Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Zambia
Zambia: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 9.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Zambia is 9.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 301.1% on the previous year and up 67.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Zambia peaked at 9.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -1.0%, in 1981.
That places Zambia 24th out of 200 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.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows 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
- 21 Cambodia 9.9% compare
- 22 Liberia 9.9% compare
- 23 Gambia 9.7% compare
- 25 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8.9% compare
- 26 New Caledonia 8.5% compare
- 27 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)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate -15.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.845 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), per capita 1,003 current US$ per person (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), annual growth rate 9.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per unit of GDP 22.11 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gross national expenditure (current LCU), per capita 26,247 current LCU per person (2024)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate -21.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3498 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Zambia?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Zambia was 9.3% in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.0% in 1981.
- How does Zambia rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Zambia ranks 24th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows 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 International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments databases, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment is the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. This series shows net inflows (new investment inflows less disinvestment) in the reporting economy from foreign investors, and is divided by GDP.