The Republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa. It borders Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. The name derives from the Zambezi River. Zambia was formerly Northern Rhodesia and became independent from the British colonial power United Kingdom on October 24, 1964, but remained a member of the British-run Commonwealth of Nations, English remained the official language.
All EU citizens are allowed to enter the country without a visa.
Tourists are allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days per
calendar year, business travelers 30.
A visa on arrival can be
applied for at larger land border crossings and at the airport. Turks,
Swiss and Liechtensteiners need this. Tourist entry costs US$ 50.55,
multiple entry costs US$ 88 (as of October 2023). For air travelers who
have to show a return flight upon arrival, it may be better to organize
the visa, which is relatively easy to obtain, in their home country.
Regarding the KAZA UNIVISA visa, which is also valid for Zimbabwe
and day trips to Botswana, it is recommended to contact the immigration
authorities. In the past, this visa has occasionally been suspended.
Currently it seems to be valid again.
You can obtain entry
permits in Central Europe in advance:
Consular Department of the
Zambian Embassy, Axel-Springer-Straße 54a, 10117 Berlin. Processing time
2 weeks. Also responsible for Austria. Price: one entry: 25 €, double 40
€, multiple 75 €, day trip 10 €.
Section consulaire de l'Ambassade,
Rue de Vermont 37-39, 1202 Geneva. Tel: +41227614400.
Luxembourgers
are processed in Brussels.
For consulates, including those of
neighboring countries, see the “Embassies and Consulates” section in
Lusaka.
You can find out what conditions apply to categories
other than short-term business or tourist visits from the immigration
authorities]. Such items are only issued by the headquarters in Lusaka.
According to the WHO, Zambia has been free of yellow fever since 2015. A yellow fever vaccination is only required when entering from high-risk countries for people older than 1 year. This also applies if the stay (including at the airport) lasted longer than 12 hours during a stopover. The yellow fever vaccination is valid for life. Vaccination protection applies from 10 days after vaccination. It is advisable to obtain travel medical advice or contact the WHO before traveling. A yellow fever vaccination is currently not required to travel on to South Africa as Zambia is no longer considered an endemic area.
Zambia is relatively easy to reach.
According to a new
regulation, all payment transactions for services provided in Zambia
must now be processed in the local currency (Zambian Kwacha, ZMK).
Violations can be punished with high penalties (theoretically up to 10
years in prison). According to the immigration authorities, entry visas
applied for at the airport can still be paid for in US dollars. Banks
and exchange offices usually only exchange US dollars issued after 1996.
Credit cards, especially Visa and Masters, are only partially accepted
and only a few ATMs can be used with EC cards. ATMs and card readers do
not always work reliably. The old banknotes have been invalid since
2013.
By plane
The main airport in the country is Lusaka
Airport. There are direct flights from London with British Airways and a
lot of connections to various airports in Africa. If you plan to visit
the eastern parts of the country (e.g. Chipata), it may make sense to
fly to Lilongwe in neighboring Malawi. However, you should keep in mind
that border crossings in Africa can be anywhere between problem-free and
nightmare. There are also smaller airports in Livingstone near Victoria
Falls and in Mfuwe near the South Luangwa National Park, which are
served by flights from various places in Africa.
By train
Rail
traffic, only on single-track, non-electrified routes, is operated by
the state-owned Zambia Railways (ZR) with a route that is essentially
almost 1250 km long: Mulobezi southeast to Livingstone, where there is a
connection to the Zimbabwean rail network, and from there northeast to
Lusaka. Continue towards Congo via Kapiri Mposhi, Ndola (connection to
Lubumbashi), Kitwe to Chingola.
The independently operated TAZARA
railways run between Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia and Dar es Salaam in
Tanzania every Tuesday and Thursday. According to the timetable, the
journey takes 38 hours, but the train often has breakdowns and delays.
You should include appropriate time buffers when planning your vacation.
The trip is not only cheap (fares), you also get great impressions of
the landscape along the way.
A few tips make traveling by train
easier:
Take enough water with you.
