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Zambia
Overview
| Flag |  |
| Anthem | Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free Watch on youtube (with lyrics in video description) |
| Capital | Lusaka |
| Largest city | Lusaka |
| Official language(s) | English |
| Demonym(a name for a resident of a locality, often the same as the name of the people's native language) | Zambian |
| Government | Republic |
| Area | 752,618 km2, 290,587 sq mi |
| Population | ~ 13 million |
| Currency | Zambian kwacha (ZMK) |
| Internet TLD | .zm |
Geography
Society and culture
The culture of Zambia is mainly indigenous(native to a region) Bantu culture mixed with European influences.
Population
Zambia is a most highly urbanised(pertaining to city life) country. Its population is mainly concentrated around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt to the northwest. Unemployment(the phenomenon of joblessness in an economy) in these urban areas is a serious problem. Most rural Zambians however are farmers. The population comprises approximately 72 ethnic groups, most of which are Bantu-speaking. Almost 90% of Zambians belong to the nine main ethnic groups: the Nyanja-Chewa, Bemba, Tonga, Tumbuka, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, Nkoya and Lozi.
Languages
The official language of Zambia is English. It is used to conduct(to lead; to manage) official business and is the medium of instruction in schools. The main local language, especially in Lusaka, is Nyanja. However, Bemba and Nyanja are spoken in the urban areas in addition to many other indigenous languages. All in all, there are up to 72 different languages spoken in Zambia.
Religion
According to the 1996 constitution, Zambia is officially a Christian nation. Still, a wide variety of religious traditions exist in the country. Approximately 5% of the population are Muslims with most living in urban areas. There is also a small Jewish community.
Government and politics
Zambian politics take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. The President of Zambia is both head of state and head of government in a multi-party system. The government exercises executive(being responsible for enforcing laws and judicial decisions, and for the day-to-day running of the state) power, while legislative(being responsible for making laws) power is vested(settled; fixed) in both the government and parliament.
Economy
About 68% of Zambians live below the recognised national poverty line(the threshold of poverty, below which one's income does not cover necessities). The country is among the world's poorest nations. Corruption is widespread. The Zambian economy has historically been based on the copper mining industry. The government now tries to promote agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining and hydro-power. In 2003, exports of nonmetals increased by 25% and accounted for 38% of all export earnings.
Source: http://www.learning-english-online.net/cultural-studies/english-speaking-countries/zambia/
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