# Central Province, Zambia – Districts, Population & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/

Province · Zambia 

# Central Province

Central Province is a province of Zambia. It had an estimated **1,654,706 people** in 2020 on 94,532 km² (about 18 per km²). Its main town is Kabwe. It is divided into 11 districts. 1,553 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 769 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 1,654,706people (2020)
- 94,532km²
- 11districts
- 769mapped services

## How many people live in Central Province?

Central Province had an estimated **1,654,706 people** in 2020 — 9.5% of Zambia, 5th of 10 provinces. There are 990 women for every 1,000 men (below the Zambia figure of 1,002). Spread over 94,532 km², that is about **18 people per km²**, 7th of 10 provinces.

47.3% of people are children under 15 and 2.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 16 years (it is 17 across Zambia). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 98 children and older people.

0–4 ****299,967**

5–9 ****258,234**

10–14 ****222,533**

15–19 ****184,065**

20–24 ****147,410**

25–29 ****114,608**

30–34 ****95,555**

35–39 ****81,444**

40–44 ****69,942**

45–49 ****51,460**

50–54 ****38,074**

55–59 ****28,566**

60–64 ****22,791**

65–69 ****15,353**

70–74 ****11,527**

75+ ****7,601**

Source: [UNFPA via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, Creative Commons Attribution International (CC BY))](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zmb).

## Where is Central Province?

Central Province lies in [Zambia](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/). It borders 7 other provinces: [Copperbelt Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/copperbelt/), [Eastern Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/eastern/), [Lusaka Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/lusaka/), [Muchinga Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/muchinga/), [North-Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/north-western/), [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/southern/) and [Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/western/). By area it is the 3rd largest of 10 provinces in Zambia. It covers 12.6% of [Zambia](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/). The centre of Central Province is about 230 km in a straight line from Lusaka, the capital. The centre point is at 13.8780° S, 29.7251° E.

Source: [Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) Zambia via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zmb).

## Things to see in and around Central Province

OpenStreetMap lists 33 named sights in Central Province: 12 viewpoints; 7 attractions; 5 nature reserves; 3 waterfalls; 2 ruins; 1 memorial; 1 cave; 1 castle or fort; 1 monument.

- Fort Elwes · castle or fort
- Changwena Falls · waterfall
- Mabilima Falls · waterfall
- Mulungishi Falls · waterfall
- Blue Lagoon National Park · nature reserve
- Kafue National Park · nature reserve
- Kaindu Hunting Block · nature reserve
- Kasanka National Park · nature reserve
- Mushingashi Conservancy · nature reserve
- BBC (public viewing) · viewpoint
- BBC Hide · viewpoint
- Bell Point · viewpoint
- Big Tree · viewpoint
- Birdwatching Hide · viewpoint
- Fibwe (public viewing) · viewpoint
- Fibwe Hide · viewpoint
- Musola Hide · viewpoint
- Waterhole · viewpoint
- Waterhole · viewpoint
- Waterhole · viewpoint
- Western Hide · viewpoint
- Chipota Falls · attraction
- Kundalila Falls · attraction
- Lion Cage · attraction
- William Cousin · attraction
- Wonder Gorge · attraction
- steam locomotive · attraction
- steam locomotive 113 · attraction
- Changa Changa's House · ruins
- Kapiamema Hot Spring · monument

…and 3 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Central Province

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Lusaka
- CurrencyKwacha (ZMW)
- Country calling code+260
- LanguagesEnglish, Bemba, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja
- Plug typesType C, G · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports

- Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport (NLA) · Ndola166 km
- Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) · Lusaka212 km

### Nearest railway station

Nkolonga (Chalata), about 33 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 12.9 hours, sunrise around 05:28) and shortest in Jun (about 11.3 hours, sunrise around 06:21, sunset around 17:40).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:43 18:35 12.9 h 

Feb 05:58 18:31 12.6 h 

Mar 06:04 18:16 12.2 h 

Apr 06:07 17:55 11.8 h 

May 06:12 17:41 11.5 h 

Jun 06:21 17:40 11.3 h 

Jul 06:25 17:48 11.4 h 

Aug 06:16 17:55 11.6 h 

Sep 05:56 17:56 12.0 h 

Oct 05:35 17:58 12.4 h 

Nov 05:23 18:08 12.7 h 

Dec 05:28 18:24 12.9 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Central Province

District Area km² Constituencies Services 

[Chibombo District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/chibombo/) 8,215 2 178 

[Chisamba District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/chisamba/) 5,215 1 80 

[Chitambo District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/chitambo/) 6,085 1 10 

[Kabwe District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/kabwe/) 1,572 2 114 

[Kapiri Mposhi District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/kapiri-mposhi/) 9,707 1 122 

[Luano District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/luano/) 9,191 1 6 

[Mkushi District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/mkushi/) 8,458 1 48 

[Mumbwa District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/mumbwa/) 19,771 2 132 

[Ngabwe District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/ngabwe/) 7,199 1 2 

[Serenje District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/serenje/) 17,389 2 72 

[Shibuyunji District](https://wherepedia.org/zambia/central/shibuyunji/) 1,729 1 5 

Source: [Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) Zambia via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zmb); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Largest towns in Central Province

- Kabwe288,598
- Chunga115,539
- Kapiri Mposhi83,211
- Mumbwa49,461
- Mkushi45,927
- Serenje30,217
- Nampundwe16,396
- Chibombo4,477

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Central Province

Named natural and historic features inside Central Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

1,693 rivers and streams; 8 lakes; 6 dams; 5 waterfalls; 4 reservoirs and tanks.

