Official name:
Republic of Zambia
Region:
General Information
| Region | Eastern Africa | |
| Population (000, 2025) | 21 914a | |
| Pop. density (per km2, 2025) | 29.5a | |
| Capital city | Lusaka | |
| Capital city pop. (000, 2025) | 2 646.6c | |
| UN membership date | 1 December 1964 | |
| Surface area (km2) | 752 612b | |
| Sex ratio (m per 100 f) | 98a | |
| National currency | Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) | |
| Exchange rate (per US$) | 27.9d |
Economic indicators
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| GDP: Gross domestic product (million current US$) | 20 864 | 18 064 | 27 578b |
| GDP growth rate (annual %, const. 2015 prices) | 2.9 | -2.8 | 5.9b |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 1 272.0 | 948 | 1 331.0b |
| Economy: Agriculturee,f (% of Gross Value Added) | 5.3 | 3.1 | 3.2b |
| Economy: Industryf,g (% of Gross Value Added) | 35.5 | 41.6 | 38b |
| Economy: Services and other activityf,h (% of GVA) | 59.3 | 55.4 | 58.8b |
| Employment in agriculturei (% of employed) | 53.8 | 59.1 | 55.4b |
| Employment in industryi (% of employed) | 11.5 | 8.7 | 9.9b |
| Employment in servicesi (% employed) | 34.7 | 32.2 | 34.7b |
| Unemployment (% of labour force) | 5.9i | 6 | 5.9i |
| Labour force participation rate (female/male pop. %) | 51.9 / 66.1i | 54.4 / 67.6 | 53.8 / 65.0i |
| CPI: Consumer Price Index (2010=100) | 144 | 246 | 369b |
| Agricultural production index (2014-2016=100) | 93 | 118 | 136b |
| International trade: exports (million current US$) | 6 565 | 7 924 | 13 121i,d |
| International trade: imports (million current US$) | 7 932 | 5 286 | 10 764i,d |
| International trade: balance (million current US$) | - 1 367 | 2 638 | 2 357i,d |
| Balance of payments, current account (million US$) | -768 | 2 139 | -583b |
Social indicators
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| Population growth rate (average annual %) | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.8a |
| Urban population (% of total population) | 41.9 | 44.1c | ... |
| Urban population growth rate (average annual %) | 4.3j | ... | ... |
| Fertility rate, total (live births per woman) | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4a |
| Life expectancy at birth (females/males, years) | 62.8 / 58.5 | 66.0 / 60.7 | 69.1 / 64.3a |
| Population age distributionk (0-14/60+ years old, %) | 45.2 / 2.9 | 43.3 / 3.1 | 41.0 / 3.4a |
| International migrant stockl (000/% of total pop.) | 132.1 / 0.8 | 188.0 / 1.0 | 249.2 / 1.2d |
| Refugees and others of concern to UNHCR (000) | 51.8 | 89 | 102.6d |
| Under five mortality rate (per 1000 live births) | 67.8 | 59.1 | 49.8a |
| Health: Current expenditurem (% of GDP) | 4.4 | 6.3 | 5.3n |
| Health: Physicians (per 1 000 pop.) | 0.1o | 0.3 | 0.3n |
| Education: Primary gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 102.5 / 104.3 | 95.7 / 93.2 | 118.3 / 117.9d |
| Education: Lowr. sec. gross enrol. ratio (f/m per 100 pop.) | 59.5 / 64.2 | 57.8 / 56.6 | 80.4 / 74.5b |
| Intentional homicide rate (per 100 000 pop.) | 5.2 | ... | ... |
| Seats held by women in national parliaments (%) | 12.7 | 16.8p | 15p |
Environment and infrastructure indicators
| 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | |
| Individuals using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants) | 8.8q | 24.5i | 33i,b |
| Threatened species (number) | 83 | 107 | 152d |
| Forested area (% of land area) | 61.5 | 60.3 | 59.8n |
| CO2 emission estimates (million tons/tons per capita) | 5.0 / 0.3 | 9.2 / 0.5 | 10.4 / 0.5n |
| Energy production, primary (Petajoules) | 355 | 424 | 471i,n |
| Energy supply per capita (Gigajoules) | 25 | 26 | 27i,n |
| Tourist/visitor arrivals at national borders (000) | 932 | 502 | 554r |
| Important sites for terrestrial biodiversity protected (%) | 46.1 | 46.1 | 46.1d |
| Pop. using safely managed drinking water (urban/rural, %) | 49.5 / ... | 45.5 / ... | 45.5 / ...n |
| Pop. using safely managed sanitation (urban/rural, %) | ... / 23.7 | ... / 30.5 | ... / 30.5n |
| Net Official Development Assist. received (% of GNI) | 3.83 | 5.77 | 5.26b |