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GeographyLocation
Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area World Ranking: 39
Total 752,618 sq km
Land 743,398 sq km Water 9,220 sq km Area - comparative
Slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries
Total 5,664 km
Border countries Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
None (landlocked)
Climate
Tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) Terrain
Mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains Elevation extremes
Lowest point Zambezi river 329 m
Highest point Unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m Natural resources
Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower Land use
Arable land 6.99%
Permanent crops 0.04% Other 92.97% (2005) Irrigated land
1,560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources
105.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
Total 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%)
Per capita 149 cu m/yr (2000) Natural hazards
Periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April) Environment - current issues
Air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks Environment - international agreements
Party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Signed, but not ratified None of the selected agreements Geography - note
Landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)
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Zambia (Lusaka):
 
GPS points from Zambia (Lusaka)
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The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his Vice President Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential by-election in October 2008. Michael SATA was elected President in September 2011.