The customs officers stamp the
passports right at the border, even in the middle of the night. However,
you should be very careful when opening your compartment at night, as
thieves and robbers are out and about at this time.
If you miss the
customs officers upon entry, there are two options: you will be sent
back to the border or you will have to pay a special “tax”.
Once you
have crossed the border, the currency of the country you just left will
no longer be accepted on board the train. That's why you should change
money before you start your train journey. It is possible to exchange
money on the train, but the exchange rates are extremely poor.
Timetable (no guarantee; as of 2015-04-15)
By bus
International bus routes exist to and from Malawi, Zimbabwe and
Tanzania. Long waiting times often occur at borders when an entire bus
is checked at once.
Car/own vehicle
In Zambia, traffic drives
on the left. There are many border crossings for cars, the most used are
probably:
coming from Zimbabwe through Livingstone in the south
coming from Malawi through Chipata or Lundazi in the southeast
coming
from the Republic of Congo through Ndola in the north
The only land
border to/from Namibia opens 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is at Wenela (Katima
Mulilo) / Sesheke (17° 28′ 40″ S 24° 14′ 47″ E) across the Zambezi.
and coming from Botswana through Kazungula
If you are traveling
with your own vehicle, please note that the official opening hours of
the borders are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (there is the usual African
leeway in both directions). Sufficient time should be allowed for
crossing the border.
Required documents:
A Carnet de
Passage is required. In addition, liability insurance for Zambia must be
taken out. This is usually possible immediately upon entry. If you are
traveling to several countries in East Africa, it certainly makes sense
to take out COMESA Yellow Card insurance. An international driving
license and an international registration are also required.
By
boat
Zambia is located in inland Africa and has no maritime coasts.
But there is an international ferry connection to Tanzania at Lake
Tanganykia. The ferry runs a few times a week.
By plane
Domestic flights are offered by Zambian Airways (formerly
Roan Air), which has nothing to do with the former and now bankrupt
state-owned airline of the same name. A network of flights connects the
most important cities and tourist destinations. Flights are certainly
the fastest and most comfortable way to travel through Zambia, but also
the most expensive. A one-hour flight (e.g. Lusaka-Mfuwe) costs
approximately US$150 one way. The aircraft used are often small and the
number of seats is limited, so you should try to get a seat in good
time. Groups also have the opportunity to charter their own machines. If
there are enough people, the costs are not much higher than regular
connections.
Minibus
Minibuses, which are vans that have been
equipped with additional seats, are popular. However, they are often
unauthorized, unsafe and the opposite of comfortable. To maximize their
profits, drivers cram as many passengers and luggage (katundu) into
their vehicles as possible. The comfort of the other passengers is only
of secondary importance. On the other hand, there is hardly a better way
to get to know the rural population and a trip like this is definitely a
special travel experience.
By bus
Normal large buses also
operate in Zambia. These naturally offer enough space for passengers and
luggage. As a rule, they are more reliable than the minibuses and stick
to schedules. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
On the street
In Zambia, traffic is officially on the left.
There are a few car
rental companies in Zambia but the cost of renting a car is quite high.
A car costs around $100 per day and many of the country's roads are in
very poor condition. Potholes sometimes take up the entire road and
parts of roads are often washed away during the rainy season. There are
many unpaved roads outside the cities. Although these make a solid
impression, the surface is often loose. The result is frequent
accidents. There is hardly any risk of getting lost due to the small
number of roads. Nothing works without four-wheel drive, at least during
the rainy season and you shouldn't do without it the rest of the year
either. In some cases, however, even all-wheel drive no longer helps in
the rainy season.
Due to numerous conflicts in the past, there
are unmarked minefields in the border area with the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Angola and Zimbabwe. Under no circumstances should you leave
the street here.
By train
Completely independent of the TAZARA
route network, there are also a number of train connections in the north
of the country. The main route is certainly from Livingstone via Lusaka
to Kitwe. The trains are quite reliable but also very slow.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is popular in Zambia, but is often a game of
chance due to the low traffic volume. You should also note that if you
are given a ride by locals, you will usually be expected to pay.
