Zambia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Republic of Zambia
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Coat of arms
Motto: One Zambia, One Nation
Zambia (orthographic projection).svg
Capital
and largest city
 Lusaka
Official languages English
Recognised regional languages Chewa, Bemba, Lunda, Tonga, Lozi, Luvale, Kaonde, Nyanja
Demonym(s) Zambian
Government Republic
• President
 Edgar Lungu
• Vice President
 None
Independence
• from the United Kingdom
 24 October 1964
Area
• Total
 752,618 km2 (290,587 sq mi) (39th)
• Water (%)
 1
Population
• 2009 estimate
 12,935,000 (71st)
• 2000 census
 9,885,591
• Density
 17.2/km2 (44.5/sq mi) (191st)
GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate
• Total
 $18.454 billion
• Per capita
 $1,541
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
• Total
 $13.000 billion
• Per capita
 $1,086
Gini (2002–03) 42.1
medium
HDI (2011) Increase 0.430
low · 164th
Currency Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
• Summer (DST)
 UTC+2 (not observed)
Driving side left
Calling code 260
ISO 3166 code ZM
Internet TLD .zm
Flag of Zambia (WFB 2004)
The flag of Zambia

The Republic of Zambia is a country in southern Africa. It shares its borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. It was called Northern Rhodesia and it is currently named after the Zambezi River.

The capital of Zambia is Lusaka, which is also the largest city in the country. Edgar Lungu is the current president. Its motto is One Zambia, One Nation and its national anthem is Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free. Its official language is English.

History

Zambia originated from Northern Rhodesia which was a colony of Great Britain. In 1965 Zambia became an independent country. The first president was Kenneth Kaunda, who ruled Zambia for 30 years with his party UNIP. Zambia was a one party democracy. UNIP was the only legal party and all other parties were banned.

After protests, democratic elections were held in 1991. Kenneth Kaunda lost the elections and gave away his power in an orderly manner to his successor Frederick Chiluba, a former union leader.

Zambia is now a multi-party democracy. It has had three democratic elections since 1991. The latest presidential election was in 2008, which was won by Rupiah Banda against Michael Sata.

Economy

In the 1960s, Zambia was making a lot of money because of the copper deposits that were mined in Copperbelt province. When copper became cheaper in the 1970s, the economy got worse because people in Zambia were not making as much money from selling copper.

Today, Zambia is a poor country. It does not have many industries. Copper is still its main export. Commercial farming in Zambia is starting to make more money.

Provinces

Zambia provinces named
The provinces of Zambia

Zambia is divided into nine provinces. Each province is divided into several districts. There are 72 districts all together. The provinces are:

  • Central
  • Copperbelt
  • Eastern
  • Luapula
  • Lusaka
  • Northern
  • North-Western
  • Southern
  • Western

Cities

The important places in Zambia are:

Cities in Zambia
Rank City Population
Census 1980 Census 1990 Census 2000 Est. 2007
1. Lusaka 735,830 1,069,353 1,684,703 2,146,522 Lusaka Lusaka.jpg
2. Ndola 297,490 367,228 397,757 467,529 Copperbelt Ndola01.jpg
3. Kitwe 283,962 288,602 363,734 409,865 Copperbelt Kitwe.jpg
4. Kabwe 127,422 154,318 176,758 193,100 Central Big Tree Natl Mont Kabwe.JPG
5. Chingola 130,872 142,383 147,448 148,469 Copperbelt
6. Mufulira 138,824 123,936 122,336 119,291 Copperbelt
7. Livingstone 61,296 76,875 97,488 113,849 Southern Livingstone2.jpg
8. Luanshya 113,422 118,143 115,579 112,029 Copperbelt Luanshya1.jpg
9. Kasama 36,269 47,653 74,243 98,613 Northern
10. Chipata 33,627 52,213 73,110 91,416 Eastern Chipata - roadside clothes vendors.JPG

Related pages

Images for kids

  • Rhodesian Man

    Skull of Broken Hill Man discovered in present-day Kabwe.

  • The Muata Cazembe

    The Muata Cazembe, Emperor of the Lunda people in the 1800s.

  • Bantu expansion

    Map that supports common hypothesis of Bantu expansion.

  • David Livingstone -1

    An 1864 portrait of Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone.

  • Zambia123f

    Kenneth Kaunda, first Republican president, on a state visit to Romania in 1986.

  • Zambia National Assembly Building

    Zambia National Assembly building in Lusaka

  • Tribal Linguistic map Zambia

    A tribal and linguistic map of Zambia.

  • Pupils at St Monicas Girls Secondary School

    Pupils at the prestigious St Monicas Girls Secondary School in Chipata, Eastern Province

  • Zambia Export Treemap (2014)

    Zambia Export Treemap (2014)

  • GDP per capita (current), % of world average, 1960-2012; Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique

    GDP per capita (current), compared to neighbouring countries (world average = 100)

  • ZM-Nkana-headgear-Kitwe

    The major Nkana open copper mine, Kitwe.

  • Victoriafälle

    Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls) a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  • Nalikwanda

    The Kuomboka ceremony of the Lozi people

  • Nsima Relishes

    Nshima (top right corner) with three types of relish.

  • African Art, Yombe sculpture, Louvre

    A Yombe sculpture, 19th century.


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