Northern | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Northern Province showing its districts. | |
| Country |  Zambia |
| Capital | Kasama |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial Administration |
| • Provincial Minister | Leonard Mbao |
| Area | |
• Total | 77,650 km2 (29,980 sq mi) |
| Population (2022 census) | |
• Total | 1,623,853 |
| • Density | 21/km2 (54/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 |
| ISO 3166 code | ZM-05 |
| HDI (2018) | 0.546[1] low · 6th |
| Website | www |
Northern Province is one of Zambia's ten provinces. It covers approximately one-sixth of Zambia in land area. The provincial capital is Kasama. The province is made up of 12 districts, namely Kasama District (the provincial capital), Chilubi District, Kaputa District, Luwingu District, Mbala District, Mporokoso District, Mpulungu District, Mungwi District, Nsama District, Lupososhi District, Lunte District and Senga Hill District.[2] Currently, only Kasama and Mbala have attained municipal council status, while the rest are still district councils. It is widely considered to be the heartland of the Bemba, one of the largest tribes in Zambia.
Every district of the Muchinga Province was previously part of the Northern Province. President Michael Sata decided in 2012 to create the new province by taking the south-eastern districts of Northern Province.[3][4]
Notable landmarks in Northern Province include Lake Tanganyika, Lake Bangweulu and the corresponding wetlands, Lake Mweru-wa-Ntipa, and a number of waterfalls including Lumangwe Falls, Kabwelume Falls, Chishimba Falls and Kalambo Falls.
Efforts are being made by the Zambian government, along with a number of non-governmental organizations, to increase the visibility of the many natural and historical treasures in the Northern Province. Tourism has proven an effective way to bring economic growth in other parts of Zambia, i.e. Livingstone and Victoria Falls. However, a lack of infrastructure along the vast distances between major points of interest makes visiting this part of the country difficult.
Northern Province shares borders with two other provinces - Muchinga and Luapula, and also with two countries - the Democratic Republic of Congo in the north and Tanzania in the north-east.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ "About Northern Province". Republic of Zambia. Provincial Administration, Northern Province. 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ "Muchinga the Zambia's 10th province, Choma capital of Southern Province". UKZambians. 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
- ^ "Sata appoints minister for 'Muchinga' province". Zambian Watchdog. November 27, 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2013.