The Zambia People With More Than 70 Languages Spoken!

About 90 percent of the Zambia people belong to tribes which speak Kaonde, Lunda, Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga and Luvale. In fact more than 70 Zambian languages are spoken!

The official language is English.

The Population Of Zambia

The preliminary results as at 27th January 2011 indicated that the Zambia population had increased to 13,046,508 from 9,885,591 recorded in the 2000 census.

The Central Statistical Office (CSO) acting director John Kalumbi, said that of the total population, 6,394,455 (49 percent) were males, whereas 6,652,053 (53 percent) were females.

Of the total population, 7,978,274 representing 61 percent, live in rural areas while 5,068,234 (39 percent) live in urban areas.

Lusaka province, according to figures released has surpassed the Copper belt as Zambia’s most populous province. Mr. Kalumbi reported that Lusaka had a population of 2, 198,996 followed by Copper belt province (1,958,623), Northern Province (1,759,600), Eastern Province (1,707,731) and Southern Province (1,606,793).

Other provinces recorded as follows: Central Province 1,267,803, Luapula 958,976, Western Province 881,524, and North-Western Province 706,462.

Music

Despite the modernized Zambia, many traditional instruments are still played. Here, you will find the hand piano – an instrument

mounted on a rectangular box and plucked by both hands - and of course the Zambian Drum.

However, the truth should be told here, the young generation has been swayed by the western world music and this has mainly been driven by a new crop of young Zambian musicians.

Clubs, taverns and any place of entertainment in Zambian towns have joined the modern westernized band wagon – this has even started encroaching the rural areas as well!

Zambian Religion

If you are a Christian coming to Zambia, then no worry - the country, in 1993 was declared as a Christian Nation by the second republican president, Frederick Chiluba (F.T.J).

In fact, Christians are by far the majority, followed by Islam and Hindu. There is still a minority which follows traditional beliefs.

Zambian Culture

The people of Zambia are renowned for their traditional ceremonies.

If you happen to come to this country, do not forget to sample the Zambian Culture. Enjoy with the locals in cerebrating Ukusefya Pang’wena, Likumbi Lya Mize, Shimunenga, Kulamba, Kuomboka…, take you pick!