Contents

Country Overview

Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in south-central Africa with eight neighbors, Lusaka as its capital and copper mining as a central export industry. Formerly British-administered Northern Rhodesia, it became independent on October 24, 1964. Zambia is a multiparty presidential republic. President Hakainde Hichilema and Vice President Mutale Nalumango were inaugurated for a second term on September 1, 2026, after an election whose outcome was contested by the principal opposition. Zambia's natural environment includes the Zambezi River and the transboundary Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls World Heritage property. [17] [2] [9] [11] [15]

Reference status: Contemporary edition • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Figures show the respective observation or estimate year rather than the page's verification date.

CapitalLusakaNational capital [3]
Population21,913,8742025 World Bank estimate [1]
Total area752,612 km²UN surface-area convention [3]
Nominal GDPUS$28.88 billion2025 World Bank [1]
GDP per capitaUS$1,317.92025 World Bank [1]
CurrencyZambian kwachaZMW [3]

Statistical comparability: The revised 2022 census counted 19,693,423 people; the World Bank's 2025 21,913,874 is an estimate made for a later reference year, not a new census. The 2025 macroeconomic data, 2024 merchandise-trade records, 2022 census information and 2026 political updates are intentionally dated independently. [4] [1] [7] [11]

Identity and State Formation

Official name
Republic of Zambia. [3] [13]
Common name
Zambia. [3]
Continent and region
Africa; Southern Africa in regional political and economic groupings; the UN statistical profile places it in Eastern Africa. [3] [17]
Capital
Lusaka. [3]
Largest city
Lusaka, the administrative and principal business center. [3] [22]
Other major cities
Ndola, Kitwe, Livingstone, Kabwe, Chingola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Chipata and Kasama. [17]
ISO country codes
ZM (alpha-2), ZMB (alpha-3), 894 (numeric).
Telephone country code
+260. [21]
Internet domain
.zm.
Currency
Zambian kwacha (ZMW), divided into 100 ngwee. [3]
National time zone
Central Africa Time (CAT), UTC+02:00; no nationwide seasonal clock change. [21]
Independence
October 24, 1964, from British colonial rule. [17]
National independence holiday
October 24. [17]
Former colonial name
Northern Rhodesia. [22]
British colonial administration
Northern Rhodesia was administered as a British protectorate before independence. [22]
Precolonial history
The territory was home to numerous African communities, chiefdoms and kingdoms long before European colonial rule.
Late colonial political development
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–1963) incorporated Northern Rhodesia before its dissolution.
First president
Kenneth David Kaunda, serving from independence in 1964 until 1991.
One-party period
One-party politics was instituted in the early 1970s; multiparty competition returned before the 1991 election. [17]
Return to multiparty politics
Competitive multiparty elections in October 1991 replaced the long-ruling United National Independence Party government. [17]
Current constitutional framework
1991 Constitution, as substantially amended in 2016 and 2025. [13] [14]
2025 constitutional reform
Amendment Act No. 13 of 2025 changed the composition and election method for the National Assembly. [14] [11]
Latest general election
August 13, 2026 (presidency and National Assembly). [11] [10]
Latest presidential inauguration
September 1, 2026, beginning the second term of President Hakainde Hichilema. [9]
National motto
“One Zambia, One Nation.” [21]
National flag
Green field with red, black and orange stripes at the fly, beneath an orange eagle in flight. [20] [21]
National anthem
“Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free.” [20]
National emblem
Coat of arms featuring a shield, eagle, pickaxe, hoe and supporting human figures. [20]
United Nations admission
December 1, 1964. [3]

