Republic of Zambia

Current government officials

Languages: Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Chewa 4.5%, Lozi 5.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.4%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

Ethnicity/race: Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

Religions: Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Bahai), none 1.8% (2010 est.)

Literacy rate: 61.4% (2007 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $25.47 billion; per capita $1,800. Real growth rate: 6%. Inflation: 7.1%. Unemployment: 15% (2008 est.). Arable land: 4.52%. Agriculture: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seeds, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (manioc, tapioca), coffee; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides. Labor force: 6.275 million (2013); agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9% (2004). Industries: copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture. Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower. Exports: $8.547 billion (2013 est.): copper/cobalt, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton. Imports: $8.216 billion (2013 est.): machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing. Major trading partners: South Africa, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuwait, South Korea, India, UAE, Egypt (2012).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 82,500 (2012); mobile cellular: 10.525 million (2012). Broadcast media: State-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 1 TV