- Akabula
- Akashamiru
- Akatapa
- Akfuwali
- Akwengasi
- Balenje
- Bambamitwe
- Bandela
- Banga
- Bimbe
- Bolelo
- Boma
- Bombwe
- Bondwe
- Bucheche
- Bukanda
- Bulaya
- Bulempa
- Bulila
- Bulinda
- Bulundu
- Bulungu
- Bulungu
- Bunga

…and 1,692 more.

### Coast and islands

2 islands.

- Chilwa Island
- Chiposha Island

### Hills and mountains

511 hills; 23 mountains; 1 peak.

- Mumpu · 1,875 m
- Chimbwingombe · 1,726 m
- Chimbo · 1,716 m
- Mpansha Hill · 1,711 m
- Kafumbo Hill · 1,687 m
- Irumi · 1,680 m
- Lumbulwe · 1,679 m
- Muchinga Wambo Hill · 1,678 m
- Msengule · 1,676 m
- Chitema · 1,668 m
- Chichengo Hill · 1,667 m
- Chantuntile · 1,654 m
- Musense · 1,653 m
- Tuba · 1,648 m
- Katunga · 1,647 m
- Ngala Hill · 1,644 m
- Lika · 1,643 m
- Katunga · 1,642 m
- Chifukaushi · 1,639 m
- Katolila · 1,636 m
- Mumbo · 1,635 m
- Chipuma Hill · 1,632 m
- Mungowi Hill · 1,628 m
- Mwenya · 1,623 m

…and 511 more.

### Forests and nature

12 forest reserves; 2 parks; 1 forest; 1 nature reserve.

- Blue Lagoon National Park
- Broken Hill Extension Protected Forest Area
- Chaba Protected Forest Area
- Chisamba Forest Reserve
- Ibondo Forest
- Kafue National Park
- Kalulu Forest Reserve
- Kanona Protected Forest Area
- Kapiri Mposhi Protected Forest Area
- Karubwe Protected Forest Area
- Kasanka National Park
- Kawena Protected Forest Area
- Munshiwemba Extension Protected Forest Area
- Nambala Protected Forest Area
- North Swaka Protected Forest Area
- Tembwe Protected Forest Area

### History

12 ancient sites.

- Kafushi River
- Kalelanguni Hill
- Lunsemfwa Bridge
- Middlewater Brickfields
- Miyenje
- Mkoma
- Mkushi Stream
- Mpande
- Mufulwe Hills
- Nakapapula
- Number 1 Kopje
- Vimbe Hill

### Getting around

33 airfields; 2 airports.

- Blue Lagoon
- Carolina
- Chingombe
- Chumnwi Farm
- Chunga Airport
- Delkin
- Dixie Northwest
- East Four
- East Three
- Faith
- Fiwila
- Ikaros
- Kabwe
- Kabwe Milliken
- Kafue Hook Landing Ground
- Kalundu
- Kapili
- Karowa
- Karubwe Siding
- Kawa
- Landless Corner
- Lembwe
- Lusiwasi
- Masebe

…and 11 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Central Province and the best time to visit

In Central Province, the warmest month is Oct (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 967 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (253 mm) and the driest Aug (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to November**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 23 253 

Feb 22 192 

Mar 22 128 

Apr 21 40 

May 20 3 

Jun 18 2 

Jul 18 1 

Aug 21 1 

Sep 24 1 

Oct 27 14 

Nov 27 80 

Dec 24 252 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Central Province

Places mapped inside Central Province in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals30
- Banks11
- Petrol pumps29
- Hotels82
- Shopping malls8
- Schools510
- Colleges and universities30
- Pharmacies4
- Restaurants33
- Police stations31
- Dental clinics1

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Central Province?In Zambia
- What is the population of Central Province?1,654,706 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Central Province?About 16 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Central Province?About 18 people per km²
- What borders Central Province?Copperbelt Province, Eastern Province, Lusaka Province, Muchinga Province, North-Western Province, Southern Province and Western Province
- What is there to see in Central Province?BBC (public viewing), BBC Hide, Bell Point, Big Tree
- What time zone is Central Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Central Province?Kwacha (ZMW)
- What language is spoken in Central Province?English, Bemba, Lozi (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Central Province?Kabwe
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Central Province?4 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Central Province?Mumpu (1,875 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Central Province?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Central Province?30 mapped
- How many banks are in Central Province?11 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Central Province?29 mapped
- What is the P-code of Central Province?ZM101 (OCHA common operational dataset)