Zambia is a country in Eastern Africa, one of the 20 entries this site files under that subregion. Treaties and official documents call it Republic of Zambia. Government sits in Lusaka.
The land area is 752,612 km², which ranks it 40th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Chile and just ahead of Myanmar. That makes it a fraction smaller than Türkiye.
The population is about 21.3 million, placing it 63rd of 250 by population — between Malawi above it and Kazakhstan below. Within Eastern Africa alone it is the 4th largest of 20 and the 8th most populous.
The lie of the land
The coordinates the dataset gives are 15.0° S, 30.0° E, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 1,670 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Bolivia, Vanuatu and French Polynesia sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
8 countries share a land border with it: Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The largest of them by area is DR Congo, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 294.2 million people.
This is one of the world's landlocked countries. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, and it means every shipment in or out has to cross someone else's border first. 3 of its neighbours, Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe, are landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
How crowded Zambia is, and what is spoken there
Population divided by land area gives roughly 28 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
The one official language is English. Another 90 entries list English too — among them American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda and Australia.
The demonym is Zambian, so residents are Zambians.
Against Africa as a whole it is the 22nd most populous of 59 entries, and it accounts for 4.4% of everyone living in Eastern Africa.
Money, codes and practical details
It uses the Zambian kwacha (ZK, ZMW). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Zambia, the answer is Lusaka.
The top-level domain is .zm. The international dialling code is +260. In ISO terms it is zm in two letters and ZMB in three.
Zambia is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Zambia shares borders with 8 countries:
Fun facts about Zambia
- Its capital city is Lusaka.
- It shares land borders with 8 countries: Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
- The Zambian kwacha is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- Within Eastern Africa it is the 4th largest of 20.
- People from Zambia are known as Zambians.
- In land area it is a fraction smaller than Türkiye.
Zambia — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Zambia?
- The capital of Zambia is Lusaka.
- Which countries border Zambia?
- Zambia borders 8 countries: Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. DR Congo is the largest of them by area.
- What language is spoken in Zambia?
- The official language of Zambia is English. It is also official in 90 other entries on this list.
- How big is Zambia?
- Zambia covers 752,612 km², ranking 40th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Türkiye.
- Is Zambia a country?
- Yes. Zambia is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What is the population of Zambia?
- Zambia has a population of about 21.3 million, which makes it the 63rd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Malawi sits just above it and Kazakhstan just below.
- Is Zambia landlocked?
- Yes. Zambia has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- Where is Zambia located?
- Zambia is in Eastern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 15.0° south and 30.0° east, roughly 1,670 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- What currency does Zambia use?
- Zambia uses the Zambian kwacha, written ZK (currency code ZMW). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
