Unique Country Features

CLIMATE: Tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (Oct-Apr).

GEOGRAPHIC: Landlocked; the Zambezi River forms a natural riverine boundary with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

NATURAL

RESOURCES: Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, emeralds, gold, hydropower.

POPULATION: 10,307,000m.

LANGUAGES: English (official), major vernaculars – Bemba, Lozi, Kaonde, Chewa, Tonga, Lunda, Luvale, and about 70 other indigenous languages.

LITERACY: Male 86.8%, Female 74.8%.

RELIGIONS: Christian 85%, Traditionalists 12.6%, Muslim 1.40%, Hindu 0.14%, Other 0.40%.

LANGUAGES WITH

SCRIPTURES: 15 Bib., 8 NT.

CHALLENGES: Despite progress in privatisation and budgetary reform Zambia’s economic growth remains below the 7% necessary to reduce poverty significantly. Half the population lives in poverty and the impact of the AIDS pandemic has left high levels of orphans. The current government has put a high priority on fighting corruption and developing the agricultural sector.