Facts and stats

Zambia is a landlocked African country and covers an area of 752,614 square kilometres.

It boarders the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Capital city: Lusaka

Population: 13.8 million

Adult literacy: 71%

Life expectancy: 52

Language: English

Religions: Christianity, Hindu and Muslim

Tourism: Approximately 60,000 visitors from the UK alone each year, many go on Safari or visit Victoria Falls

In 1964, when the country gained independence, it was the second richest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, next only to South Africa.

Copper was at the heart of the country’s wealth and in the late 1960s Zambia was the third largest producer of the metal after the America and the Soviet Union. Despite this promise for the future when copper prices collapsed in the 1970s the effects on the economy were devastating.

Today, the future is looking brighter for Zambia as the copper output is growing once again; however, the World Bank is urging the country to develop other sources of income through tourism and agriculture.

Despite the improving economy the country remains incredibly poor with 68% of Zambians living below the World Bank poverty threshold of $1 a day.

Although Zambia has one of the largest fresh water resources in Africa, water supply coverage is poor, 40% in rural areas and 90% in urban areas. Sanitation ranges from 51% in rural areas and 55% in urban areas, which is why WaterAid is working to improve the lives of those living in Zambia.