Geography and Population

General location
Landlocked country in south-central Africa, connecting Southern, Central and Eastern African transport routes. [2] [22]
Total surface area
752,612 km² (UN Statistics Division convention); other reference sources sometimes report 752,618 km². [3] [17]
Ocean coastline
None; Zambia is landlocked. [2]
Borders
Eight neighboring countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. [17] [22]
Northern neighbors
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. [17]
Eastern neighbors
Malawi and Mozambique. [17]
Southern neighbors
Zimbabwe and Botswana. [17]
Western neighbors
Namibia and Angola. [17]
Principal river system
Zambezi River and its tributaries; important for electricity generation, agriculture, ecosystems and tourism. [2] [28]
Other major waterways
Kafue, Luangwa and Chambeshi river systems; Luapula connects to the Congo River basin.
Major lakes
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Mweru, Lake Bangweulu, Lake Kariba and Lake Itezhi-Tezhi (different natural or reservoir types).
Famous waterfall
Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls on the Zambezi, shared with Zimbabwe. [15]
General landform
Plateau country with river valleys, escarpments, floodplains, wetlands and hills. [17]
Climate
Tropical to subtropical conditions moderated by elevation; seasonally wet and dry.
Rainfall seasonality
Main rainy season generally runs November through April, with geographic variation. [23]
Principal natural risks
Drought, floods and climate variability; power generation and maize production are climate-sensitive. [28] [24]
2022 finalized national census
19,693,423 people on September 8, 2022. [4]
2025 population estimate
21,913,874 residents (World Bank, estimated rather than directly enumerated). [1]
Population growth
2.8% in 2025 (World Bank annual population-growth estimate). [1]
2022 census female population
10,036,163. [4]
2022 census male population
9,657,260. [4]
2022 census rural population
10,900,054, approximately 55.3% of the 2022 census population. [4] [5]
2022 census urban population
8,793,369, approximately 44.7% of the 2022 census population. [4] [5]
2022 median age
18.3 years (2022 census); a different year from the headline 2025 population estimate. [5]
2022 most populous province
Lusaka Province, 3,093,617 people. [4]
2022 Copperbelt Province population
2,768,192 people. [4]
Population distribution
Concentration around Lusaka, Copperbelt towns and agricultural corridors, with less densely settled zones elsewhere. [4] [2]
2024 life expectancy
About 67 years at birth (World Bank series). [1]
Provincial administration
10 provinces; the 2022 census statistics follow provincial boundaries as specified for the census reference period. [4]
Province names
Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western. [4]
Provincial and district governance
Provinces are further divided into districts and local government units; district counts can change by administrative notice. [13] [4]
Capital city location
Lusaka lies in the south-central part of Zambia. [3]
National parks
Kafue, South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, North Luangwa and other protected areas support wildlife conservation and tourism. [15] [2]
Major ecosystems
Miombo woodland, savanna, wetlands and riparian habitats. [28]
Forest area
60.5% of land area in the World Bank 2024 forest-area indicator (defined by the underlying dataset). [1]

