Language
English is the official language. There are around 70 local languages, including Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Nyanja and Tonga.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	12.9 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	11.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	11.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	11.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	11.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	11.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	10.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	10.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	10.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
29.0 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Some 98 percent of Zambians are descended from Bantu migrants, divided into around 70 ethnic groups. There are also small European and Asian minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Traditional African religions are widely practised, and there are Christian, Muslim and Hindu minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	35.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	35.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	35.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	34.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	34.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	34.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	34.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	34.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1962
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
94 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	45.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	46.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	46.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	46.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	46.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT +2

Climate description
The climate is tropical in the lowland areas, with a hotter but rainy period between October and February. In the upland areas temperatures are lower, typical of a warm-temperature climate. Frost is not uncommon in the higher regions, especially during the period between April and August. Rainfall mainly occurs during October and March and is at its height between December and February.

Currency
Kwacha

Telephone dialling code
(+) 260

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	40.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	37.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	37.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	32.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	33.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	41.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	40.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	38.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	37.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	32.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	33.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	41.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	40.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	37.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	36.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	32.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	33.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	40.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	103 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	102 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	102 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	102 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	102 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	108 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	112 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	112 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	170 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	182 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	182 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	182 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	182 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	198 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	202 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	43 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	43 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	43 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	43 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	47 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	46 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	830 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	750 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	165	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	165	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	166	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	164	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	163	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	153	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	19 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	20 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	20 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	23 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	28 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	28 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	45 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	46 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	47 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	58 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	58 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	55 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	64 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	52 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	55 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	45 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	78 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	67.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	76.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	86.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	85.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	85.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	59.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	72.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	71.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	280 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	214 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	138 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	81 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	41 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	58 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	50 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	42 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	29 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	20 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	115 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	123 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	111 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	107 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	102 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	92 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	77 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	75 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	57 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	63.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	75.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	63.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	63.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	63.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	770 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	630 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	500 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	410 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	360 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	320 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	310 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	300 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	11.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	10.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	7.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	5.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	4.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	6.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	5.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	5.4  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	5.1  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	3.3  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.9  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.6  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	9.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	12.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	18.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	21.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	19.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	21.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	24.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	30.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
1.2 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
38.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	12 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	12 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	15.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	15.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	15.0 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	15.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	15.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	506 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	547 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	588 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	623 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	652 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	632 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	627 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	602 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	195	UNHCR
2007	196	UNHCR
2006	203	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	151	UNHCR
2004	124	UNHCR
2003	100	UNHCR
2002	92	UNHCR
2001	62	UNHCR
2000	98	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	83485	UNHCR
2007	112931	UNHCR
2006	120253	UNHCR
2005	155718	UNHCR
2004	173907	UNHCR
2003	226697	UNHCR
2002	246765	UNHCR
2001	284173	UNHCR
2000	250940	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	19	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	2	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	1	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003