North-Western Province, Zambia

North-Western
Province
Map of Zambia showing the North-Western Province
Map of Zambia showing North-Western Province with its districts
Country	Zambia
Capital	Solwezi
Government
• Type	Provincial Administration
• Provincial Minister	Robert Lihefu
Area
• Total	125,826 km2 (48,582 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	1,278,357
• Density	10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
HDI (2018)	0.610[1] medium · 3rd

North-Western Province is one of ten Provinces of Zambia. It covers an area of 125,826 km² (48,582 sq mi), has a population of 1,278,357 and a population density of 20 per square kilometre as of 2022.^[2] It is the most sparsely populated province in the country.^[3] 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}