Central Province is one of the 10 provinces in Zambia. Province lies at the heart of Zambia. The province covers a surface area of about 108,460 square kilometres, sharing its borders with 8 Provinces, namely Copperbelt Province, Eastern Province, Luapula Province, Muchinga Province, North-Western Province, Southern Province, and Western Province. The province also shares its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
The province is headed by a Provincial Minister appointed by the President, as the political head of the province. The administrative head of the province is the Permanent Secretary, who is also appointed by the President. Central Province is divided in 12 districts, namely, Kabwe, Chibombo, Itezhi-tezhi, Shibuyunji, Kapiri Mposhi, Chitambo, Luano, Mkushi, Mumbwa, Ngabwe, Chisamba and Serenje. Kabwe is the capital for the province, serving as an administrative centre of the province. According to the Zambia Statistical Agency (ZAMSTATS), in 2015, the province had a population of about 1,515,086 with 762,963 females, representing 50.36% and 752,123 males representing 49.64% of the total population.
Central Province has an abundance of natural resources and favorable climate for agriculture. The province is home of the country’s most commercial farms and produces almost all the type of crops grown in Zambia. The most predominant crops are maize, Soya Beans, Cotton, Groundnuts, Wheat, Sweet potatoes, Iris Potatoes, Pop Corn, Sunflower, Millet, Mixed Beans, Virginia Tobacco, Maize Seed, Cassava roots and Barley. Kafue National Park, the country's largest national park, is shared with the Southern and North-Western Provinces. Blue Lagoon National Park located in the northern part of the Kafue Flats, Kasanka National Park in the border of Bangweulu Wetlands, South Luangwa National Park, the Lunsemfwa and Lukusashi River valleys and Lukanga Swamp are the major wildlife and game areas in the province. Kundalila, a waterfall in Serenje district, is a declared national heritage site, there are among the key tourist attractions in the province
Traditionally, the province is governed by Chiefs, these include Senior Chief Chipepo, Senior Chief Mboroma, Senior Chief Muchinda, Senior Chief Shakumila etc. The most predominantly spoken language is Bemba. Other languages spoken in the province include Lenje,, Lala, Tonga and Nyanja.