Economy of Zambia
Economy of Zambia
Currency
Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Trade
organisations
WTO, SADC
Statistics
GDP
$15.93 billion (2007)
GDP growth
6.0% (2007)
GDP per capita $1400 (2007)
GDP by sector
agriculture: 22%, industry:
29%, services: 48.9% (2007)
Inflation (CPI)
8% (2007)
Population
below poverty
line
65% (2007)
Labour force
4.8 million (2005)
Labour force
by occupation
agriculture: 85%, industry:
6%, services: 9%
Unemployment 50% (2000)
Main
industries
copper mining and
processing, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, fertilizer,
horticulture
External
Exports
$5.6987 billion f.o.b. (2005)
Export goods
copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt,
electricity; tobacco, flowers,
cotton, copper cables,
Maize, Sugar.
Main export
partners
South Africa 24.2%,
Switzerland 13.7%, China
12.4%, Tanzania 6.9%,
Democratic Republic of the
Congo 6.6%, Zimbabwe
5.5%, Thailand 4.7% (2005)
Imports
$1.934 billion f.o.b. (2005)
Import goods
machinery, transportation
equipment, petroleum
products, electricity,
fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Main import
partners
South Africa 53.1%, UAE
8.6%, Zimbabwe 6.9%, UK
4.1% (2005)
Public finances
Public Debt
$1 billion (2005)
Revenues
$1.688 billion (2008)
Expenses
$1.866 billion (2005)
Economic aid
recipient: $640.6 million
(2002)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US
dollars
Zambian exports in 2006
Zambia is one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s
most highly urbanized countries. About one-
half of the country’s 11.5 million people are
concentrated in a few urban zones strung
along the major transportation corridors,
while
rural
areas are under-populated.
Unemployment and underemployment are
serious problems. Per capita annual incomes
are currently at about two-thirds of their
levels at independence, and at $1400, place
the country among the world’s poorest na-
tions. Social indicators continue to decline,
particularly in measurements of life expect-
ancy at birth (about 50 years) and maternal
and infant mortality (85 p