Location: Southern Africa
Capital: Lusaka
Border countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Total area: 752 614 km2 (2.5 percent of the area of Africa), comprising 740 724 km2 (land) and 11 890 km2 (water)
Highest point: Mafinga Hills (2 301 metres)
Lowest point: Zambezi river (329 metres)
Climate: Subtropical with three distinct seasons. May to August is cool and dry September to October is hot and dry, and November to April is warm and wet
Population: 12.2 million (2008 estimate)
Ethnic groups: 98 percent African (Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi and Tonga), with the remaining 2 percent comprising Asian and European
Religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, traditional beliefs
Languages: English (official); indigenous African languages, of which there are more than 70, include Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja and Tonga
2008 Public Holidays:
| 1 January | New Years Day | | 10 March | Youth Day | | 21 March | Good Friday | | 24 March | Easter Monday | | 1 May | Labour Day | | 25 May | African Freedom Day | | 7 July | Heroes Day | | 8 July | Unity Day | | 4 August | Farmers Day | | 24 October | Independence Day | | 25 December | Christmas Day | | |
Weights and measures: Metric system
Electricity: Local current is 220v, 50 cycle AC
Time difference: GMT +02:00
Currency: Zambian Kwacha (ZMK); 1 kwacha = 100 ngwee, with notes in denominations of 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10 000, 20 000 and 50 000 |
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Basic Facts 
