| Official Name: | North-Western |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Mapsize: | 277px |
| Image Map1: | Zambia districts in North West Province 2022.png |
| Map Caption1: | Map of Zambia showing North-Western Province with its districts |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Zambia |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Solwezi |
| Government Type: | Provincial Administration |
| Leader Title: | Provincial Minister |
| Leader Name: | Robert Lihefu |
| Area Total Km2: | 125826 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Total: | 1,278,357 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CAT |
| Utc Offset: | +2 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2018) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.610[1] · 3rd |
North-Western Province is one of ten Provinces of Zambia. It covers an area of 125826km2, has a population of 1,278,357 and a population density of 20 per square kilometre as of 2021. It is the most sparsely populated province in the country.[2] The provincial capital is Solwezi. The literacy rate stood at 63 per cent in 2010 against a national average of 70.2 per cent. The rural population constituted 77.45%, while the urban population was 22.55%. North-Western Province is bordered along Angola in the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in the north, Copperbelt Province in the east, Central in the south-east, and Western Province in the south-west.
Agriculture was the major profession and Sorghum was the major crop in the province with 1,038 metric tonnes, constituting 8.98% of the national output. The unemployment rate was 14 per cent and the general unemployment rate for youth stood at 31 per cent as of 2008. Zambezi Airport, Solwezi Airport and Kalumbila Airport are the only three airports in the province and there are other small airstrips across the province, such as Mukinge Airstrip in Kasempa, Kabanda Airstrip in Mufumbwe, Chitokoloki Airstrip in Zambezi, Kawiku Airstrip in Mwinilunga, Kalene Airstrip in Ikelenge, Luamfula Airstrip in Mushidamo and Kyanika Airstrip in Kalumbila.
The Likumbi lya Mize festival is a UNESCO world heritage ceremony celebrated in Zambezi District by the Luvale tribe, popularly known as vakaChinyama during August. The Chivweka ceremony is celebrated by the Lluchazi people of the Kabompo district and it is held every July at Senior Chief Kalunga's palace in Chikenge, the capital of the Luchazi people. Chivweka means making fire. The Kufukwila festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during May, the Insakwa yaba Kaonde festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during May, the Nsomo festival celebrated in Kasempa District by Kaonde tribe during June and the Ukupupa festival celebrated by lamba tribe in Mushindamo during June are the major festivals of the province.
North-Western Province is bordered along Angola in the west, DR Congo in the north, Copperbelt Province in the east, Central in the south-east and Western Province in the south-west. The general topography of the province is characterized by uplifted planation surfaces. The general elevation of the nation as a whole is tended towards West to East from the Kalahari Basin. The level of land falls from the upper Congo towards the Zambezi depression in the South forming a plateau.[3]
The province lies in the watershed between DR Congo and Zambezi river systems. The province along with some of the other provinces in the country lies in the frontier formed between the continental divide separating the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, which traverses from DR Congo to the south of Tanzania. There are three major seasons: a cool dry season from April to August, a hot dry season from August to November and a warm wet season from November to April. The maximum heat is experienced during October, while the maximum rainfall is received during December. The annual rainfall is more than 1200mm in the region. The region has usually Savannah vegetation and small areas of dry evergreen forests.[4]
As per the 2010 Zambian census, North-Western Province had a population of 727,044 accounting to 5.55% of the total Zambian population of 13,092,666. There were 358,141 males and 368,903 females, making the sex ratio to 1,030 for every 1,000 males, compared to the national average of 1,028.[5] The literacy rate stood at 63.00% against a national average of 70.2%.[6] The rural population constituted 77.45%, while the urban population was 22.55%. The total area of the province was 125,826 km2 and the population density was 5.80 per km2. The population density during 2000 Zambian census stood at 5.80.[7] The decadal population growth of the province was 2.20%. The median age in the province at the time of marriage was 20.5.[8] The average household size was 5.6, with the families headed by females being 4.5 and 5.9 for families headed by men.[9] The total eligible voters in the province was 72.20%.[10] The unemployment rate of the province was 10.30%. The total fertility rate was 6.8, complete birth rate was 6.3, crude birth rate was 38.0, child women population at birth was 870, general fertility rate was 169, gross reproduction rate was 2.7 and net reproduction rate was 1.9.[11] The total labour force constituted 55.50% of the total population. Out of the labour force, 60.9% were men and 50.4% women. The annual growth rate of labour force was 1.8%.[12] Lunda was the most spoken language with 33.8% speaking it.[13] Albinism is a condition where the victims do not have any pigment in their skin, hair or eyes. The total population in the province with the condition stood at 1,387.[14] The life expectancy at birth stood at 56 compared to the national average of 51.[15]
Busanga Swamps and plains in Kafue National Park, West Lunga National Park and Zambezi grasslands in the far west of the state are the major national parks in the Province. The Kufukwila festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during May,Insakwa yaba Kaonde festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during May, Nsomo festival celebrated in Kasempa District by Kaonde tribe during June, Ntongo festival celebrated in Mufumbwe District by Kaonde tribe during June, Ukupupa festival celebrated in mushindamo District by Lamba tribe during July, Chivweka festival celebrated in Kabompo District by Luchazi tribe during July, Kunyata Ntanda festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during July, Likumbi Lya Mize festival celebrated in Zambezi District by Luvale tribe during August, Lunda Lubanza festival celebrated in Zambezi District by Lunda tribe during August, Lubinda Ntongo festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during August, Chisemwa Cha Lunda festival celebrated in Mwinilunga District by Lunda tribe during September, Makundu festival celebrated in Mufumbwe District by Kaonde tribe during September, Mbunda Liyoyelo festival celebrated in Kabompo District by Mbunda tribe during September, Kuvuluka Kishakulu festival celebrated in Solwezi District by Kaonde tribe during September, Lukwakwa festival celebrated in Kabompo District by Mbunda tribe during October, Chidika Cha Mvula festival celebrated in Mwinilunga District by Lunda tribe during October and Lwendela festival celebrated in Kasempa District by Kaonde tribe during October are the major festivals in the Province.[16]
| Profession[17] | % of working population | |
| Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (by Industry) | 7.30 | |
| Community, Social and Personnel | 3.30 | |
| Construction | 3.30 | |
| Electricity, Gas, and water | 1.30 | |
| Financial & Insurance activities | 0.60 | |
| Hotels and Restaurants | 4.00 | |
| Manufacturing | 2.60 | |
| Mining & Quarrying | 3.80 | |
| Transportation and Storage | 3.00 | |
| Wholesale & Retail Trade | 2.40 |
| HIV infected & AIDS deaths[20] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | HIV infected | AIDS deaths | |
| 1985 | 250 | 107 | |
| 1990 | 3,104 | 087 | |
| 1995 | 15,855 | 655 | |
| 2000 | 25,735 | 1,848 | |
| 2005 | 27,676 | 2,792 | |
| 2010 | 27,815 | 2,859 |