Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Zambia
Zambia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 9.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
9.3%
Change on year
up 301.1%
World rank
22nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
9.6%
in 1993
All-time low
-1.0%
in 1981
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Zambia is 9.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 301.1% on the previous year and up 67.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Zambia peaked at 9.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -1.0%, in 1981.
Zambia ranks 22nd of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.5% | — |
| 1971 | 0.5% | -4.3% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | +204.1% |
| 1973 | 1.3% | -15.1% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 1.6% | +19.2% |
| 1976 | 1.1% | -27.3% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +51.1% |
| 1978 | 1.4% | -19.6% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | -23.6% |
| 1980 | 1.6% | +51.3% |
| 1981 | -1.0% | -160.3% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -205.2% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -23.2% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | -18.3% |
| 1985 | 2.3% | +261.5% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | -25.6% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | +93.4% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | -23.9% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | +63.8% |
| 1990 | 6.2% | +50.4% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -83.5% |
| 1992 | 1.4% | +39.2% |
| 1993 | 9.6% | +579.3% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | -88.6% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | +156.9% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | +25.7% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +36.4% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | +16.1% |
| 1999 | 4.8% | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 3.4% | -29.0% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | +100.9% |
| 2003 | 7.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 5.9% | -17.3% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -26.8% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 9.4% | +95.1% |
| 2008 | 5.2% | -44.4% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | +88.3% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | -44.6% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | +43.7% |
| 2013 | 7.5% | +10.3% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -25.8% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | +34.1% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | -57.5% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +35.4% |
| 2018 | 1.6% | -63.7% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | +51.4% |
| 2020 | 1.4% | -42.5% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | +32.0% |
| 2022 | -0.2% | -112.5% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -1141.1% |
| 2024 | 9.3% | +301.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.7% | -1.0% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 1.0% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 3.4% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 1.6% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | -0.2% | 9.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 19 Cambodia 9.9% compare
- 20 Liberia 9.9% compare
- 21 Gambia 9.7% compare
- 23 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8.9% compare
- 24 New Caledonia 8.5% compare
- 25 United Arab Emirates 8.3% 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)
- External balance on goods and services (current US$), annual growth 97.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- External balance on goods and services (current LCU), annual growth 155.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), annual 58.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 1.03 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU), per 1,360 current LCU per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 51.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.0433 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (constant 2015 US$) 57.08 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Zambia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Zambia was 9.3% in 2024, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.0% in 1981.
- How does Zambia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Zambia ranks 22nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.