Location: Landlocked country in Southern Africa surrounded by 8 countries i.e. Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.

Size: Area is 752,614 square kilometers (about one-fourth the size of India).

Population: About 13.881 million (July 2011-est.), 38% living in urban areas and 62% in rural areas. HIV/AIDS reduces population growth, infection rate is 13.5% in age group of 15-49 years.

Climate: Hot and dry from September-October; Warm and wet from November-April and cool and dry from May-August; temperature fluctuates between 5-34 degrees C.

Religion: Christians constitute 80% of population; Zambia was formally declared a Christian state in 1992 but has secular outlook.

Type of government: Democratic Republic (Multi-Party Democracy since 1991). Zambia has Presidential form of government. President appoints the Vice-President and other members of Cabinet who must be Members of National Assembly. Zambia has unicameral parliament with 158 members (8 are nominated by the President; Vice-President is the leader of the ruling party in the National Assembly).

Major Political Parties: The Patriotic Front (PF) is the ruling party and has 70 MPs (including 8 nominated members) in the house of 158. The remaining seats are held by Movement for Multi-party Democracy Party (MMD)-54, United Party for National Development (UPND)-29 and 5-Independents and Others. In the September 2011 elections, PF led by Michael Chilufya Sata defeated the incumbent President Rupiah Banda of MMD.

Economy: GDP growth: 6.6% (2010), 6.3% (2009), 5.7% (2008 ), 6.2% (2007) 6.2% (2006), 5.2% (2005).

GDP – US$15.691 (2009), US$ 14.8 billion (2008), US$ 11.54 billion (2007), US $10.70 billion (2006); GDP Per Capita (PPP) – US$1,291 (2007), US$ 1,360 (2008), US$1,433 (2009-est.).

External debt: US$1.2 billion (March 2010); US$ 3.3 billion (2009) and US$3.1 billion ( 2008).

Foreign Exchange Reserves - Zambia’s international reserves now stands at US$1.972 billion (September, 2010).

Exports –Zambia’s exports figures are US$7 billion (2010-est), US$4.3 billion(2009), US$ 4.95 billion (2008), US$ 4.51 billion (2007), US$ 3.92 billion (2006).

Main Export items: Copper, cobalt, cotton, sugar, tobacco, gemstones, timber and electricity.

Main export destinations: UK, South Africa, Tanzania, Switzerland, DRC, India, Belgium, Netherlands, Malawi and China. Although Zambia’s main traditional exports remain its metal and minerals (Copper and Cobalt), there is an advent of growth in the non-traditional exports of engineering products (electrical cables etc.) primary agricultural products, floriculture, leather, sugar, cement and textiles.

Imports: Zambia’s import figures are US$4.71 billion (2010-est), US$3.8 billion (2009), US$4.55 billion (2008), US$ 3.61 billion (2007), US$ 2.63 billion (2006), US$2.16 billion (2005).

Main items of Import: Crude oil, chemicals, machinery, iron and steel and manufactured goods;

Main sources of imports: South Africa, UK, UAE, China, India, and USA. South Africa is the main source of imports.

Consumer price Inflation: 8.5% (2010-est)9.9%(2009),16.6% (2008),8.9% (2007),8.2% (2006) as per their official figures, though in the past it has been hovering around 20% and has sometimes substantially exceeded this-it touched 50% in 1996. The main causes of this so far are lax fiscal policy, a weak exchange rate and inconsistent food supply (food prices are mainly determined by the success of each maize harvest).

Major Industry: Copper; semi-precious stones and cement.

Currency: Kwacha (US $1 = K. 5100/-)

Name of President: Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata

Name of Vice-President: Dr. Guy Scott

Name of Foreign Minister: Mr. Given Lubinda

Name of Defence Minister: Mr. Geoffrey B. Mwamba

National Day: October 24

Languages: Official language is English; important local languages are Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga and others.

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January 18, 2012