In Zambia you don't give a thumbs up if you want a ride. The appropriate
method is as follows:
Luggage stacked next to the road
Put in the
shade
If you hear or see a vehicle: jump up
Run to the luggage
Wave your whole arm up and down. Keep your palm open and facing
downwards
Hoping the car stops
Thanks to its colonial past and Commonwealth membership, English is
one of Zambia's eight official languages. English is also mostly spoken
in schools, on the radio, in public offices, etc. There are also over 70
different Bantu dialects throughout the country. The most important are
Bemba, spoken in Lusaka, the Copperbelt and the north, and Nyanja
(Chewa), which is quite common in the east, in Livingstone and also in
Lusaka.
In the cities, many locals speak passable English.
However, in more rural areas communication becomes more difficult.
However, you shouldn't be surprised if you come across a Zambian who
speaks English fluently and is well versed in the Western world.
You should never forget to greet the locals. At the first contact you
should always ask “How are you?” (Muli Bwanji?).
Zambia's currency, kwacha ("sunrise", honoring independence), was
previously pegged to the US dollar. However, the course was released in
the late 1990s and has subsequently lost a lot of value. There have been
new Kwacha (ZMW) since January 1, 2013. They exchanged 1:1000. The old
notes (identified by the portrait of Kenneth Kaunda until 1992, then an
osprey) have no longer been a valid means of payment since June 30,
2013.
Since the switch, the price has stabilized somewhat. For 1€
you currently get 20.90ZK. US dollars were also a common means of
payment, especially for larger purchases.
It is advisable to
always have smaller notes on hand, as large banknotes often cannot be
changed.
ATMs can be found in larger cities, but you should
always take into account that they may not work. Some shops and
restaurants accept credit cards, as do virtually all luxury hotels and
safari lodges. As a rule, however, a price surcharge of 5-10% is usual.
The daily limit per card, which varies depending on the bank, is
2000-4000 Kwacha.
Although other payment methods besides cash are
becoming more important, you should not rely on them. A little forward
planning will help reduce exchange costs.
Most stores have fixed
final prices and the owners usually don't want to negotiate the price
(although it is sometimes possible). Street vendors, taxi drivers, etc.,
often do not quote prices and the price is usually negotiated here. In
general, one can assume that the first price mentioned is at least twice
as high as it would be appropriate.
Tipping is not necessary, but
is sometimes expected. Porters get around US$0.50 per suitcase, better
restaurants charge a 10% service charge or expect a tip of this amount.
If you are buying larger quantities of a smaller item, you should
ask for an mbasela. According to a local custom, you get an item for
free.
Accommodation options in Zambia run the gamut: from luxury hotels
that cost several hundred dollars a night (e.g. The Intercontinental),
to mid-range hotels (like the Ndeke) that cost around US$50 a night, to
basic accommodations like the Lusaka Backpackers (formerly Chachacha),
where you can still get decent accommodation for five to ten US$. There
is also a wide range of options in practically every price and luxury
class. In general, you are safer in more expensive hotels than in cheap
accommodation.
Outside the tourist centers it can be difficult to
find a good, i.e. H. Above all, finding clean and quiet accommodation.
If you value luxury or just electricity, you should consider whether you
want to travel too far to more remote parts of the country. On the other
hand, the small hotels there offer an authentic experience that you will
probably remember in a positive sense for a long time. There is probably
no other hotel like the Castle Hotel in Lundazi anywhere in the world.
The only university is the University of Zambia. However, their fees
are not affordable for most residents. There are also technical schools.
Teacher training seminars can be found in every provincial capital. A
two-year program there costs about $300.
The following
“educational offers” are probably more likely for tourists:
When
visiting a wildlife park, you can learn almost endless knowledge about
the region's animals from the guides. Please don't forget to tip.
Arrange an overnight stay in a traditional African village (you can book
this with Wade, the owner of the ChaChaCha Backpackers in Lusaka, for
example). Of course, the program is somewhat tailored to the tourists
and the experience is not necessarily 100% authentic, but you do get a
good impression of the tough everyday life in Zambia.
