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Geography of Zambia

Location:Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates:15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 752,614 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km
water: 11,890 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 location 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)
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

Zambia Quickstats

  • Population: 11,477,447
  • Area: 752,614 sq km
  • Density: 16 /km² (191st)
  • GDP (total): $10.792 billion (133rd)
  • GDP (per capita): $931 (168th)
  • Literacy: 80.6%

Languages of Zambia

Useful to know

  • Currency: Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
  • Dial code: +260

International Trade

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