Zambia

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Zambia is part of:
Africa · Eastern Africa · Southern Africa ·
Water Basins of Zambia:
Congo-Zaire · Zambezi ·

Facts & Figures

edit

Capital

Lusaka

Neighbouring Countries

Angola, Botswana, Congo , Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

Total Area

752,614 km²

- Water

11,890 km² (1.58%) / 158 m²/ha

- Land

740,724 km²

Coastline

0 km

Population

11,668,460 (15.5 inhab./km²)

HDI^A

0.453 (2007)

Gini Coefficient^A

50.8 (1995)

Nominal GDP^B

$15,230 million

GDP (PPP) Per Capita^B

$1,500

National UN Presence

FAO, UNDP, UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, WB, UNECA

Land Use^C

- Cultivated Land

52,073 km² (7.03%)

- Arable

51,777 km² (6.99%)

- Permanent Crops

296 km² (0.04%)

- Irrigated

1,560 km²

- Non cultivated

688,651 km² (92.97%)

Average Annual Rainfall^D

1020 mm

Renewable Water Resources^E

105.2 km³

Water Withdrawals^F	1.74 km³/yr
- For Agricultural Use	76%
- For Domestic Use	17%
- For Industrial Use	7%
- Per Capita	163 m³

Population with safe access to
- Improved Water Source	58%
- Urban population	90%
- Rural population	40%
- Improved Sanitation	55%
- Urban population	59%
- Rural population	52%

References & Remarks

^A UNDP Human Development Report

^B CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia

^C CIA World Factbook Country Profiles

^D Aquastat - FAO's Information System on Water and Agriculture

^E CIA World Factbook

^F Earthtrends

Latest 4 maps for / including Zambia (more..):

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1 News
2 Country Profile: Climate, Geography, Socio-Economic Context
3 Country Profile: Water Bodies and Resources
4 Country Profile: Legal and Institutional Environment
5 Country Profile: Water Sector Coordination
6 Country Profile: Trends in Water Use, Management and Sanitation
7 Country Profile: Challenges and Opportunities
8 Articles
9 Projects and Case Studies
10 Publications
11 Who is Who
12 References
13 See also
14 External Resources

News

Country Profile: Climate, Geography, Socio-Economic Context

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa surrounded by Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The country lies mainly in the Zambezi River basin, and partially in the Congo River basin in the north. Zambia has a population of 11.7 million (2006) and a surface area of 752,614 km². It sits on the high plateau of Central Africa at an average altitude of 1,200 metres, and enjoys a mild, subtropical climate. Annual average rainfall ranges from 600 mm in the south to 1,500 mm in the north.

Climate - Increasing Frequency of Extreme Events

A 2007 survey concluded that in the previous nine years, local communities had been exposed to extreme climatic variation that included droughts, floods, increased rain intensity, extreme heatwaves and a shorter rainy season. In fact, between 2000 and 2007 Zambia experienced unusually unstable weather, with a sequence of two flood years, two drought years and two years with normal rainfall. Figure 1.3 shows fluctuations in rainfall in Zambia between 1975 and 2006. Because of a lack of data, it is difficult to assess how such climate change will affect the country’s water resources

Country Profile: Water Bodies and Resources

Future Competition Among Sectors

Zambia’s surface water potential totals some 100 billion m3, with the Zambezi River contributing over 60% of the runoff. Consequently, as a major stakeholder in the Zambezi River Authority, along with Zimbabwe, Zambia is helping establish the Zambezi Watercourses Commission. Groundwater is also a major resource, especially during the dry season. Although no accurate assessment is available, the average renewable groundwater potential is estimated to be 49.6 billion m³. By far the largest user of water is hydropower generation. Of about 38.5 billion m³ of overall water withdrawal, 36.3 billion m³ is used to generate electricity for internal use and export to neighbouring countries. Some 70% of the country’s hydropower potential awaits development. There is as yet no real competition for water among the various sectors.

However, with irrigation expanding and awareness on environmental issues growing, water released from hydropower stations will need to be regulated so that the needs of agriculture and the environment are both served. The government recognizes the role of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in meeting the needs of all users, but successful application of the IWRM approach will require prioritizing investment and strengthening the capacity to manage national and transboundary water resources. Around 40% of Zambia’s population lives in urban settings. The capital, Lusaka, and the Copperbelt region in the north-west are the most densely populated areas. In 2005, 86% of people living in towns had access to safe water, compared with only 37% in rural areas. For the same year, just 13% of the rural population had access to improved sanitation, whereas there was 41% coverage in urban areas.

Zambia has good agricultural potential, with 56% of its surface arable. Only 14% of the arable land is farmed, and most cultivation is rain fed. Irrigated crops cover only about 1,000 km². The government established an Irrigation Development Fund in 2007 and is encouraging farming operations by making loans available at concessionary rates. However, agricultural development is hampered by insufficient financing, a lack of accurate data and capacity information on water resources, and inadequate market services and infrastructure.

Country Profile: Legal and Institutional Environment

The Water Act of 1948, the foundation of Zambia’s water legislation, deals with ownership, allocation and regulation of the nation’s surface water resources without covering groundwater or the transboundary aspects of rivers such as the Zambezi which constitute international boundaries.

To address these shortcomings, reforms have been undertaken since the early 1990s, including the adoption of the National Water Policy in 1994. It recognized water as an economic good, highlighted the important role of the water sector in overall socio-economic development, promoted water resources development through an integrated management approach and defined institutional responsibilities of stakeholders in the sector so as to achieve effective management and coordination. The policy also provided for adequate, safe and costeffective water supply and sanitation services while assuring environmental protection.

In carrying out its reforms in the water sector, the Government of Zambia started with the water supply and sanitation subsector, enacting the Water Supply and Sanitation Act in 1997. It later turned to the water resources management subsector with the Water Resources Action Programme in 2001. The programme developed a Water Resources Management Bill, a new Water Resources Institutional Framework, an improved Water Resources Management Information System and a draft action plan on addressing challenges related to water resources. Moreover, the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP, 2006–2010) is specifically geared towards applying IWRM nationwide. To assist in carrying out the water-related programmes in the FNDP, in 2008 the government adopted an IWRM and water efficiency implementation plan, with crucial stakeholder participation (which also took place when the FNDP was being drawn up). These processes are intended to help Zambia plan and manage its water resources to further socio-economic development.

Stakeholder participation was also secured through the formation of the Water Sector Advisory Group, which consists of four subsector advisory groups: (a) water supply and sanitation, (b) water resources management, (c) water resources infrastructure development, and (d) monitoring, evaluation and capacity building. The subsector groups provide for inclusion of stakeholders from outside the water sector, such as the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, which chairs the subgroup on monitoring, evaluation and capacity building. Inclusion of outside stakeholders in planning and decision-making is important for achieving an integrated approach to water management and for long term sustainability of decisions (see Chapter 15, Section 5 in the third edition of the World Water Development Report).