Provinces of Zambia
Zambia is divided into ten provinces. The provinces are further subdivided into districts. The Provincial Administration is headed by a Provincial Minister, who is appointed by the President, and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of government policies and coordinating the activities of various government departments within the province. The Provincial Minister is supported by a Provincial Permanent Secretary, who handles the day-to-day administration. Each province has a Provincial Development Coordinating Committee that plays a key role in development planning and coordinating projects within the province.
The current provinces were established following Zambia's independence in 1964, although their borders and functions have evolved over time to support the country’s decentralization efforts.
Administration
The provincial government in Zambia is primarily established for administrative purposes. Each province is headed by a Provincial Minister appointed by the President, who oversees the implementation of national policies and government programs at the provincial level. The administrative head of each province is the Provincial Permanent Secretary, also appointed by the President, who is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the province. Supporting the Permanent Secretary are the Deputy Permanent Secretary, heads of government departments, and other civil servants at the provincial level.Provinces are further divided into districts, with 116 districts across the 10 provinces. Each district shares its name with its headquarters. Within each district, there is a council headed by an elected representative known as a Councilor. Councilors hold office for five years and play a key role in local governance.
The administrative staff of the council is selected by the Local Government Service Commission, either from within or outside the district. The office of the provincial government is located in each district headquarters and includes provincial local government officers and auditors.
Each council is responsible for raising and collecting local taxes. These funds are crucial for the council's operations, which include maintaining infrastructure and delivering services. The council's budget is audited annually and submitted to the central government for review. Councilors do not receive salaries but are compensated with allowances funded by the council.
Zambia’s provinces are predominantly rural, with only five city councils, namely Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Livingstone and Chipata. The Zambian government has outlined 63 different functions for the councils, focusing mainly on infrastructure management and local administration. These functions include maintaining community centers, parks, drainage systems, playgrounds, cemeteries, libraries, museums, and art galleries.
In addition to these responsibilities, councils collaborate with specific government departments to support agriculture, natural resource conservation, postal services, and the establishment and maintenance of hospitals, schools, and colleges. The councils also prepare schemes to encourage community participation and development at the local level.
Primary data
Western Province is the largest in terms of area, having 126,386 km2, while Lusaka Province was the smallest with 21,896 km2. In terms of population, Lusaka District is the most populated and most densely populated with a population of 2,204,059 and density of 140 persons per km2 as of the 2022 Zambian census. As of 2010, Western Province had the highest sex ratio of 108 females for every 100 males, while Copperbelt had the lowest of 101. Northern had the highest number of basic schools, while Copperbelt had the highest number of high schools. The unemployment rate of youth and general unemployment rate was the highest in Copperbelt province, while Eastern had the lowest unemployment rate of 6 per cent. AIDS death was maximum in Copperbelt with 26,799 recorded deaths in 2010, while it was lowest in North-Western with 2,859 recorded deaths. Lusaka Province had the most doctors and fewest malaria related incidents, while North-Western has the lowest number of doctors.| Parameter | Year | Central | Copperbelt | Eastern | Luapula | Lusaka | Muchinga Province | Northern | North-Western | Southern | Western |
