“The heart of Africa”

Zambia is a landlocked country located in southern Africa, surrounded by eight neighboring countries. The land area of Zambia is more than twice the size of Germany.

Zambia became independent in 1964. It was previously a British colony and, together with Zimbabwe, was known as “Rhodesia”.

It is internationally renowned for its magnificent national parks, the large copper mining regions in the north and the huge Victoria Falls, which Zambia shares with Zimbabwe.

Zambia's economy is mainly based on the mining and export of copper. At the same time, the country is heavily indebted and dependent on international aid. In 2020, Zambia was the first country in Africa to declare its insolvency to international creditors. The national currency is the Zambian Kwacha, ZMK.

People

19 million inhabitants,
Median age: 17 years

The inhabitants of Zambia are divided into different ethnic groups, known locally as “tribes”, which are decisive for the affiliation and identification of the people. As a result, 72 languages are spoken in the country; English is the official language and predominates in schools and public institutions.

Of Zambia’s 19 million inhabitants, 97% describe themselves as Christian and around 1% are Muslim. There are small numbers of immigrants from India and Lebanon, and the country is now also home to many people from China, who have come to the country mainly for construction projects in cooperation between the Chinese and Zambian governments. This is a constant source of conflict.

The population is one of the youngest in the world, with 50% under the age of 17.

Nature and climate

Tropical, mild climate

There are three seasons: The hot dry season in October and November, the mild rainy season from December to April and the cold and also dry season from May to September. During the hot dry season, the temperature in Zambia’s capital Lusaka is usually around 32°c during the day, while in winter it averages around 15°c.

Zambia has various bodies of water, especially in the north and east, such as the Zambezi River, Lake Kariba and the Victoria Falls. Nevertheless, this cannot compensate for the prolonged droughts and insufficient rainfall that people, animals and agriculture have been suffering from for several years, especially in the south. Climate change is becoming increasingly noticeable for people here in their everyday lives.

Education

Many illiterate people, high costs

Depending on the study, the illiteracy rate in Zambia is said to be around 55% of the total population, and half of primary school pupils leave school without any qualifications. Although school fees for state elementary school were officially abolished in 2022, school attendance is still not affordable for many families (see FAQ).

Officially, school attendance is compulsory in Zambia for children up to the age of 14, but in practice this is not enforced or implemented. The Zambian school system is adapted to the British school system, so English is the predominant language of instruction.
There are eight universities with around 114,000 students in the country. Due to high tuition fees, studying is generally reserved for the upper classes.

Insights into a country full of contrasts

In Zambia, the difference between rich and poor is more extreme than almost anywhere else in the world:

According to the Gini index, Zambia is among the four countries with the greatest inequality within a society – worldwide!