Immigrants and Development in Zambia

There are two principal types of data sources on immigrants in Zambia: censuses taken almost decennially since 1911 and annual statistics of immigration and emigration. From these sources four indices of immigrant status in Zambia may be derived for various years: data on birthplace nationality citizenship and country of last permanent residence. Of these birthplace data are the most useful for this study. The other three measures present certain legal and practical difficulties. For example nationality and citizenship laws are complicated and as acknowledged in the 1951 population census "…nationality and citizenship analysis…reflects individual preferences rather than the true position" (Northern Rhodesia 1951 p. 15). In the Zambian context it is particularly helpful to consider birthplace data differentiated by three racial categories normally designated European Asian and African. Thus "European immigrants" are not necessarily those people who were born in Europe but are individuals of Caucasian race born outside Zambia. (excerpt)