Economy and International Trade

General economic system
Mixed economy combining private enterprise, mining, agriculture, services, manufacturing and public infrastructure. [2]
Nominal GDP, 2025
US$28.88 billion (World Bank; current US dollars, rounded). [1]
GDP per capita, 2025
US$1,317.9 (World Bank; nominal current US dollars). [1]
Real GDP growth, 2025
3.8% (World Bank indicator; may differ from UN or national-series vintages). [1]
Consumer-price inflation, 2025
13.9% annual average (World Bank consumer-price series). [1]
Modeled unemployment, 2025
5.9% of labor force under the World Bank/ILO modeled series. [1]
National unemployment in 2022 survey
13.1%, Zambia Statistics Agency 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey; not interchangeable with the 2025 ILO model. [25]
National poverty rate, 2022
60.0% according to the national poverty line used in the 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey. [26]
Poverty in rural areas, 2022
78.8% using the national poverty threshold (LCMS). [26]
Poverty in urban areas, 2022
31.9% using the same national poverty definition (LCMS). [26]
International poverty metric
The World Bank reports 71.7% at US$3.00 a day (2021 PPP) for 2022; this is a distinct poverty definition. [1]
Principal export sector
Copper mining and processing, especially unrefined copper and refined copper cathodes. [7] [2]
Copper dependence
Unrefined copper (51.8%) plus copper cathodes (14.6%) represented about 66.4% of reported 2024 goods exports across those two HS-6 categories. [7]
Other merchandise exports
Nickel ores, electricity, cement, tobacco, beverages and additional mineral and agricultural goods. [7]
Leading export markets, 2024
Switzerland, China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the WTO/UN Comtrade country series. [7]
Trade-market interpretation
Switzerland is a major recorded copper trading destination; destination shares are customs/trade-series measures, not definitive final-consumption locations. [7]
Merchandise exports, 2024
US$11.2758 billion (WTO/UN Comtrade, calendar-year goods only). [7]
Merchandise imports, 2024
US$11.2680 billion (WTO/UN Comtrade, calendar-year goods only). [7]
Goods-trade balance, 2024
About US$7.8 million surplus computed from the two rounded WTO goods totals; excludes services and income flows. [7]
Leading import suppliers, 2024
South Africa (25.7%) and China (17.0%), according to the WTO/UN Comtrade partner series. [7]
Major imported goods
Refined petroleum products, vehicles and machinery, fertilizer, medicines, electrical equipment and other manufactured goods. [7]
Copper mining regions
Copperbelt and North-Western Province host major mining, smelting and related industrial activity. [2]
Other mineral resources
Cobalt, nickel, gold, manganese, gemstones and other deposits. [2] [17]
Agricultural staples
Maize, cassava, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans and other crops. [23]
Commercial agriculture
Maize, sugar, tobacco, cotton, horticulture and livestock contribute to production and income. [23]
Major industrial activities
Copper smelting and fabrication, cement, food processing, beverages, chemicals and construction inputs. [2]
Service-sector activities
Trade, transport, telecommunications, finance, public services and tourism. [2]
Regional trade corridors
Land-linked road and rail connections to Dar es Salaam, Beira, Nacala, Durban and Walvis Bay; corridor access varies. [22]
Electricity system
Hydropower has historically dominated; generation is vulnerable to changes in river flows. [24]
2025 installed electricity capacity mix
IMF reported about 81% hydroelectric installed capacity as of October 2025; solar, thermal and diesel supplied the remainder. [24]
Electricity access, 2024
53.6% of population, World Bank electricity-access indicator; not identical to household connections. [1]
2024 drought effects
Severe drought reduced agricultural output and hydropower reliability, prompting supply restrictions and power imports. [24] [28]
Agricultural conditions, 2026
FAO reported improving rainfall, vegetation and crop-production prospects during the 2025/26 season. [23]
Debt and public finance
External debt restructuring and fiscal sustainability remained important policy concerns in 2026. [2] [24]
Investment and development priorities
Mining value addition, energy resilience, transport, skills, climate-smart agriculture and private-sector jobs. [2] [28]
GDP accounting note
Nominal GDP measures annual market production, not the average person’s wages or household earnings. [1]
GDP per capita accounting note
GDP divided by estimated population; it is not median income or a wage statistic. [1]

Leading merchandise exports — 2024

The WTO/UN Comtrade record lists US$11,275.8 million of merchandise exports in 2024. Products are reported at the six-digit Harmonized System level under the HS 2022 product classification; the classification edition is not the trade reference year. [7]

Zambia: selected merchandise export products, calendar year 2024 (WTO / UN Comtrade)
Export product (HS six-digit)US$ millionShare of goods exports
Unrefined copper; copper anodes for electrolytic refining5,844.551.8%
Refined copper cathodes and sections of cathodes1,648.814.6%
Nickel ores and concentrates323.72.9%
Electricity278.72.5%
Portland cement (other than white)144.01.3%
Partly or wholly stemmed tobacco140.31.2%
Sweetened or flavoured waters130.21.2%
Synthetic or reconstructed precious and semi-precious stones, worked119.11.1%
Zinc ores and concentrates116.41.0%
Sulphur, excluding certain processed forms111.51.0%