| Capital | Kabwe | Ndola | Chipata | Mansa | Lusaka | Chinsali | Kasama | Solwezi | Choma | Mongu | |
| Provincial Minister | 2022 | Hon. Mwabashike Nkulukusa | Hon. Elisha Matambo | Hon. Peter Phiri | Hon. Njavwa Simutowe | Hon. Sheal Mulyata | Hon. Henry Sikazwe | Hon. Leonard Mbao | Hon. Robert Lihefu | Hon. Credo Nanjuwa | Hon. Kapelwa Mbangweta |
| Land area, km2 | 94,394 | 31,328 | 51,476 | 50,567 | 21,896 | 87,806 | 77,650 | 125,826 | 85,283 | 126,386 | |
| Population, persons | 2022 | 2,252,483 | 2,757,539 | 2,454,788 | 1,514,011 | 3,079,964 | 918,296 | 1,618,412 | 1,270,028 | 2,381,728 | 1,363,520 |
| Population density, people per km2 | 2022 | 24 | 88 | 36 | 30 | 140 | 13 | 21 | 10 | 28 | 11 |
| Sex Ratio | 2010 | 102 | 101 | 103 | 103 | 102 | 103 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 108 |
| Basic Schools | 2004 | 653 | 856 | 861 | 527 | 502 | No data | 1,208 | 536 | 995 | 648 |
| High Schools | 2004 | 28 | 71 | 41 | 20 | 39 | No data | 26 | 23 | 45 | 26 |
| Out of School Children Aged 7–15 | 2004 | 33,081 | 14,332 | 132,728 | 58,887 | 90,620 | No data | 22,348 | 26,834 | 30,390 | 36,984 |
| Unemployment rate | 2008 | 9 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 31 | No data | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 |
| Unemployment rate, Youth | 2008 | 18 | 55 | 12 | 14 | 52 | No data | 012 | 31 | 6 | 18 |
| Doctors | 2005 | 035 | 213 | 36 | 30 | 231 | No data | 40 | 25 | 50 | 46 |
| Malaria Incidence rate per 1,000 population | 2005 | 331 | 377 | 447 | 407 | 313 | No data | 331 | 439 | 344 | 430 |
| AIDS Deaths | 2010 | 9,016 | 26,799 | 9,338 | 5,209 | 15,429 | No data | 6,958 | 2,859 | 12,403 | 6,044 |
Economy
Agriculture is the major profession in most of the provinces in Zambia. Maize, mixed beans, rice, sorghum, soya beans, sunflower, sweet potatoes and wheat are the major crops in the provinces. Among all provinces, Central had the maximum area,, constituting 20.64 per cent of the total, while Luapula had the smallest area at 3.06 per cent. Maize production was maximum in Eastern, mixed beans in Northern, sorghum in Southern, sunflower in Eastern, soya beans, sweet potatoes and wheat in Central Province.| Paramaeter | Central | Copperbelt | Eastern | Luapula | Lusaka | Muchinga Province | Northern | North-Western | Southern | Western |
| Area Planted | 391,593.23 | 122,525.52 | 387,273.09 | 57,966.31 | 82,603.72 | 112,345.23 | 191,104.56 | 79,528.80 | 360,160.32 | 112,153.47 |
| Maize Production | 723,760.85 | 235,415.71 | 745,580.30 | 131,746.91 | 148,290.62 | 244,978.50 | 283,755.88 | 160,866.33 | 597,999.41 | 78,276.86 |
| Mixed Beans Production | 5,316.43 | 1,213.88 | 2,794.77 | 4,130.48 | 673.80 | 9,277.33 | 31,898.08 | 4,446.71 | 1,685.30 | 312.13 |
| Rice Production | 017.85 | 004.24 | 900.37 | 2,254.43 | 036.53 | 6,928.63 | 18,169.24 | 445.61 | 021.22 | 20,861.51 |
| Sorghum Production | 452.85 | 587.45 | 200.49 | 105.83 | 320.21 | 3,118.55 | 283.55 | 1,038.13 | 4,694.90 | 755.44 |
| Soya Beans Production | 96,518.03 | 37,609.86 | 17,534.11 | 430.00 | 32,237.44 | 2,245.70 | 4,742.11 | 579.67 | 22,203.88 | 077.92 |
| Sun Flower Production | 2,872.09 | 028.67 | 24,053.17 | 005.58 | 049.21 | 432.17 | 764.17 | 014.86 | 6,042.08 | 001.66 |
| Sweet Potatoes Production | 42,787.85 | 11,603.63 | 7,842.74 | 11,356.02 | 4,689.72 | 18,151.34 | 11,636.01 | 8,200.76 | 31,048.67 | 2,841.24 |
| Wheat Production | 99,758.27 | 28,690.00 | 120.00 | 000.00 | 48,509.73 | 000.00 | 000.00 | 000.00 | 24,426.13 | 000.00 |
| Grand Total | 971,484.23 | 315,153.44 | 799,025.94 | 150,029.26 | 234,807.26 | 285,132.23 | 351,249.04 | 175,592.09 | 688,121.60 | 103,126.75 |