Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the 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 a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the prosecution of former President Frederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters in late 2003. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
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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: 7.08%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 92.9% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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460 sq km (1998 est.)
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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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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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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10,462,436
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 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 46.1% (male 2,419,361; female 2,401,538)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,684,001; female 2,667,528)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 132,166; female 157,842) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 16.6 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.6 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.47% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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38.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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24.35 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 98.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 35.18 years
male: 35.19 years
female: 35.17 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.14 children born/woman (2004 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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1.8 million (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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170,000 (2003 est.)
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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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Lusaka
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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
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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 Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); 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 Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
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; election last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote - Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%, Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, Michael SATA 3%, other 5%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%, UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%; seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP 1, independents 1; 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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Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development or NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline KONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA, president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]
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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, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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 Martin George BRENNAN
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
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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Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economic growth remains below the 5% to 7% necessary to reduce poverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned copper mines 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 increased in 2003 and is expected to increase again in 2004, due to higher copper prices. The maize harvest doubled in 2003, helping boost GDP by 4.0%. Cooperation continues with international bodies on programs to reduce poverty, including a new lending arrangement with the IMF expected in the second quarter, 2004. A tighter monetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia still has a serious problem with fiscal discipline.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $8.596 billion (2003 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2003 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 15.3%
industry: 27.9%
services: 56.9% (2003)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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45.2% of GDP (2003)
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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%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 41% (1998)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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52.6 (1998)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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21.4% (2003 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.59 million (2003)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
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Unemployment rate:
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50% (2000 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $896.7 million
expenditures: $1.142 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
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Public debt:
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133.6% of GDP (2003)
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Agriculture - products:
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corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
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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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4% (2003 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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7.751 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.458 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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1.75 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Current account balance:
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$-340 million (2003)
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Exports:
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$1.039 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton
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Exports - partners:
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UK 26.7%, South Africa 21.6%, Tanzania 13.9%, Switzerland 8.1% (2003)
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Imports:
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$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2003 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 48.3%, Zimbabwe 12.8%, UK 5.9%, UAE 4.3% (2003)
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
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$247.7 million (2003)
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Debt - external:
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$5.281 billion (2003)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$651 million (2000 est.)
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Currency:
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Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
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Currency code:
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ZMK
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Exchange rates:
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Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 4,733.77 (2003), 4,398.59 (2002), 3,610.93 (2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 2,173 km
narrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2003)
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Highways:
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total: 66,781 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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2,250 km
note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers (2003)
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Pipelines:
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oil 771 km (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Mpulungu
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Airports:
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109 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 99
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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the Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundary convergence is not clearly defined or delimited
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 158,894 (Angola), 58,405 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 5,767 (Rwanda) (2004)
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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
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This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005
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