Leading merchandise export destinations — 2024

Zambia: leading recorded merchandise export destinations, calendar year 2024 (WTO / UN Comtrade)
Export destinationUS$ millionShare of goods exports
Switzerland4,797.842.5%
China2,342.820.8%
Democratic Republic of the Congo1,201.610.7%
South Africa471.84.2%
United Arab Emirates400.03.5%
Zimbabwe376.53.3%
Canada257.42.3%
Singapore223.32.0%
Tanzania193.21.7%
Namibia141.11.3%

Trade interpretation: Copper in two major product categories accounted for about two-thirds of Zambia's reported 2024 merchandise exports. Switzerland is the leading reported destination in the customs series; this does not establish that the same share of copper was physically consumed in Switzerland. The figures are goods-only, calendar-year data and should not be combined directly with services receipts or estimates from another year. [7]

People and Society

Official language
English under Article 258 of the Constitution. [13]
Indigenous language diversity
Numerous indigenous languages and dialects are used across provinces and communities. [17]
Commonly spoken languages
Bemba, Nyanja/Chewa, Tonga, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda and Luvale, among others. [17] [22]
Seven widely used Zambian languages
Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda and Luvale are often identified as seven major vernacular languages. [17]
Official-language distinction
The seven major local languages are not seven additional constitutional nationwide official languages; English is the official language. [13] [17]
Language policy
Other languages may be used in education and certain official proceedings as prescribed; the Constitution protects linguistic diversity. [13]
Ethnolinguistic communities
Bemba, Tonga, Lozi, Chewa/Nyanja, Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale and many other groups form Zambia’s diverse society. [17]
Religious profile
Christianity is the largest religion, alongside Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Indigenous religious and other communities. [6] [27]
National constitutional religious statement
The constitutional preamble describes Zambia as a Christian nation while expressly recognizing religious freedom. [13]
Religious freedom
The Constitution upholds freedom of conscience, belief and religion; constitutional self-description does not eliminate other faiths. [13]
Religious statistics source
ZamStats issued its final 2022 census religion descriptive tables in April 2026. [6]
Religious-data denominator caution
The published religion descriptive table displays 18,340,343 classified observations, not the full 19,693,423 counted in the revised census; percentages must identify their base. [6] [4]
Older religion estimate
The U.S. State Department cited a ZamStats estimate of 95.5% Christian and 2.7% Muslim in its 2022 report; it is not a recalculation from the 2026-issued census table. [27] [6]
Population age pattern
The national median age was 18.3 years in 2022, reflecting a large youth population. [5]
Rural–urban differences
2022 census: 55.3% rural and 44.7% urban, using the revised national total. [5]
Life expectancy
About 67 years in 2024 (World Bank), with national and international series subject to revision. [1]
Education system
Primary, secondary and tertiary education, with universities, technical colleges and vocational institutions. [2]
Major universities
University of Zambia in Lusaka, Copperbelt University and other public and private universities.
Healthcare delivery
Public and private clinics and hospitals serve cities and rural communities; health access remains uneven. [2]
HIV and public health
HIV prevention, maternal and child health, malaria control and rural health-service delivery are important policy priorities. [2]
Social development pressures
Employment, education, infrastructure, housing and health demands are shaped by a rapidly growing young population. [2]
Common foods
Nshima (maize-meal staple) eaten with vegetables, beans, fish, meat or relish; local dishes differ by region.
Agricultural cuisine
Cassava, groundnuts, leafy vegetables and seasonal crops have important roles in regional food systems.
Major sports
Football, athletics, boxing and other community and competitive sports. [21]
Cultural traditions
Traditional ceremonies, music, dance, crafts and oral histories are diverse across regional communities.
Prominent traditional ceremony
Kuomboka, associated with the Lozi and seasonal movement on the Barotse floodplain.
Tourism centers
Livingstone and Victoria Falls, South Luangwa and other national parks, Kafue and the Lower Zambezi. [15]
UNESCO World Heritage total
One inscribed property as of November 2026. [15]
UNESCO inscribed property
Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, a natural site shared with Zimbabwe, inscribed in 1989. [15]
UNESCO tentative list
14 tentative properties listed in 2026; tentative entries are not inscribed World Heritage sites. [15]
Wildlife and conservation
Elephants, large mammals, birdlife and habitats in national parks are central to conservation and ecotourism. [15]
Social inequality
2022 LCMS estimated poverty at 60.0% nationally, with a substantial rural–urban divide. [26]

