Zambia

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Victoria Falls Bridge

Physical features of Zambia

Zambia: Lake Bangweulu

Zambia: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

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Victoria Falls

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Zambia: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2025

News •

Edgar Lungu funeral: Zambia's ex-president left instructions that Hichilema should stay away • June 12, 2025, 3:15 AM ET (BBC)

Edgar Lungu funeral row causes chaos for mourners of Zambia's ex-president • June 11, 2025, 5:08 AM ET (BBC)

Zambia Seeks Carmakers to Make EV Components Near Copper Mines • June 9, 2025, 3:00 AM ET (Bloomberg)

Zambia's lost language invented by women but almost killed by colonialism • June 8, 2025, 7:33 AM ET (BBC)

Edgar Lungu: Zambia's former president dies aged 68 • June 6, 2025, 7:11 AM ET (BBC)

Facts

Also Known As	Northern Rhodesia • Republic of Zambia
Head Of State And Government	President: Hakainde Hichilema
Capital	Lusaka
Population	(2025 est.) 21,548,000
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [167¹])
Official Language	English
Official Religion	none²
Official Name	Republic of Zambia
Total Area (Sq Km)	752,612
Total Area (Sq Mi)	290,583
Monetary Unit	Zambian kwacha (K)³
Population Rank	(2025) 62
Population Projection 2030	22,904,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2025) 74.2
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2025) 28.6
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2022) 40.2% • Rural: (2022) 59.8%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 64.5 years • Female: (2022) 68.1 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2020) 91% • Female: (2020) 84%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 26,732
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 1,290
¹Includes up to eight nonelective seats that are appointed by the president.²Zambia is a Christian nation per the preamble of a constitutional amendment.³The Zambian kwacha was redenominated on January 1, 2013.

Photos

Victoria Falls Bridge

Physical features of Zambia

Zambia: Lake Bangweulu

Zambia: Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

See All Images and Interactives →

Topics

Kenneth Kaunda Levy Mwanawasa Sir Roy Welensky Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston Godfrey Wilson Sir Alfred Sharpe Alexandre Alberto da Rocha de Serpa Pinto Sir Chester Beatty Africa Southern Africa United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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