External balance on goods and services in Zambia
Zambia: External balance on goods and services was 49.19 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Zambia, 1994–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, external balance on goods and services in Zambia stood at 49.19 billion current LCU.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 155.7% on the previous year and up 1,929.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Zambia peaked at 80.61 billion current LCU in 2021 and was at its lowest, -10.25 billion current LCU, in 2015.
That places Zambia 44th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -18.35 million current LCU | — |
| 1995 | -112.66 million current LCU | +513.9% |
| 1996 | -298.23 million current LCU | +164.7% |
| 1997 | -199.70 million current LCU | -33.0% |
| 1998 | -462.10 million current LCU | +131.4% |
| 1999 | -788.00 million current LCU | +70.5% |
| 2000 | -1.40 billion current LCU | +78.2% |
| 2001 | -2.14 billion current LCU | +52.1% |
| 2002 | -1.96 billion current LCU | -8.0% |
| 2003 | -2.54 billion current LCU | +29.3% |
| 2004 | -1.11 billion current LCU | -56.3% |
| 2005 | -364.03 million current LCU | -67.2% |
| 2006 | 3.37 billion current LCU | -1025.4% |
| 2007 | 793.83 million current LCU | -76.4% |
| 2008 | -1.08 billion current LCU | -236.6% |
| 2009 | 1.84 billion current LCU | -269.8% |
| 2010 | 5.98 billion current LCU | +224.7% |
| 2011 | 9.29 billion current LCU | +55.4% |
| 2012 | 6.30 billion current LCU | -32.2% |
| 2013 | 770.57 million current LCU | -87.8% |
| 2014 | 2.42 billion current LCU | +214.6% |
| 2015 | -10.25 billion current LCU | -522.7% |
| 2016 | -7.15 billion current LCU | -30.2% |
| 2017 | -3.94 billion current LCU | -44.9% |
| 2018 | 2.82 billion current LCU | -171.7% |
| 2019 | 1.45 billion current LCU | -48.8% |
| 2020 | 47.36 billion current LCU | +3175.8% |
| 2021 | 80.61 billion current LCU | +70.2% |
| 2022 | 54.78 billion current LCU | -32.0% |
| 2023 | 19.23 billion current LCU | -64.9% |
| 2024 | 49.19 billion current LCU | +155.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 49.19 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 49.19 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3175.8% | 1.45 billion current LCU | 47.36 billion current LCU |
| 2006 | +1025.4% | -364.03 million current LCU | 3.37 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -313.17 million current LCU | -788.00 million current LCU | -18.35 million current LCU | 6 |
| 2000s | -459.89 million current LCU | -2.54 billion current LCU | 3.37 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 769.43 million current LCU | -10.25 billion current LCU | 9.29 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.23 billion current LCU | 19.23 billion current LCU | 80.61 billion current LCU | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 310.54 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0123 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.57 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.36 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 268.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0932 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 110.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 28.89 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Zambia?
- External balance on goods and services in Zambia was 49.19 billion current LCU in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 80.61 billion current LCU in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.25 billion current LCU in 2015.
- How does Zambia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Zambia ranks 44th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,929.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.