Government and Institutions

System of government
Unitary multiparty presidential constitutional republic. [13] [22]
Head of state
President Hakainde Hichilema. [8]
Head of government
President Hakainde Hichilema; the presidency combines these executive functions. [13] [8]
Vice president
W.K. Mutale Nalumango, inaugurated for a second term September 1, 2026. [8] [9]
Prime minister
No separate office of prime minister in the current presidential executive system. [13]
President’s term
Second five-year term inaugurated September 1, 2026; constitutional and electoral provisions govern subsequent elections. [9] [13]
Ruling political party
United Party for National Development (UPND). [11] [8]
Latest presidential election date
August 13, 2026. [11]
Certified election declaration
Electoral Commission declared Hichilema the presidential winner on August 18, 2026. [10]
Official 2026 presidential votes
Hichilema: 2,965,326; Brian Mundubile: 1,856,217, according to the government’s announcement. [10]
Election dispute
Opposition leader Brian Mundubile rejected the 2026 presidential outcome; the IPU describes electoral tension and related legal proceedings. [11]
General-election context
The IPU records reports of disturbances around vote counting and concerns from an AU–COMESA observer mission; these concerns are attributed, not treated as adjudicated findings. [11]
Legislature
Unicameral National Assembly. [13] [11]
Current legislature
Fourteenth National Assembly, constituted following the 2026 general election. [12]
Election model introduced in 2025
Mixed-member arrangement combining single-member constituencies with proportional-representation seats. [14] [11]
Constituency seats after reform
226 constituency-based seats. [14] [11]
Proportional-representation seats
40 seats: 20 allocated to women, 15 to young people, and 5 to persons with disabilities. [14] [11]
Total elected seats
266 seats contested in the 2026 election. [11]
Maximum Assembly membership
Up to 280 including elected, nominated and certain ex officio or presiding positions; do not equate this with 280 directly elected seats. [11]
Main governing-party result
UPND won 160 of the 266 seats at stake, according to the IPU summary. [11]
Main opposition election result
National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) won 76 seats in the IPU summary. [11]
Parliamentary opening chronology
IPU records October 9, 2026 as the first session; Zambia’s National Assembly separately reports an October 2 sitting to elect presiding officers. [11] [12]
Speaker of National Assembly
Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti, re-elected October 2, 2026. [12] [11]
First Deputy Speaker
Malungo A. Chisangano, elected October 2, 2026. [12]
Second Deputy Speaker
Nshamba Mulondwe Muzungu, elected October 2, 2026. [12]
Council of Ministers
Cabinet appointed within the framework of executive and parliamentary constitutional rules. [13] [8]
Judicial institutions
Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and subordinate courts in the national judicial structure. [13]
Electoral administration
Electoral Commission of Zambia administers elections and relevant electoral procedures. [14] [10]
Local administration
Provincial, district and local councils with functions defined by law. [13] [4]
Number of provinces
10 provinces, not a federal-state structure. [4]
House of Chiefs
Constitutional consultative institution reflecting recognized traditional leadership. [13]
Traditional authorities
Chiefs and other customary institutions operate alongside statutory and constitutional administration. [13]
Government reference date
November 6, 2026; subsequent appointments or court decisions are not anticipated. [8] [12] [11]

