Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Zambia
Zambia: Value of imports from China as a share of GDP was 5.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Zambia, 1964–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Zambia stood at 5.9%.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 86.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Zambia peaked at 6.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1964.
That places Zambia 59th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imports from China as a share of GDP in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.0% | +198.1% |
| 1967 | 0.1% | +244.5% |
| 1968 | 0.1% | +71.4% |
| 1969 | 0.1% | -33.2% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | +166.6% |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +103.9% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | +114.5% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | -18.7% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | +115.1% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | -16.3% |
| 1976 | 0.5% | -55.8% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -29.8% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | -18.4% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | -68.8% |
| 1980 | 0.2% | +117.7% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -16.6% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -47.0% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -17.3% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -11.5% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +108.7% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -73.0% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +130.2% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | +78.4% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -20.2% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -60.8% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +239.6% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -18.2% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -24.5% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | +53.7% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | +16.2% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +22.7% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | +52.8% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | +200.5% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -27.9% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | +29.2% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | -14.6% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | +35.7% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -36.5% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | +166.9% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -25.6% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | -7.3% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +21.3% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | +116.5% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -48.6% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | +81.3% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | -12.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +51.3% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -10.7% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +12.8% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | -17.5% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | +18.0% |
| 2023 | 6.1% | +26.5% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.1% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.3% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 1.4% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 4.1% | 6.1% | 5 |
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)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate -32.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2755 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 327.08 current US$ per person (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate -12.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 7.21 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 8,559 current LCU per person (2024)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 97.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 155.74 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Zambia?
- Value of imports from china as a share of gdp in Zambia was 5.9% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imports from china as a share of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest value of imports from china as a share of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for value of imports from china as a share of gdp?
- Zambia ranks 59th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is value of imports from china as a share of gdp rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imports from China as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of goods imported from China, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).