Life in Zambia

Zambia is currently ranked 154 out of 191 countries and territories in the Human Development Index (HDI). Around 61% of the population lives below the international poverty line ($2.15 USD a day).

The World Food Programme estimates that one million people in Zambia have insufficient food consumption and, with survival taking precedence over education, many of Zambia's primary school-aged children drop out of school early.

Zambia is a landlocked country situated on a plateau in South-central Africa. It takes its name from the Zambezi River, which starts in Zambia and flows through countries including Angola, Namibia and Botswana, before meeting the Indian Ocean. Zambia is bordered by Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Angola to the west, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to the south, and Malawi to the east.  Zambia has a mostly humid, sub-tropical climate with an average rainfall of 34 inches per year (falling mostly in December). It is mostly high, flat terrain and less than 5% of the land is suitable for farming crops.

The country suffers from high rates of malnutrition, poverty and food insecurity. For those children who are able to attend school, one million go to class hungry.