and growing foreign debt. Economic difficulties stem from a
chronically depressed level of copper production and ineffective
economic policies. In 1991 real GDP fell by 2% and in 1992 by 3% more.
An annual population growth of 3% has brought a decline in per capita
GDP of 50% over the past decade. A high inflation rate has also added
to Zambia's economic woes in recent years.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.3 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-2.8% (1992)
National product per capita:
$800 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
191% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$665 million
expenditures:
$767 million, including capital expenditures of $300 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
partners:
EC countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India
Imports:
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufactures
partners:
EC countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US
External debt:
$7.6 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -2% (1991); accounts for 40% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
2,775,000 kW
production:
12 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
1,400 kWh (1991)
Industries:
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer
Agriculture:
accounts for 12% of GDP and 85% of labor force; crops - corn (food
staple), sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco, cotton,
sugarcane, cassava; cattle, goats, beef, eggs
Illicit drugs:
role as regional transshipment center for mandrax and heroin
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $4.8 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.8
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communist
countries (1970-89), $533 million
Currency:
1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 344.8276 (October 1993), 156.25 (1992),
61.7284 (1991), 28.9855 (1990), 12.9032 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

@Zambia, Communications

Railroads:
1,266 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double track
Highways:
total:
36,370 km
paved:
6,500 km
unpaved:
crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 7,000 km; improved, unimproved
earth