Zambia Country Overview
Where is Zambia located? Zambia, or “Republic of Zambia” is located in southern Africa and is completely surrounded by other countries. This state owes its name to the Zambezi River that runs through it. The time zone map indicates that Zambia is in a world time zone called “Central Africa Time”. In this time zone there is a time difference of 2 hours to the world clock. Accordingly, clocks in Zambia are 2 hours later than the world clock (UTC+2). It stays with a time difference of 2 hours all year round.
Bordering Countries of Zambia
According to abbreviationfinder, Zambia is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, bordered by eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west. Zambia has a wide variety of landscapes from its high plateau in the north and its sprawling savannahs in the south.
Zambia shares strong economic ties with its bordering countries due to its strategic location at the heart of sub-Saharan Africa. Trade between Zambia and its neighbours is essential for both sides, with Zimbabwe being Zambia’s largest trading partner. In addition, there are also strong cultural ties between Zambia and its neighbouring countries due to their shared history and culture.
The relationship between Zambia and its neighbours is mostly friendly despite occasional disputes over matters such as border control or illegal immigration. In recent years there have been efforts by both sides to improve relations as well as increased trade between them for mutual benefit. For example, Zambia has signed several free trade agreements with neighbouring countries that have helped boost economic growth in both nations. Furthermore, there have been efforts by all sides to promote regional stability through joint military exercises or peacekeeping operations in conflict zones such as Angola or Rwanda.
Angola is located to the west of Zambia and is the largest country in southern Africa. It has a population of over 30 million people and is a former Portuguese colony. The economy of Angola is heavily dependent on its vast oil reserves, which are some of the largest in the world. Angola also has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional music, dance and art forms that have been passed down through generations.
The relationship between Zambia and Angola has been largely peaceful since independence in 1975. There have been occasional disputes over border control or illegal immigration but both countries have worked together to resolve these issues amicably. There is also increasing trade between the two countries, with Zambia exporting copper and other minerals to Angola while Angola exports oil and natural gas to Zambia. In addition, both countries have signed several agreements related to political cooperation, economic development and security cooperation that help promote regional stability.
Population Distribution
As of 2023, the latest population of Zambia is 17,426,623, based on our calculation of the current data from UN (United Nations).
| Total population | 17,426,623 |
| Population growth rate | 2.89% |
| Birth rate | 41.50 births per 1,000 people |
| Life expectancy | |
| Overall life expectancy | 51.51 years |
| Men life expectancy | 49.93 years |
| Women life expectancy | 53.14 years |
| Age structure | |
| 0-14 years | 45.95% |
| 15-64 years | 51.74% |
| 65 years and above | 2.31% |
| Median age | 16.70 years |
| Gender ratio (Male to Female) | 1.00 |
| Population density | 23.15 residents per km² |
| Urbanization | 35.70% |
| Ethnicities | |
| 73 ethnic groups (especially Bantu): 36% Bemba, 18% Nyanja (including Chichewa, Nsenga, Ngoni), 15% Tonga (including Lenje, Soli, Ila), 10% Northwest group (Luvale, Lunda, Kaonde), 8% Barotse (including | |
| Religions | |
| Christians 50% -75%, Muslims and Hindu 24% -49%, indigenous religions 1% | |
| Human Development Index (HDI) | 0.591 |
| HDI ranking | 143th out of 194 |
People in Zambia
About 14.5 million people live in Zambia, the Zambians. Women in Zambia have an average of 5.3 children. One speaks of a high birth rate. On the other hand, there is also a high death rate among children. Two out of every 100 babies die at birth, four by the age of one and six by the age of five.
On average, people live to be only 52 years old. Almost half of Zambia’s population is under 15 years of age. Very few people live to be older than 65 years. In Zambia too, as in many other South African countries, many people have contracted AIDS. That is why the country’s death rate is so high and why so few people live really old.
Bemba, Tonga and many more
Most of the Zambians belong to the Bantu people. There are many different groups here, 73 in total. The largest group is the Bemba. This includes 21 out of 100 Zambians. 13 out of 100 are Tonga. Chewa live in the east of the country. Lozi (or Rotse) and Nsenga are the next two largest groups. They both live in the south of Zambia. Many other ethnic groups live in the country. Only 1 percent of the population come from Europe and India.
Languages in Zambia
The official language of Zambia is English. This is a legacy from the colonial days when the British ruled here. English is spoken in administration, in schools and on television and radio. In the larger cities, too, many people speak English.
However, the further you go into the country, the fewer people will speak English that you can understand. Here the Bantu peoples speak their own language. Bemba and Nyanja are the most common languages. A total of 43 languages are spoken in Zambia.
Religions in Zambia
Almost all Zambians follow the Christian faith. 75 out of 100 people are Protestants, 20 are Catholics. But many Zambians also live their old natural religions. So it is not a problem to be a Christian, but still believe in the old gods or spirits. The Tumbuka people in the east of Zambia, for example, live the Vimbuza cult with worship of ancestors and spirits as well as ceremonies of possession.