External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Zambia
Zambia: External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) was 1.88 billion current US$ 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 US$.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 1.88 billion current US$ for external balance on goods and services in 2024.
That represents a change of up 97.5% on the previous year and up 377.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Zambia peaked at 4.03 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -1.19 billion current US$, in 2015.
That places Zambia 61st out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -27.42 million current US$ | — |
| 1995 | -130.38 million current US$ | +375.5% |
| 1996 | -246.90 million current US$ | +89.4% |
| 1997 | -151.92 million current US$ | -38.5% |
| 1998 | -248.16 million current US$ | +63.4% |
| 1999 | -329.98 million current US$ | +33.0% |
| 2000 | -451.51 million current US$ | +36.8% |
| 2001 | -591.60 million current US$ | +31.0% |
| 2002 | -446.61 million current US$ | -24.5% |
| 2003 | -536.51 million current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2004 | -232.24 million current US$ | -56.7% |
| 2005 | -81.56 million current US$ | -64.9% |
| 2006 | 934.96 million current US$ | -1246.4% |
| 2007 | 198.33 million current US$ | -78.8% |
| 2008 | -289.47 million current US$ | -246.0% |
| 2009 | 364.91 million current US$ | -226.1% |
| 2010 | 1.25 billion current US$ | +241.6% |
| 2011 | 1.91 billion current US$ | +53.3% |
| 2012 | 1.22 billion current US$ | -36.0% |
| 2013 | 142.76 million current US$ | -88.3% |
| 2014 | 393.84 million current US$ | +175.9% |
| 2015 | -1.19 billion current US$ | -401.5% |
| 2016 | -693.56 million current US$ | -41.6% |
| 2017 | -413.97 million current US$ | -40.3% |
| 2018 | 270.07 million current US$ | -165.2% |
| 2019 | 112.16 million current US$ | -58.5% |
| 2020 | 2.58 billion current US$ | +2201.8% |
| 2021 | 4.03 billion current US$ | +56.0% |
| 2022 | 3.23 billion current US$ | -19.7% |
| 2023 | 951.54 million current US$ | -70.6% |
| 2024 | 1.88 billion current US$ | +97.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.88 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -1.67 billion current US$. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.88 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -545.92 million current US$. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) 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 | +2201.8% | 112.16 million current US$ | 2.58 billion current US$ |
| 2006 | +1246.4% | -81.56 million current US$ | 934.96 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -189.13 million current US$ | -329.98 million current US$ | -27.42 million current US$ | 6 |
| 2000s | -113.13 million current US$ | -591.60 million current US$ | 934.96 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 300.52 million current US$ | -1.19 billion current US$ | 1.91 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.53 billion current US$ | 951.54 million current US$ | 4.03 billion current US$ | 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 13.19 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.1053 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 138.75 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 7.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0769 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 101.32 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0464 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Zambia?
- External balance on goods and services in Zambia was 1.88 billion current US$ 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 4.03 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.19 billion current US$ in 2015.
- How does Zambia rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Zambia ranks 61st 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 377.3%. 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 US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.