2026 election and institutional update: Hakainde Hichilema was declared reelected and inaugurated for a second term; the opposition contested the result. The 2025 constitutional amendment replaced the former 156-constituency framework with 226 constituency seats and 40 proportional-representation seats. The National Assembly may comprise up to 280 members including specified additional positions, but only 266 seats were contested in the 2026 election. These are separate counts. [10] [9] [11] [14]

International Profile

United Nations
Member since December 1, 1964. [3]
African Union / OAU
Joined the Organization of African Unity on December 16, 1964, and subsequently belonged to its African Union successor. [19]
Southern African Development Community
Founding participant in the regional cooperation process that developed from SADCC into SADC. [17]
SADCC founding
Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference established in Lusaka in 1980. [18]
SADC Treaty
Regional treaty establishing SADC signed in 1992. [18]
World Trade Organization
Member since January 1, 1995. [16]
GATT participation
Joined the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade on February 10, 1982. [16]
COMESA
Participant in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa regional integration framework. [22]
Principal merchandise export market, 2024
Switzerland, 42.5% of goods exports in the WTO/UN Comtrade destination series. [7]
Second recorded goods export market, 2024
China, 20.8%. [7]
Third recorded goods export market, 2024
Democratic Republic of the Congo, 10.7%. [7]
Other 2024 export markets
South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe, Canada, Singapore, Tanzania and Namibia. [7]
Largest recorded imports source, 2024
South Africa, 25.7% of goods imports in the WTO/UN Comtrade series. [7]
Second recorded imports source, 2024
China, 17.0%. [7]
Trade corridor geography
Cross-border highways and rail links connect Zambia to Indian and Atlantic Ocean port systems through neighboring states. [22]
Water and energy cooperation
Shared Zambezi basin and Kariba hydropower infrastructure link Zambia with Zimbabwe. [24]
Regional transport issues
Border procedures, freight capacity, road maintenance and rail connectivity affect trade competitiveness. [22] [2]
International mining links
Global copper prices, trading centers, foreign mine ownership and investment shape export receipts and external accounts. [7] [2]
Debt restructuring partnerships
Government works with international creditors and financial institutions on fiscal and external debt stabilization. [2] [24]
Climate partnerships
International development finance and climate resilience support crop, energy, and livelihood adaptation. [28]
UNESCO World Heritage
One inscribed site, Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, jointly listed with Zimbabwe. [15]
UNESCO tentative nominations
Tentative sites include Bangweulu Wetlands, Barotse Cultural Landscape, Kalambo Falls and other proposed listings; none is additional inscription. [15]
Regional diplomatic role
Zambia has played a historical role in Southern African independence-era regional cooperation. [18]
Reference cutoff
November 6, 2026; 2025 World Bank macroeconomic figures, revised 2022 census, 2024 WTO trade, and post-election 2026 government information. [1] [4] [7] [11]

Sources and Methodology

Reviewed November 6, 2026. Six summary indicators use the World Bank's latest displayed 2025 country series where available and United Nations Statistics Division area and currency conventions. Zambia's national population enumeration is the revised final 2022 census published in February 2025; its demographic reference date is September 8, 2022. The economic tables use the WTO/UN Comtrade calendar-year 2024 goods series. Political offices and electoral institutions reflect the post-August 2026 election and October 2026 parliamentary sitting.

Definitions and cautions: The World Bank 2025 population is an estimate, not a 2025 census. Zambia's national poverty line and international US$3.00/day (2021 PPP) poverty measure are distinct. The 2025 modeled ILO unemployment estimate and Zambia's 2022 household-survey unemployment rate likewise differ in method and period. The ZamStats 2022 religion tabulation published in 2026 has a narrower tabulation denominator than the revised census total. Goods exports exclude service exports; the HS 2022 label specifies product-classification version, not year of export. Executive and legislative details require renewed review after the page-verification date.

