The most interesting facts about Zambia, from the world’s largest curtain of falling water to near-blind rats that can sense magnetic fields.
Fast facts
Official name: Republic of Zambia
Capital city: Lusaka
Population: 20,799,116
Area: 752,618 sq km
Major languages: English, Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga
Time zone: UTC+2 (Central Africa Time)
Interesting facts about Zambia
1. Zambia is a landlocked country located in Africa. A landlocked nation is enclosed by land with no access to the open sea.
2. In 1921, the Broken Hill skull was discovered in Zambia. Estimated to be about 299,000 years, the skull is one of the best-preserved fossils of an ancient human species called Homo heidelbergensis.
3. It is believed that modern humans, Homo sapiens, have inhabited the region since 20,000 BC.
4. Zambia has one of the world’s fastest-growing populations with the UN projecting that its population will triple by 2050 from 13 million in 2011.
5. In 1889, Britain established control over Zambia calling it Northern Rhodesia after a man called Cecil Rhodes. Rhodes and his British South Africa Company used a British mandate to lead the colonization of Zambia and Zimbabwe during the 19th century.
6. In 1964, Northern Rhodesia gained independence and was renamed Zambia, ending 73 years of British rule.
7. Zambia has successfully avoided the war and turmoil that have characterized the post-colonial years of many African nations. Consequently, Zambia has earned a reputation for political stability.
8. In Zambia, it’s possible to see the celebrated ‘big five’ game animals of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.
9. Zambia boasts 20 national parks and reserves, 34 game management areas and protects over 30% of its land.
10. It’s thought that Zambia has more than 70 languages, although many of them are considered dialects. Other than English, all of Zambia’s major languages are members of the Bantu family.
11. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer after DR Congo and the world’s ninth-largest.
12. Zambia’s flag has a green background with an orange eagle and vertical stripes of red, black and orange at the fly end. The eagle in flight symbolizes freedom and the ability of the country to rise above challenges.
13. The African fish eagle depicted in the flag is also Zambia’s national symbol.
See how Zambia’s flag compares to other African flags.
14. Zambia is home to the UNESCO-listed Victoria Falls in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – the world’s largest curtain of falling water. The falls span the entire breadth of the Zambezi River at more than 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) wide and drop approximately 108 meters (354 feet). Zambia shares the falls with Zimbabwe.
15. The falls were named in 1855 after the British Queen Victoria, by Scottish explorer David Livingstone. They are known locally by the Kalolo-Lozi people as Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders.”
16. In 2019, the Victoria Falls diminished to just a trickle of water following the worst drought in the region for a century.
17. The Victoria Falls are home to the Devil’s Pool, a natural pool that can be safely swum in during the dry season. At first glance, the pool looks extremely dangerous but due to an underwater lip, it’s actually quite safe.
18. Zambia is also home to the second-highest waterfall in Africa after the Tugela Falls in South Africa. At 221m (725ft), Kalambo Falls is twice as high as Victoria Falls.
19. Zambia is part-home to the world’s largest artificial lake by volume. Lake Kariba lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and has a water capacity of 180 km3.
20. Zambia is home to the near-blind species of Ansell’s mole-rats which can sense magnetic fields with their eyes, according to a recent study. The mole-rats also live in complex underground tunnel systems of up to 2.8km (1.7mi) long.
21. Zambia’s name derives from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with Zimbabwe.
22. In 2017, Zambia’s planning minister announced plans to move the country’s capital city from Lusaka in the south of the country to a village called Ngabwe. Ngabwe, located in the center of the country, has no proper roads or infrastructure and frequently floods. As of 2020, the capital remains in Lusaka.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.