NationMaster - Zambian Economy statistics

Agriculture > products corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava; cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
Aid as % of GDP	27.3%	[5th of 129]
Debt > External	$2,596,000,000.00	[111st of 136]
Distribution of family income > Gini index	50.8	[3rd of 43]
Economic freedom	1.5	[127th of 156]
Economy > Overview Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Zambia experienced a bumper harvest in 2007, which helped to boost GDP and agricultural exports and contain inflation. Although poverty continues to be significant problem in Zambia, its economy has strengthened, featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.
Exports	$4,594,000,000.00	[102nd of 189]
GDP	$10,907,090,000.00	[94th of 203]
GDP > PPP	$9,706,000,000.00	[125th of 163]
GDP > Real growth rate	6%	[77th of 198]
GDP growth > annual %	5.2 annual %	[72nd of 187]
GINI index	50.8	[4th of 40]
Gross National Income	$3,328,150,000.00	[116th of 172]
Human Development Index	0.394	[167th of 178]
Income category	Low income
Income distribution > Poorest 10%	1.1%	[102nd of 114]
Income distribution > Richest 10%	41%	[16th of 114]
Population under $1 a day	63.6	[4th of 59]
Poverty > Share of all poor people	0.58 % of world's poor	[21st of 80]
Public debt	28.1 % of GDP	[74th of 121]

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SOURCES: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; calculated on the basis of data on ODA from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Development Assistance Committee. 2002. DAC Online. Database. Paris.; and data on GDP from World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; The Heritage Foundation; World Development Indicators database and CIA World Factbook; World Bank. 2005. World Development Indicators 2005.; World Development Indicators database; ; Human Development Report 2006, United Nations Development Programme; ; World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC; World Bank 2002b via backone.pdf; Country Responsibilities in Achieving the Millenium Development Goals", April 8 2003, by Janice Poling

ALTERNATIVE NAMES: Zambia, Republic of Zambia

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COMMENTARY

Edria Murray
Staff Editor
28th April 2005

In response to Becky:

Deciding which country is the poorest depends on how you measure wealth. In terms of per capita GDP, which is the total value of goods and services produced. Zambia is the 30th poorest country (this statistic includes ten territories which have no GDP). As the prices of goods and services varies between countries PPP (Purchasing power parity) GDP measures should be used. Using this criteria the Democratic republic of Congo is the poorest country and Zambia is twelfth.

Other methods of determining poverty include:

The proportion of people living on less than $US1 per day. Using this criteria Gambia is the poorest country and Zambia is tenth. This measurement can be misleading as a rural peasant who owns a small piece of land and some animals eg 2 goats and 4 chickens may have little or no cash income but still have sufficient food and shelter.

The proportion of the population living below the poverty line. Using this criteria Zambia is the poorest country.

The amount of time a person needs to work to buy a loaf of bread

The proportion of children who are underweight.

The United Nations Human Development Index which measures many criteria including life expectency, literacy, access to healthcare services, access to sanitation and clean drinking water as well as GDP. Using this criteria Sierra Leone is the poorest country and Zambia is twentieth.

Any measure of wealth is incomplete on its own. To gain a balanced overview several of these measures should be consulted and compared. In conclusion, Zambia is one of the world's poorest countries, but it is difficult to define one country as the poorest.

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