External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$), per unit of GDP in Zambia
Zambia: External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$), per unit of GDP was 1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
7th
of 122 countries
All-time high
3.38 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP
in 1986
All-time low
0.164 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP
in 2008
Years of data
55
1970–2024
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$), per unit of GDP in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, external debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp in Zambia stood at 1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 212.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp in Zambia peaked at 3.38 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.164 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP, in 2008.
That places Zambia 7th out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$), per unit of GDP in Zambia, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4548 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1971 | 0.5186 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +14.0% |
| 1972 | 0.5039 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 0.4234 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -16.0% |
| 1974 | 0.411 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 0.6883 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +67.5% |
| 1976 | 0.6903 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 0.9287 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +34.5% |
| 1978 | 0.9171 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 0.9065 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 0.8373 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 1981 | 0.9007 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.6% |
| 1982 | 0.9461 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 1.13 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +19.2% |
| 1984 | 1.38 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.3% |
| 1985 | 1.99 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +44.4% |
| 1986 | 3.38 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +69.9% |
| 1987 | 2.86 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.5% |
| 1988 | 1.8 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -37.2% |
| 1989 | 1.64 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 2.1 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +28.0% |
| 1991 | 2.06 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 2.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 1.98 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.86 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 1.83 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 1.96 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +7.4% |
| 1997 | 1.55 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -21.1% |
| 1998 | 1.94 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +25.5% |
| 1999 | 1.75 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.0% |
| 2000 | 1.61 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 1.51 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 1.59 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 1.4 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -11.9% |
| 2004 | 1.21 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -13.6% |
| 2005 | 0.6445 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -46.9% |
| 2006 | 0.1764 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -72.6% |
| 2007 | 0.1949 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 0.164 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -15.9% |
| 2009 | 0.2375 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +44.9% |
| 2010 | 0.2132 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -10.2% |
| 2011 | 0.2216 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 0.2424 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 0.2378 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 0.3556 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +49.5% |
| 2015 | 0.5793 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +62.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7518 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +29.8% |
| 2017 | 0.9175 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +22.0% |
| 2018 | 0.9356 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.26 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +34.8% |
| 2020 | 1.63 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +29.1% |
| 2021 | 1.22 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -25.1% |
| 2022 | 0.9746 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | -20.1% |
| 2023 | 1.05 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | +5.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.4173 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP, 2.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.4067 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP, 2.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6443 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.411 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.9287 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.69 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.8373 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 3.38 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.91 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.55 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 2.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8755 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.164 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.61 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5716 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.2132 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.26 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 0.9746 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 1.63 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 4 Senegal 1.47 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 5 Mauritius 1.36 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 6 Suriname 1.17 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 8 Laos 1.08 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 9 Montenegro 1.06 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
- 10 Bhutan 1.02 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP compare
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 debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp in Zambia?
- External debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp in Zambia was 1.11 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.38 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 1986.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.164 DOD, current US$ per US$ of GDP in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for external debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp?
- Zambia ranks 7th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external debt stocks, total (dod, current us$), per unit of gdp rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 212.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$), per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- External debt stocks, total International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.