Zambia is generally considered a safe travel destination. Nevertheless, it is important to act with caution and attentiveness here too. Armed robberies and carjackings often target tourists. The French Foreign Ministry advises that the border area with Angola and the Congo (Zaire) and the region around the towns of Chingola, Kitwe and Ndola should only be visited in justified exceptional cases.
Homosexuality is prohibited by law in Zambia and is punishable by prison sentences of up to life imprisonment. The possession, import and consumption of drugs, including so-called “soft drugs”, is prohibited and is punishable by imprisonment. The same applies to the possession and distribution of pornographic material. Taking photos of safety-relevant facilities or people, as well as bridges, is not permitted. The export of trophies is also not permitted unless ZAMA approval is available.
Zambia is one of the countries with the highest HIV infection rate in the world. According to WHO estimates, around 17% of all 15 to 49 year olds are infected. This led to a dramatic decline in life expectancy from an average of 60 years in 1990 to 35 years in 2002.[5] Although there is universal free health care in state hospitals, this is rather theoretical. Apart from acute, serious injuries, not even the most basic care can be relied upon. Pharmacies open Monday to Saturday, emergency services are unknown. In rural areas, at most half of the population has access, and then they can only go to a mission hospital. If you call the emergency number 991, you can expect an ambulance to arrive promptly, at least in the capital. The best care is in the capital Lusaka. The country's largest hospital, the University Teaching Hospital, is also located here.
There is a risk of malaria throughout the country throughout the
year. In particular, there is a nationwide risk for Plasmodium
falciparum, which is the causative agent of the severe malaria tropica.
Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is known. The
WHO offers a helpful overview on its International Travel and Health
page. Travel medical advice is recommended. Helpful information can also
be found at the German Tropical Medicine Society.
Also
widespread, especially in the south and east as well as in the Luangwa
Valley and Kafue National Park, is African sleeping sickness, which is
transmitted by the tsetse fly.
Schistosomiasis can be caught in
any stagnant water.
The following general vaccinations are recommended: tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis) as well as against polio, mumps, measles, rubella (MMR), influenza and pneumococci. The following special travel vaccinations are also recommended: hepatitis A and typhus, and for long-term stays or corresponding exposure (hunting, trekking, aid projects) also hepatitis B, rabies and meningococcal meningitis (ACWY). This is especially important considering that there was a measles epidemic in Luapula Province in 2012. Outbreaks of cholera and typhus are not uncommon.
The power supply, nominally 220 V / 50 Hz, does not work reliably. In
addition to Euro plugs, the three-pin English types BS 546 and BS 1363
are also used in socket types. The balance on meters usually has to be
topped up using a prepaid card. Better accommodations have generators.
Tap water should not be drunk. Outside the cities there is less of a
general network. Many houses have their own wells (“bores”), whose water
is usually cleaner, but which requires pumps or, in the case of frequent
power outages, manual operation. Hot water is usually produced using
boilers (“geysers”) (which are switched on every hour). These also
require a functioning power supply.
The climate is mildly tropical with temperate temperatures due to the altitude and three seasons. The rainy season from November to April (27-38°C) and the cool dry season from May to August (15-27°C) and the hot dry season from September to October (24-32°C).
Smoking in public places has been prohibited by law since May 28, 2008.
Today's Zambia was already populated in early human times, as
evidenced by a skull find in Kabwe (“Kabwe 1”). The early inhabitants
were the fairly light-skinned San, who were later replaced by
dark-skinned Bantu. Copper mining began around the year 1000. In 1835,
the Mfecane Nguni arrived in the area from South Africa. The first
European in what is now Zambia was the British explorer David
Livingstone in 1851. After the Briton Cecil Rhodes concluded several
treaties with local rulers in 1888, the area became part of the British
colony of Rhodesia in 1890. In 1918 there was a Spanish flu pandemic
that claimed numerous lives. In 1923 the area became part of the British
Protectorate of Rhodesia as Northern Rhodesia.
