Monday, September 3, 2007
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Land area: 285,994 sq mi (740,724 sq km)
Population (2006 est.): 11,502,010 (growth rate: 2.1%); birth rate: 41.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 86.8/1000; life expectancy: 40.0; density per sq mi: 40
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Lusaka, 1,773,300 (metro. area), 1,265,000 (city proper)
Other large cities: Ndola, 349,300; Kitwe, 306,200; Kabwe, 219,600, Chingola, 151,100
Monetary unit: Kwacha
Languages: English (official); major vernaculars: Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga; about 70 other indigenous languages
Ethnicity/race: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions: Christian 50%–75%, Islam and Hindu 24%–49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Zambia is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most highly urbanized countries. Approximately 50 percent of the country’s 10.2 million people are concentrated in a few urban zones strung along the major transportation corridors. Unemployment and underemployment are serious problems. Compared to other African countries, Zambia has a relatively low per capita income at $385 U.S. (2001). It has a mixed economy with an urban public sector dominated by government, nonprofit NGOs, and parastatal organizations (many of which have been privatized or are being privatized), and a predominately private rural agricultural sector. Maize (corn) is the principal cash crop as well as a staple.