COUNTRY:  ZAMBIA

STATISTICS:

Population:                        10.4 million

Infant mortality rate:          98.4deaths/                                                   1000births

Life expectancy:                35.18 years

Literacy (15 years               80%

and above):                       

GDP per capita:                 Approx. $395

     Once a middle income country, the Republic of Zambia is now among the poorest nations in the world.  The country relied heavily on the production of copper for income and with the falling prices in the 1970's, Zambia slid into poverty.  The Zambian government is currently pursuing economic diversification to exploit other natural resources such as agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining and hydro power. 

     Slightly larger than Texas, the Republic of Zambia is located in south central Africa sharing its borders with Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.  The

terrain is mostly high plateaus with hills and mountains.

      Over 70% of the people in Zambia live in poverty.  The country is growing economically but cannot support the rapid population growth.  AIDS is one of the nations greatest challenges with 16% of the population being afflicted.  Not only does this affect life expectancy, but it places strain on the government's resources due to rising medical costs and decline in worker productivity.  Unfortunately, HIV is expected to continue to ravage the economic, political, cultural and social development of Zambia.  Click here to read how WER donors are helping Zambia.