Since around 1930,
copper mining has been intensified through the establishment of numerous
mines, which caused a sharp increase in the population of Northern
Rhodesia. There was a tenfold influx of both white workers, mostly from
South Africa, and black workers from near and distant regions. Copper
production only fell for a short time during the global economic crisis
and rose again from 1933 onwards, reaching a peak in 1937. This economic
increase in mining had a beneficial effect on agricultural operations to
supply the population in the growing cities and metropolitan areas.
Initially, it was white-owned farms that benefited. Larger strikes by
black miners began in 1935, prompted by their unequal treatment of wages
compared to immigrant miners. From this, political groups developed that
served to represent the interests of the African population.
Even
before independence, the colonial authorities permitted voting rights
for the indigenous population, which were limited by educational and
property restrictions.
From 1954 until independence in 1964,
Northern Rhodesia was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland,
along with Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi).
The 1959 constitution guaranteed European, Indian and African women
and men the right to vote, but with strict restrictions on citizenship,
residency status, education and property. These restrictions created a
large imbalance in favor of the white population. The first direct
elections were held on October 30, 1962 under significantly expanded
voting rights. These led to Zambia's independence and were the first
elections in which active and passive women's suffrage applied.
Universal adult suffrage was achieved at independence in October 1964.
In 1964, Kenneth Kaunda of the United National Independence Party (UNIP)
was elected Zambia's first president.
But Zambia's wealth,
copper, could neither be exported by rail through Southern Rhodesia (UN
sanctions against the white farmers' revolt against Great Britain
there), nor did it generate high income when world market prices for
copper fell sharply. Kenneth Kaunda was unable to contain the increasing
corruption of the administration and the ruling party. In 1973, Zambia
was declared a one-party state by Kaunda following unrest over the new
constitution.
In 1990, after massive pressure from civil society
and international donors, Kaunda allowed the first democratic
multi-party elections since the first republic. After a constitutional
change and the associated founding of parties, opposition candidate
Frederick Chiluba was elected as the new president in the 1991
elections. The new governing party was now the Movement for Multi-Party
Democracy (MMD). This marked one of the first peaceful transfers of
power by voting out a head of government in Africa. After the
controversial election on January 2, 2002, Levy Mwanawasa became
president and head of state. The election was described by EU observers
as chaotic and not fair. President Levy Mwanawasa was re-elected for a
second term on September 28, 2006, this time in orderly and free
circumstances.
After Mwanawasa's death in August 2008, Vice
President Rupiah Banda initially took over the office of President on an
interim basis. According to state information, Banda was able to prevail
in the new presidential election on October 30, 2008, narrowly ahead of
opposition leader Michael Sata (Patriotic Front, PF).
On
September 23, 2011, Michael Sata defeated his political opponent Rupiah
Banda in the presidential election. After Sata came to power, numerous
corruption trials took place. Members of the previous government in
particular were convicted. In this context, formerly privatized
companies were nationalized again, and opposition members were
persecuted and silenced. 70 percent of state employees belonged to
Michael Sata's ethnic group, the Bemba.
After Michael Sata died
in October 2014, Scottish-born Guy Scott was appointed interim
president. After the election in January 2015, he was replaced by Edgar
Lungu (PF), whose vice-president Inonge Wina became. A central project
during his presidency was the nationalization of the Mopani copper
mines, 10% of which are owned by the Zambian state, while the remaining
shares are held by the Swiss Glencore and the Canadian First Quantum
Limited. The necessary loan costs of 1.2 billion euros are to be
refinanced with the help of 3% of the annual profits from copper mining.
During his time in office, Lungu came under increasing criticism for his
authoritarian behavior. Zambia also entered an economic crisis, which
was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 onwards, causing the
country to default in November 2020 and had to apply for debt
restructuring. In the 2021 elections, Lungu was voted out and Hakainde
Hichilema (United Party for National Development, UNPD) was elected as
his successor. In the first year, Hichilema placed particular emphasis
on expanding the education and health sectors by recruiting 30,000
teachers and 11,000 nurses and doctors.
