New Currency Family Celebrates the Natural Beauty of Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa known for its abundant mineral resources, particularly copper, and home to the renowned Victoria Falls and a rich cultural heritage. It has a population of around 19.6 million and its currency is the Zambian kwacha (which is subdivided into ngwee).

Pursuant to Section 17 (1) of the Bank of Zambia Act, 2022, on 31 March 2025, the Bank of Zambia marked a historic milestone in its currency history by introducing a new family of Zambian currency into circulation. This new series consists of six banknotes (K500, K200, K100, K50, K20, K10) and six coins (K5, K2, K1, 50N, 10N, and 5N). The currency showcases Zambia’s rich heritage, with its unique flora and fauna as the central theme; hence it is called the ‘Heritage Series’.

The redesigned banknotes feature enhanced security features to combat counterfeiting, with two higher-value denominations (K500 and K200) introduced to promote more efficient transactions. Additionally, the redefined note-coin boundary introduces the new K5 and K2 coins, while the lower-value notes (K10 and K20) are made with durable substrates to ensure longevity in circulation.