Zambia is one of Africa’s 16 landlocked countries. Much of the country lies on a high plateau, cut through by river valleys and dotted with hills and mountains. The great Kabompo and Kafue rivers flow into the River Zambezi on Zambia’s southern border. Here, the Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya), one of the world’s largest waterfalls, plunges 108 metres (355 feet). The building of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi has created the enormous Lake Kariba. Savanna woodland and grassland covers most of the country. Zambia has a largely tropical climate, with a dry season from May to October, and a rainy season from November to April.

People

There are over 70 ethnic groups in Zambia, nearly all descended from Bantu people who arrived in the region from around 2000 years ago. Most Zambians are Christian but many also celebrate traditional African festivals.

Around half of Zambia’s population lives in cities such as the capital, Lusaka, and cities in the copper mining region—known as the Copperbelt—such as Ndola and Kitwe. People in the countryside live in villages, working mostly as subsistence farmers. An estimated 48% of Zambians live in poverty.

Although 80% of its population work in agriculture, Zambia’s biggest source of income is its copper industry. Copper exports constitute about 70% of the value of all Zambian goods exported.

People have mined copper in this region for hundreds of years. Since British and American explorers discovered Zambia’s copper reserves in the late 19th century, it has become one of the biggest producers of copper in the world. Much of the copper is transported by railway to the ports of Durban in South Africa and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Today the Zambian government is trying to reduce the country’s dependence on copper by encouraging investment in agriculture, gemstone mining, tourism and hydro-electric power.

Facts about Zambia

Population 20,216,029 (2023 estimate)

Area 752,614 sq km (290,590 sq miles)

Highest point Mafinga Hills 2301 m (7549 ft)

Capital Lusaka (metro area population 2,238,569)

Other major cities Kitwe (661,901), Ndola (627,503)

Languages English (official language) Bemba, Chewa, Kaonde, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga (recognized regional languages)

Religions Christian (Protestant) 68%, Christian (Catholic) 20%, Christian (other) 9%, other 3%

Ethnicity Bemba 22%, Tonga 11%, Lozi 5%, Nsenga 5%, Tumbuka 4%, Ngoni 4%, other 49%

Currency Zambian kwacha (ZMW)

Chief exports Copper, cobalt, tobacco, flowers, cotton, maize