  1. World Bank — Zambia country indicators — 2025 population, GDP, GDP per capita, real growth, inflation and modeled unemployment; 2024 life expectancy, energy access and forest figures.
  2. World Bank — Zambia country overview — 2026 economic developments, drought and energy risks, poverty, debt restructuring and regional trade geography.
  3. United Nations Statistics Division — Zambia country profile — Area, capital, currency, UN admission date and comparable demographic indicators; UN estimates may differ from World Bank vintage.
  4. Zambia Statistics Agency — Revised 2022 Census Population Summary Report, Volume II (February 2025) — Revised final 2022 census total; rural/urban and provincial counts, age and sex distribution and median age.
  5. Zambia Statistics Agency — World Population Day 2026 review — Official summary of 2022 census urbanization and median age.
  6. Zambia Statistics Agency — 2022 Census Religion Descriptive Tables, finalized April 2026 — 2022 census religion tabulations with their own classification denominator; avoid equating it to full census total.
  7. World Trade Organization — Zambia tariff and trade profile — Calendar-year 2024 goods exports, imports, destinations and HS-2022 classified products; trade values from UN Comtrade.
  8. Zambia State House — Cabinet of the Republic of Zambia — Current president, vice president and cabinet roster, as checked November 2026.
  9. Zambia Ministry of Foreign Affairs — President and vice president inaugurated September 1, 2026 — Reelected executive inauguration and second presidential term.
  10. Zambia State House — Official presidential election announcement, August 18, 2026 — Official 2026 presidential election totals and declaration date.
  11. Inter-Parliamentary Union — Zambia National Assembly election of August 13, 2026 — New 266 elective seats, maximum 280-member chamber, mixed-member voting and independently reported election dispute.
  12. National Assembly of Zambia — October 2, 2026 election of parliamentary presiding officers — Speaker Nelly Mutti and the first and second deputy speakers.
  13. Zambia Legal Information Institute — Constitution, consolidated through December 18, 2025 — Constitutional organization, official English language, religious liberty and unitary multiparty republic.
  14. National Assembly — Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2025 — December 2025 mixed-member electoral reform and parliamentary seat composition.
  15. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Zambia — One inscribed World Heritage property in 2026 and separate, uninscribed tentative-list entries.
  16. World Trade Organization — Zambia member profile — WTO membership since January 1, 1995 and earlier GATT participation.
  17. Southern African Development Community — Zambia member profile — Eight neighbors, language diversity, SADCC/SADC origins and independence date.
  18. Southern African Development Community — History and Treaty — Regional cooperation: SADCC founded in Lusaka in 1980 and SADC treaty signed in 1992.
  19. African Union — Member States and admission dates — Zambia joined the Organization of African Unity on December 16, 1964.
  20. Zambia State House — National Symbols — Flag, coat of arms and national anthem.
  21. Zambia Tourism — Zambia country facts — Central Africa Time, national motto, dialing code, flag and cultural reference.
  22. Zambia Maritime Administration — Country profile — Land-linked trade corridors, geography, language and government description.
  23. FAO GIEWS — Zambia country brief, April 2026 — 2025/26 crop recovery and agriculture’s exposure to electricity and climate shocks.
  24. IMF — Zambia Sixth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, January 2026 — Energy generation mix, the 2024 drought, fiscal risks and power-sector reform.
  25. Zambia Statistics Agency — 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey results — Official national unemployment estimate from the 2022 household survey.
  26. Zambia Statistics Agency — 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey report — 2022 national poverty rate of 60.0%, by rural and urban place of residence.
  27. U.S. Department of State — 2022 International Religious Freedom Report: Zambia — Older religious demographic estimates; separate from final 2022 census religion tables published in 2026.
  28. World Bank — Zambia Country Climate and Development Report announcement, April 2026 — Drought vulnerability, agriculture, energy, climate resilience and poverty risks.