GDP growth in Zambia
Zambia: GDP growth was 3.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Zambia, 1961–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp growth in Zambia is 3.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Zambia peaked at 16.6% in 1965 and was at its lowest, -8.6%, in 1994.
Zambia ranks 87th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth in Zambia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.4% | — |
| 1962 | -2.5% | -283.0% |
| 1963 | 3.3% | -231.4% |
| 1964 | 12.2% | +273.2% |
| 1965 | 16.6% | +36.3% |
| 1966 | -5.6% | -133.5% |
| 1967 | 7.9% | -242.2% |
| 1968 | 1.2% | -84.2% |
| 1969 | -0.4% | -135.0% |
| 1970 | 4.8% | -1197.9% |
| 1971 | -0.1% | -101.8% |
| 1972 | 9.2% | -10803.1% |
| 1973 | -1.0% | -110.4% |
| 1974 | 6.4% | -768.2% |
| 1975 | -2.3% | -135.3% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -374.1% |
| 1977 | -4.6% | -173.4% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -112.1% |
| 1979 | -3.0% | -646.1% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -200.4% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | +103.2% |
| 1982 | -2.8% | -145.6% |
| 1983 | -2.0% | -30.1% |
| 1984 | -0.3% | -82.9% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -579.6% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -55.2% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +269.6% |
| 1988 | 6.3% | +134.7% |
| 1989 | -1.0% | -116.3% |
| 1990 | -0.5% | -53.0% |
| 1991 | -0.0% | -92.5% |
| 1992 | -1.7% | +4690.4% |
| 1993 | 6.8% | -492.7% |
| 1994 | -8.6% | -226.9% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -133.6% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +114.6% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -38.7% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -110.1% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -1305.5% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +36.4% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | +54.1% |
| 2004 | 7.0% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 7.8% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 10.3% | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -45.9% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | +36.4% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -33.4% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -37.8% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +28.6% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +14.4% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -64.3% |
| 2020 | -2.8% | -293.2% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -323.9% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -28.8% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.8% | -5.6% | 16.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.6% | -4.6% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | -2.8% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | -8.6% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 3.9% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 1.4% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | -2.8% | 6.2% | 6 |
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)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 1.03 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 1,356 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), per unit of GDP 6.05 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant LCU), per capita 7,975 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate -8.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3929 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Zambia?
- Gdp growth in Zambia was 3.8% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.6% in 1965.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.6% in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for gdp growth?
- Zambia ranks 87th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. 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 GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross domestic product is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. It can be measured in three different ways: using either the expenditure approach, the income approach, or the production approach. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.