Most of Zambia consists of relatively little relief
plateaux between 1000 and 1400 meters. However, these plateaus are very
different. To the north, the Bangweulubassin forms the floor of a huge
crater bounded by the Copperbelt Plateau to the south, the long Luapula
Valley to the west, the Mporokoso Mountains to the north, and the
Muchinga Mountains to the east. The Luangwa Valley runs along this
mountain range from north to south, bordered on the north by foothills
of the southern Tanzanian highlands and on the east by the Mafinga
Hills, which merge into the central highlands of Malawi and in which the
highest point of the country, the Mafinga, is located with 2339 meters
above sea level. Western Zambia, with the headwaters of the Zambezi, is
a flat sandy area of the Kalahari Desert that slopes gently to the
south. Dramatic reliefs can only be found along the Zambezi escarpment.
The Zambezi rises in northern Zambia and forms Zambia's southern
border with Namibia, Botswana (disputed) and Zimbabwe (with the Victoria
Falls), also flowing through the dammed Lake Kariba.
Zambia has a mild tropical climate, which has moderate temperatures due
to the altitude (cold tropics). There are three seasons:
A cool
dry season from May to September with temperatures between 15 and 27°C.
During the months of June and July, morning temperatures can drop to
10°C and nighttime temperatures to 4.5°C.
A hot dry season in October
and November with temperatures between 24 and 32°C.
A hot, muggy
rainy season from December to April with violent tropical storms. The
average temperatures during this period are between 27 and 38 °C. During
the day, very heavy rain showers alternate with sunny weather in places.
In some years, around 2007/2008, there was unusually intense rainfall,
which claimed lives and threatened harvests.
The predominant
vegetation in large parts of the country is savannah (see also Miombo).
Zambia has experienced severe droughts in recent years, resulting in
rainfall of just 327mm this season from November to April in 2019,
instead of the usual 800-1000mm. Crop volumes for agricultural
commodities such as corn declined.
Zambia lies on a plateau over 1000 meters high, surrounded by deep valleys and depressions. As a result, there are countless waterfalls in the country, the most famous being the Zambezi's Victoria Falls. Of the other falls, those of the Kalungwishi River to the north are noteworthy. It offers a series of Lumangwe Falls, Chimpepe Falls, Kabweluma Falls, Kundabwiku Falls and Mumbuluma Falls, complemented by Kapuma Falls, Lupupa Falls and Pule Falls on its tributaries. With the Mambilima Falls and the almost inaccessible Mambatuta Falls, the Luapula also has unique whitewater rapids with large drops. The Kalambo Falls and the Lunzua Falls on Lake Tanganyika plunge over 200 meters into the depths. The Sanzye Falls are close by. In addition to these natural spectacles, there are other waterfalls such as Senkele Falls, Chusa Falls and Namundela Falls of the Mansha River between Mpika and Kasama. Also in this area are Chishimba Falls, Mutinondo Wilderness Falls and Lwitikila Falls. Further south are the Kundalila Falls.
Zambia has four distinct lake and wetland regions. The Zambezi's Kariba reservoir is to the south. The Kafue system with the Lukanga swamps, the Itezhitezhi reservoir and the Kafue reservoir characterizes central Zambia south of the Copperbelt. The Bangweulubassin with the Bangweulusee and the Bangweulus Marshes surrounding it spreads north of the Copperbelt. In the far north in the geological fractures lies Lake Tanganyika in the rift valley and Lake Mweru and Lake Mweru-Wantipa in the depression behind the Bangweulu block with the Mporokoso Mountains.
