Discover
The identity of the nation
Zambia is one of the few countries in the world to officially declare itself a “Christian nation” in its Constitution. It all began in 1991, with a grassroots movement and the personal testimony of a president who had converted to Christianity. Years later, in 1996, that declaration became part of the constitutional text. Today, more than 8 in 10 Zambians identify as Christians. Crosses on public buildings, prayers at official events, and a visible Christianity in everyday life are all part of the country’s landscape.
But the Christian faith that shows on the surface does not always reach the depth the gospel calls for. Many churches still coexist, in practice, with traditional beliefs in ancestral spirits and the power of curses, and witchcraft accusations continue to generate real violence against innocent people, especially elderly women in rural communities. It is a country where the name of Jesus is known by almost everyone, but where solid biblical teaching and freedom from age-old fears are still great needs.
Alongside the Christian majority, there are pockets of unreached peoples that go unnoticed within a nation so marked by Christianity. Muslim communities such as the Swahili and the Yao, historically linked to trade along East Africa’s coast, live mainly in the east of the country. There is also a community of Indian origin, the Gujarati, predominantly Hindu, present in urban trade. And there is a Deaf community spread across the whole territory, with very little access to the gospel in their own sign language.
Zambia’s economic life revolves around copper, mined mainly in the region known as the Copperbelt (a cluster of mining towns in the north of the country). When the metal’s price falls on the international market, poverty rises quickly, since much of the population depends directly or indirectly on mining or subsistence farming. This cycle has driven families to migrate to the cities in search of work, also changing the face of the Zambian church, which is increasingly urban.
Despite the challenges, Zambia is known as one of the most peaceful and stable countries in Southern Africa, with no civil wars since independence. This is fertile ground for the local church to deepen its faith, raise up leaders capable of teaching the Word with clarity, and reach the peoples and groups who still live on the margins of the gospel within the country’s own borders.
- 4th-13th centuries Bantu peoples migrate to the region from the north, forming kingdoms such as Lunda and Bemba.
- 1855 Scottish explorer David Livingstone becomes the first European to see the falls of the Zambezi River, naming them Victoria Falls.
- 1911 The territory is unified by the British under the name Northern Rhodesia.
- 1924 Northern Rhodesia becomes an official protectorate of the United Kingdom.
- 1953 The territory is annexed to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, along with present-day Zimbabwe and Malawi.
- 1964 The country gains independence on October 24 and becomes known as Zambia, with Kenneth Kaunda as its first president.
- 1972 A one-party system is established, lasting nearly 20 years.
- 1991 Multiparty elections bring Frederick Chiluba to power, and that same year he officially declares Zambia a "Christian nation."
- Today The country is seen as one of the most politically stable in the region, but faces economic challenges tied to its dependence on copper.
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EnglishOfficial language of government, education, and business, spoken as a second language by most of the urban population.
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BembaThe country's most widely spoken language, predominant in the Northern, Copperbelt, Luapula, and Muchinga provinces.
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NyanjaSpoken in Lusaka and the Eastern Province, it is one of the most widely used languages in trade.
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TongaThe main language of the Southern Province, linked to the peoples living near the Zambezi River.
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LoziThe language of the Lozi people, spoken in the Western Province, a region of plains that flood when the river rises.
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Kaonde, Luvale, and LundaLanguages of the North-Western Province, spoken by peoples historically linked to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zambia is located in southern Africa and is landlocked (it has no border with the sea), surrounded by eight neighboring countries. Most of the territory is a savanna-covered plateau, cut by major rivers such as the Zambezi, the Kafue, and the Luangwa. The terrain is generally flat to gently rolling, with altitudes between 1,000 and 1,600 meters, which makes the climate milder than one would expect for a tropical country. In the northwest the forests are denser, while in the south and in the Zambezi Valley the vegetation is drier, of the wooded savanna type.
Major cities
- LusakaCapital and largest city, the country's political, commercial, and administrative center.
- KitweSecond-largest city, in the Copperbelt, the historic copper-mining region.
- NdolaThird-largest city, also in the Copperbelt, an important industrial and commercial hub.
- LivingstoneTourist city near Victoria Falls, it was the former colonial capital of Northern Rhodesia.
- KabweA historic mining town, also known for an ancient archaeological site with human fossils.
Climate and temperature
Nshima
A firm porridge made from cornmeal, it is the base of almost every Zambian meal: without it, for many residents, a meal doesn't count as complete.
Ifisashi
A stew of leafy greens cooked with ground peanuts, served alongside nshima.
Kapenta
Small fish similar to sardines, caught in the country's lakes and reservoirs, sun-dried or fried until crispy.
Ifinkubala
Edible caterpillars that feed on the mopane tree, fried or boiled and rich in protein, a traditional delicacy in several regions.
