01Free
The 30-second card
Emergency · tap to call
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗SIM and eSIM
Local prepaid SIMs are cheap; the main networks are Airtel (widest coverage), MTN and Cell Z (cheapest).Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Apps locals use
XE: look up the current kwacha exchange rate.
Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Cards or cash
Mostly cashMostly cards
Step 3 of 5: Cash and cards are both widely used, so carry some of each.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Zambia
Zambian Kwacha · ZK · ZMW
If carrying US dollars, bring new-style US$50 and US$100 notes; smaller bills get a rate 5 to 10% worse.
Euros are hard to exchange outside the main cities, so bring dollars or use ATMs instead.
With street vendors, expect the first price to be at least double what they will accept.
When buying several small things, ask for mbasela, the customary free extra.
Collect Zambian Kwacha in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Fri, 25 Dec 2026 · Christmas Day
Fri, 1 Jan 2027 · New Year's Day
Mon, 8 Mar 2027 · International Women's Day
Fri, 12 Mar 2027 · Youth Day
Fri, 26 Mar 2027 · Good Friday
Sat, 27 Mar 2027 · Holy Saturday Easter Saturday
Sun, 28 Mar 2027 · Easter Sunday
Mon, 29 Mar 2027 · Easter Monday
Wed, 28 Apr 2027 · Kenneth Kaunda's Birthday
Mon, 3 May 2027 · Labour Day
Tue, 25 May 2027 · African Freedom Day Africa Freedom Day
Mon, 5 Jul 2027 · Heroes' Day
Tue, 6 Jul 2027 · Unity Day
Mon, 2 Aug 2027 · Farmers' Day
Mon, 18 Oct 2027 · National Day of Prayer
Mon, 25 Oct 2027 · Independence Day
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Zambia say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
No travel warning
Calm ●
Caution
Serious
Don’t go
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 22 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 22 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Exercise normal precautions
Calm ●
Caution
Serious
Don’t go
Level 1 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 30 Jul 2023 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 30 Jul 2023 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
No advice against travel
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 1 Jun 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 1 Jun 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Malaria risk; routine shots, hepatitis A, B and typhoid advised; yellow fever proof if from a risk country.
Vaccinations
Have routine shots up to date; CDC also advises hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid, considers rabies, polio and cholera depending on plans, and Zambia demands yellow fever proof from travellers arriving from risk countries.
Malaria
RiskTalk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
04Travel layer
In the app: the travel layer
The travel layer
Read a country like someone who’s been there.
What’s different from home, and what’s the lawMust-see places, free entry and World Heritage sites20 words to remember, with pronunciationStrange and surprising factsThe anthem and national symbolsSaved for offline use
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05Free
Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $28.9 billionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $1,318Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, electricity (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 21.9 millionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 19 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 66.9 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · 2010 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 752,618 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | mostly high plateau with some hills and mountainsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | presidential republicSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +260Source: libphonenumber · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 24 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 24 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Nager.Date · 23 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗U.S. Department of State · 25 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 24 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
Flag artwork from flag-icons (MIT licence).
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