THE PEOPLE 4. The census of population and housing remains the main source of demographic data in Zambia, with the latest undertaken in 2000. Other important sources of data that provide useful indicators included in this State Report are demographic health surveys. The population1 of Zambia recorded in the 2000 census was 9,885,591 with males accounting for 4,946,298 and 4,939,293 being females. The de facto2 population however presented a higher female population: 4,743,135 as opposed to 4,594,290 males. This presented a sex ratio of 96.8 males per 100 females, slightly lower than that of 1990 (Table 1). Table 1: Sex Ratio by Province, 1990 and 2000 Province Central Copperbelt Eastern Luapula Lusaka Northern North-Western Southern Western TOTAL ZAMBIA 1990 Males per 100 Females 99.6 102.9 96.3 97.2 101.3 92.1 94.4 96.6 90.1 98.1 2000 Males per 100 Females 98.9 105.6 94.9 95.1 100.4 95.3 96.5 95.5 90.3 96.8 Source: CSO Census of Population and Housing Reports, 1990 and 2000 5. Administratively divided into nine provinces, the geographical distribution of the population in Zambia is largely in favour of rural areas, 65 percent in 2000. Census results over the decades indicate an urban-rural migration trend, more significant in the most urbanised provinces of the country (Copperbelt, Lusaka, Southern and Central). The urban population was 40 percent in 1980, reduced to 38 and 35 percent in 1990 and 2000, 1 De jure population that defines the usual number of household members present and usual household members temporarily absent at the time of the census (including institutional populations). 2 De facto population refers to the usual household members and visitors who spent the census night at the household and as such excludes certain population outside the country at the time of the Census. 13