Central government debt, total in Zambia
Zambia: Central government debt, total was 71.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Central government debt, total in Zambia, 1990–2021
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, central government debt, total in Zambia stood at 71.4%.
That represents a change of down 31.0% on the previous year and up 295.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government debt, total in Zambia peaked at 277.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 2010.
That places Zambia 22nd out of 83 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Central government debt, total in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 244.4% | — |
| 1991 | 277.5% | +13.6% |
| 1992 | 164.7% | -40.7% |
| 1993 | 161.8% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 149.2% | -7.8% |
| 1995 | 155.3% | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 175.9% | +13.3% |
| 1997 | 150.1% | -14.7% |
| 1998 | 161.2% | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 17.3% | -89.3% |
| 2011 | 18.0% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 23.5% | +30.1% |
| 2013 | 24.2% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 44.4% | +83.3% |
| 2015 | 49.4% | +11.3% |
| 2016 | 46.4% | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 52.3% | +12.6% |
| 2018 | 59.7% | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 61.9% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 103.5% | +67.2% |
| 2021 | 71.4% | -31.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 182.2% | 149.2% | 277.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 39.7% | 17.3% | 61.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.5% | 71.4% | 103.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More economy & growth data for Zambia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.92 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 21.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 12.57 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 14,920 current LCU per person (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate -7.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6071 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per capita 720.69 current US$ per person (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 19.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 15.89 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government debt, total in Zambia?
- Central government debt, total in Zambia was 71.4% in 2021, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest central government debt, total recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 277.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest central government debt, total recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 2010.
- How does Zambia rank for central government debt, total?
- Zambia ranks 22nd out of 83 countries with data for 2021.
- Is central government debt, total rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 295.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Central government debt, total (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.