Zambia: Resource-rich but vulnerable to shocks

Zambia, located in the north of Southern Africa and home to fewer than 18 million people, has built its development model on the abundance of natural, mainly mineral, resources. The country ranks as Africa’s second and the world’s tenth largest copper producer. In addition, the country has a wealth of water resources – which it exploits to generate over 80% of the country’s electricity as hydropower – and high agricultural potential. Although the Zambian economy now rests largely on the tertiary sector, it remains vulnerable to shocks that affect its traditional sectors.