68.2% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 31.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.5% national budget (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

1.81 (2025 est.)

6 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.8%

Female

32.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

38.9 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

22 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

30.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)

languages

English

note

<strong>note:</strong> Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects

number of languages

1

Female

68.7 years

Male

65.2 years

Total population

66.9 years (2024 est.)

Female

62.2% (2018 est.)

Male

81.7% (2018 est.)

Total population

71.1% (2018 est.)

3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023)

85 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

18.6 years

Male

18.2 years

Total

19 years (2025 est.)

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Adjective

Zambian

Noun

Zambian(s)

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.1% (2016)

0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

10,955,892

Male

11,066,079

Total

22,021,971 (2025 est.)

2.51% (2025 est.)

Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)

Improved: rural

rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 57.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 78.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 42.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 21.9% of population (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

2.4% (2025 est.)

Male

21.4% (2025 est.)

Total

11.7% (2025 est.)

3.67 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

46.3% of total population (2023)

measles

88%

10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Etymology

named after a village with a headman (chief) called LUSAAKAS

Geographic coordinates

15 25 S, 28 17 E

Name

Lusaka

Time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia

Citizenship by descent only

yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/zm.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly

History

several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991

alternative spellings

ZM, Republic of Zambia

Conventional long form

Republic of Zambia

Conventional short form

Zambia

Etymology

name is derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms the southern border with Zimbabwe

FIFA code

ZAM

Former

Northern Rhodesia

local long form (eng)

Republic of Zambia

Chief of mission

Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)

Email address and website

<br>ACSLusaka@state.gov<br><br>https://zm.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka

FAX

[260]&nbsp; (0) 211-357-224

Mailing address

2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310

Telephone

[260] (0) 211-357-000

Chancery

2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)

Email address and website

<br>info@zambiaembassy.org<br><br>https://www.zambiaembassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0826

Telephone

[1] (202) 234-4009

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly

Chief of state

President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)

Election results

<em><br>2021</em>: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8%<br><br><em>2016</em>: Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

Expected date of next election

2026

Head of government

President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)

Most recent election date

12 August 2021

<strong>description: </strong>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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems

The flag of Zambia has a green field, on the fly side of which is a soaring orange African fish eagle above a rectangular area divided into three equal vertical bands of red, black and orange.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/zm.svg

presidential republic

24 October 1964 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65

Subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

August 2026

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly

Most recent election date

44420

Number of seats

167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed)

Parties elected and seats per party

United Party for National Development (UPND) (82); Patriotic Front (PF) (60); Independents (13); Other (1)

Percentage of women in chamber

15%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

green, red, black, orange

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

Total World Heritage Sites

1 (natural)

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

African fish eagle

Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD <br>Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD <br>Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD <br>Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP <br>Patriotic Front or PF <br>United Party for National Development or UPND 

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans, milk, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, beef (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$6.19 billion (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$5.388 billion (2021 est.)

code

ZMW

name

Zambian kwacha (ZMW) [ZK]

$-487,394,443

Current account balance 2021

$2.63 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$1.093 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$582.715 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$28.12 billion

Debt - external 2023

$16.597 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

<p>lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy; regional hydroelectricity producer; trade ties and infrastructure investments from China; IMF assistance to restructure debt burden; one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces; systemic corruption; extreme rural poverty</p>

Currency

Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

18.344 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

20.018 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

16.938 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

20.212 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

26.166 (2024 est.)

$8.85 billion

Exports 2021

$11.728 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$12.444 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$11.454 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, electricity (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Switzerland 27%, China 15%, India 13%, UAE 12%, DRC 10% (2023)

note

<strong>note:</strong> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$2.36 billion

Exports of goods and services

40.8% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

13.3% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

47.1% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-37.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

26.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

5% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

1.8% (2024 est.)

Industry

37.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

55.1% (2024 est.)

$26.326 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$1,187

57.1 (2015)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

51.5 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$23.13 billion

$1,220

24 % of GDP

Highest 10%

39.1% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

1.5% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$6.97 billion

Imports 2021

$7.691 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$10.022 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$10.854 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, sulphur, tractors (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

South Africa 25%, China 15%, UAE 10%, India 5%, Japan 5% (2023)

note

<strong>note:</strong> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.5% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

14.99%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

15% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

7.407 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

8.01 million persons

agriculture

54.53%

industry

10.28%

services

35.19%

60% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

71 % of GDP

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2021

71.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

$89.84 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$72.251 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$76.129 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$79.207 billion (2024 est.)

3.82%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4% (2024 est.)

$4,215

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$3,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$3,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$3,700 (2024 est.)

$334.31 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

$3.17 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$2.754 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.968 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.173 billion (2023 est.)

22 % of GDP

17 % of GDP

16.8% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

5.92%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6% (2024 est.)

Female

9.6% (2024 est.)

Male

10.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

9.9% (2024 est.)

Consumption

2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

103,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

945 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

14.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

704 kWh

Exports

3 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

180 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

3.986 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

2.229 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

14.5%

Electrification - total population

47.8% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

87%

Biomass and waste

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

87.74%

Hydroelectricity

87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

92.08%

Solar

0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

801 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

8.265 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

83%

per 100 inhabitants

1 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Total

99,000 (2023 est.)

47 state-controlled and private TV stations; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has 2 TV channels, controls 1, and owns shares in 2 more; 137 radio stations, with 133 private and 4 state-owned (2019)

.zm

Percent of population

33% (2023 est.)

#####

+260

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

81,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

102 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

109 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

23.2 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

321,739 passengers

registered carrier departures

12,748 departures

120 (2025)

9J

Left

4 (2025)

By type

general cargo 1, oil tanker 1

Total

2 (2023)

Narrow gauge

3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

Note

<strong>note:</strong> includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)

Total

3,126 km (2014)

RNR

armored vehicles

tanks

the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for territorial defense, border security, and providing support to African and UN peacekeeping operations; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency and is involved in socio-economic support; in recent years, ZDF has been directed to assist in agricultural production; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the US<br><br>the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025)

Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service<br><br>Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (2025)

active duty personnel

16,000

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> the Zambia National Service is a support organization that also does public work projects; its main objectives revolve around land development, agriculture, industries, youth skills training as well as arts, sports and culture; the ZDF also includes a Defense Force Medical Service<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Zambia Army comprises the Regular Force, the Home Guard, and the Territorial Reserve

percent of total labor force

0.24 %

approximately 16,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items from other suppliers such as Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$349,668,210

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.75 %

percent of GDP

1.33 % of GDP

18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025)

PowerIndex score

2.4461

IDPs

131,349 (2024 est.)

Refugees

88,918 (2024 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke

4.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

5.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

9.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

41 % of total land area

1 % of total

104.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

2 % of internal resources

Agricultural

1.152 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

290 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.608 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

12.6% (2022 est.)