Irrigated land: 460 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)

Environment-current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography-note: landlocked

@Zambia:People

Population: 9,460,736 (July 1998 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 49% (male 2,342,043; female 2,316,357) 15-64 years: 48% (male 2,244,251; female 2,326,159) 65 years and over: 3% (male 106,950; female 124,976) (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.13% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 44.6 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)