Zambia is characterized by two river systems: the Zambezi river basin to the south and the Congo river basin to the north. Both catchment areas are transboundary and of continental importance. The system of the Zambezi is divided into the upper reaches with the tributaries Cuando, Lungwebungu, Luanginga from Angola, Kabompo with western Lunga, Luena, Lufupa from the east, the middle course with the tributaries Kafue with Lunga and Lusiwishi as well as Chongwe and finally the Luangwa with its tributaries Mansha, Lunsemfwa, Lukusashi and Mulingushi. The subsystem of the Congo in Zambia is the Chambeshi, which, like numerous smaller rivers, flows into the Bangweulu Basin and leaves this as the Luapula to flow into Lake Mweru, to which the Kalungwishi also comes from the Mporokoso Mountains.
South Luangwa National Park - North Luangwa National Park - Luambe National Park - Lukusuzi National Park - Nyika - Nsumbu National Park - Lake Mweru Wantipa with Mweru Wantipa National Park - Lusenga Plain National Park - Bangweulus Marshes - Kasanka National Park - Lavushi Manda National Park - Isangano National Park - Kafue National Park - Lochinvar National Park - Blue Lagoon National Park - Liuwa Plain National Park - West Lunga National Park - Sioma Ngweizi National Park - Mosi-oa-Tunya - Lower Zambezi National Park
Since 2011, the state has been divided into ten provinces (capitals
in brackets):
Central Province – (Kabwe)
Copperbelt – (Ndola)
Eastern Province – (Chipata)
Luapula – (Mansa)
Lusaka –
(Lusaka)
Northern Province – (Kasama)
North West Province –
(Solwezi)
Southern Province – (Livingstone)
Western Province –
(Mongu)
Muchinga – (Chinsali)
In 2021, 45
percent of Zambia's residents lived in cities. The 5 largest cities
are (as of 2017):
Lusaka: 2,426,900 inhabitants
Kitwe: 669,600
inhabitants
Ndola: 551,900 inhabitants
Chingola: 233,600
inhabitants
Kabwe: 227,600 inhabitants
See also: List of
cities in Zambia
Zambia had about 18.4 million inhabitants in 2020. Annual population growth was +2.9%. The population has increased sevenfold since 1950 and, according to forecasts, will more than double again by the middle of the century. An excess of births (birth rate: 35.4 per 1000 inhabitants vs. death rate: 6.2 per 1000 inhabitants) contributed to population growth. The number of births per woman was statistically 4.5 in 2020 and thus close to the value for sub-Saharan Africa of 4.6. The median age of the population in 2020 was 17.6 years. The Zambia Statistics Agency has state responsibility for the tasks of national official statistics.
99% of Zambia's black population
(98.1%) consists of approximately 72 Bantu-speaking ethnic groups.
90% of Zambians belong to eight ethnolinguistic groups. The largest
of the eight groups are the Bemba, who make up 21% of the
population. The Rotse people (5.7%) live mainly in the south. Many
personalities from politics and business come from the ranks of the
Rotse. The tradition of the Bemba and the Rotse, both originally
from the south-eastern Congo Basin, is shaped by the institution of
chiefdom.
The Tonga have lived in the south of the country
for thousands of years, accounting for 13.6% of the total
population. The expulsion of this group living in the Zambezi Valley
by the British in the course of the construction of the Kariba Dam
brought about major changes in their traditional culture. Other of
the eight largest ethnic groups are the Nyanja-Chewa (7.4%), the
Nsenga (5.3%), the Tumbuka (4.4%), the Ngoni (4%) and the Lala
(3.1%) . According to the 2010 census, smaller minorities are made
up of the Kaonde (2.9%), the Namwanga (2.8%), the Lunda (2.6%), the
Mambwe (2.5%), the Luvale (2.2 %), the Lamba (2.1%), the Ushi
(1.9%), the Lenje (1.6%), the Bisa (1.6%), the Mbunda (1.2%) and the
Luba . Other ethnic groups account for 13.8%.
Of the Khoisan
population, now only 0.7%, only the Twa live in small groups in the
Bangweulusee area. There are also (1.2%) Europeans and Indians. In
2017, 0.9% of the population was foreign-born. Most of these were
from Angola, DR Congo and Mozambique.
Zambia is also home to
about 100,000 Chinese who migrated to Zambia as part of the New Silk
Road project.