Zambia, a country that has experienced five successful multiparty elections since 1991, is a peaceful, democratic country with economic potential due to its rich endowment of natural resources. With good economic management and several years of positive economic growth, Zambia has turned around its image as a country performing considerably below its potential. In sharp contrast with 1991–1998, the country has recorded positive GDP growth for the last nine consecutive years, led in particular by the mining, construction, and service sectors.

Zambia’s economic growth has not, however, translated into significant poverty reduction, with 64 percent of the population living below the poverty line and 51 percent considered in extreme poverty according to 2006 data. This represents a small improvement over 1998, when 73 percent of the population were estimated to be below the poverty line and 58 percent in extreme poverty. Like many mineral dependent countries, Zambia has not escaped the global economic crisis. The price of copper fell significantly at the onset of the crisis, leading to closures of mines and a scale back in investments. Prices of copper have since recovered, although not to historic high levels.

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Accelerating and Sharing Growth through Improved Competitiveness - July 2009 (PDF)