Free-range chicken
Free-roaming chicken, cooked in a stew with tomato and onion, a common dish for special occasions.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)
One of the largest waterfalls in the world, on the Zambezi River; its local name means "the smoke that thunders," because of the mist that rises for miles.
Communal music and dance
Drums, clapping, and group dances mark church services, weddings, and traditional ceremonies, forming a natural part of social life.
Respect for elders
Kneeling or lowering the body when greeting an elder is a common sign of respect among several ethnic groups in the country.
Kuomboka ceremony
A tradition of the Lozi people in the west of the country: the king moves residence by boat when the waters of the Zambezi River rise, in a colorful and festive procession.
Woodcarving and basketry
Sculptures, masks, and woven baskets are made by various peoples and sold in local markets and fairs.
- Pointing with the index finger This is considered rude, especially when done by women; many prefer to point with the whole open hand.
- Showing the sole of your shoe Sitting in a way that exposes the sole of your foot is seen as a lack of respect.
- Greeting with only the left hand Handshakes are usually given with the right hand, supported by the left, as an extra sign of respect.
- Speaking ill of traditional or religious leaders Traditional chiefs and pastors hold recognized moral authority; openly criticizing them in public is frowned upon.
- Bluntly refusing offered food Abruptly refusing something offered, such as food or drink, can be seen as scorning hospitality.
- Treating witchcraft as a joke Accusations and beliefs about witchcraft are a serious and sensitive subject, not something to joke about.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Belief in the power of curses and traditional healers still leads to witchcraft accusations that end in violence against the elderly and vulnerable people.
Many call themselves Christians out of cultural or national identity, without a personal, living faith in Christ.
Among several ethnic groups, the spirits of ancestors are still consulted and feared, even in families that call themselves Christian.
Churches that promise wealth and automatic healing in exchange for offerings draw crowds, but distort the gospel.
Loyalty to one's ethnic group or home region sometimes outweighs unity in Christ within the church.
Practiced mainly in rural areas, it is still common and challenges biblical teaching on marriage.
Excessive consumption of homemade and commercial drinks traps entire families in a cycle of poverty.
Fear of curses, amulets, and spirits still shapes everyday decisions, even among churchgoers.
Migration from the countryside to the cities in search of mining work disrupts families and faith communities.
Zambian Christians, surrounded by churches, often fail to notice or care about their unreached Muslim and Hindu neighbors.
Religious freedom is guaranteed by Zambia’s Constitution, which since 1996 has officially declared the country a Christian nation while also ensuring the right to profess, change, and share any faith. There is no systematic persecution of Christians by the state, and Christianity is practiced openly throughout the country.
The greatest religion-related risk to life in Zambia actually comes from within the culture itself: accusations of witchcraft. People suspected of practicing witchcraft, often elderly women in rural areas, still suffer attacks and, in extreme cases, are killed by neighbors or relatives. Christian leaders, including Catholic bishops, have spoken out publicly against this violence.
Minority religious communities, such as Muslims and Hindus, generally coexist peacefully with the Christian majority, but feel the pressure of living in a country that officially defines itself by the Christian faith, which can make conversion to other religions within their own families and communities more difficult.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Zambia has 75 catalogued ethnic groups, and the vast majority are already significantly reached by the gospel, reflecting the country's strong Christian identity. Even so, four groups remain unreached: the Gujarati and the Swahili, linked to Hinduism and Islam and concentrated in urban trade; the Yao, a small Muslim group in the east of the country; and the Zambian Deaf community, which lacks churches and a complete Bible in sign language. Together, these groups add up to just over 130,000 people, a small fraction of the total population, but still without real access to a church of their own that speaks their language and understands their culture.
- 127K Unreached 0,6%
- 50K Minimally reached 0,2%
- 42K Superficially reached 0,2%
- 1.4M Partially reached 6,5%
- 20.1M Significantly reached 92,5%
- 4 Unreached 5,3%
- 2 Minimally reached 2,7%
- 4 Superficially reached 5,3%
- 21 Partially reached 28%
- 44 Significantly reached 58,7%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Gujarati Frontier
Yao Muçulmano
Swahili Frontier
Deaf Frontier
Chinês Han Mandarim
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
Average price of a full meal at a popular restaurant.
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Water: usually treated in urban areas, but outside the cities it is advisable to filter or boil it before drinking.
- Electricity: scheduled power cuts (known as "load shedding") are common, so it's worth keeping a flashlight and a portable charger on hand.
- Currency: the Zambian kwacha (ZMW) is used day to day; international cards work well only in the major cities.
- Transport: "minibuses" (shared vans) are the most common means of getting around in cities, along with taxis.
- Language: English is understood in most cities, but learning a few words of Bemba or Nyanja opens doors with local residents.
- Climate: bring light clothes for the day and a jacket for the cold nights of the dry season, between May and August.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.