Land area

752,612 sq km

Population

12.94m (2009, IMF mid-year estimate)

Main towns

Population in '000, 2000 (Economist Intelligence Unit estimates based on actual data from the 1990 census and regional growth rates from the 2000 census)

Lusaka (capital): 1,432

Ndola: 536

Kabwe: 512

Kitwe: 373

Chingola: 173

Mufulira: 156

Luanshya: 152

Livingstone: 103

Climate

Tropical, cool on high plateaux

Weather in Lusaka (altitude 1,277 metres)

Hottest month, October, 18-31°C; coldest month, July, 9-23°C (average daily minimum and maximum); driest month, August, 0 mm average rainfall; wettest month, December, 231 mm average rainfall

Languages

English (official), Nyanja, Bemba, Tonga, Lozi and other local languages

Measures

Metric system

Time

2 hours ahead of GMT

Public holidays

New Year's Day (January 1st), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1st), Africa Day (May 25th), Heroes' Day (first Monday in July), Unity Day (first Tuesday in July), Independence Day (October 24th), Christmas (December 25th-26th)