Roughly the size of Texas, Zambia is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. Zambia’s rolling hills are surrounded by Angola, Zaire, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. The country boasts some of Africa’s most profound collections of wildlife and natural beauty, including the world renowned Victoria Falls. Â
A British colony until it gained its independence in 1964; Zambia was considered one of Africa’s best hopes for rapid economic development. However, when world markets for the country’s primary export, copper, collapsed in 1975, the economy was devastated. Despite resurgences in global copper markets, the economy never fully revived and the country has been plagued by poverty and corruption. However, unlike many of its peers, Zambia has benefited from the absence of chronic violence caused by political and ethnic instability.
Today, the government is taking positive steps toward reform, but the country has a long road ahead. Poor infrastructure, a lack of education, HIV/AIDS, malaria, poverty, corruption and a host of other issues all plague the country. At present, 64% of the population lives on less than $2 / day, over 16% of the population is infected with HIV / AIDS, and only 76% of adult males and 60% of adult females are literate.
  
