North-Western Province, Zambia

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. It is the most sparsely populated province in the country. The provincial capital is Solwezi. The literacy rate stood at 63% in 2010 against a national average of 70.2%. The rural population constituted 77.45%, while the urban population was 22.55%. North-Western Province is bordered by Angola in the west, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in the north, Copperbelt Province in the east, Central in the south-east, and Western Province in the south-west.

Agriculture is the major occupation and sorghum is the major crop in the province with 1,038 metric tonnes, constituting 8.98% of the national output. The unemployment rate was 14% and the general unemployment rate for youth stood at 31% as of 2008. Zambezi Airport, Solwezi Airport and Kalumbila Airport are the only three airports in the province; 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.

The Likumbi lya Mize festival is a UNESCO world heritage ceremony celebrated in Zambezi District by the Luvale tribe, popularly known as vakaChinyama, in August. The Chivweka ceremony is celebrated by the Luchazi people of the Kabompo District; it is held every July at Senior Chief Kalunga's palace in Chikenge, the capital of the Luchazi people. Chivweka means "making fire". Other major festivals in the province include the Kufukwila and Insakwa yaba Kaonde festivals celebrated in Solwezi District by the Kaonde tribe in May, the Nsomo festival celebrated in Kasempa District by the Kaonde tribe in June, and the Ukupupa festival celebrated by the Lamba tribe in Mushindamo in June.