Zambia

Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer and one of the world's top copper mining destinations. Copper and cobalt account for over 70% of export earnings. The Copperbelt Province hosts major operations by First Quantum Minerals, Barrick Gold, and Vedanta.

The economy is diversifying into agriculture (maize, tobacco, sugar), tourism (Victoria Falls, South Luangwa National Park), energy (Kariba Dam, Kafue Gorge), and manufacturing. Lusaka is a growing regional services hub.

Zambia became the first pandemic-era African sovereign to default (November 2020) and has been implementing an IMF-supported Extended Credit Facility ($1.3 billion) since 2022, with debt restructuring progressing under the G20 Common Framework. President Hakainde Hichilema has prioritized fiscal discipline, anti-corruption, and mining sector reform.