Gross domestic product (GDP) in Zambia
Zambia: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
up 7.3%
World rank
102nd
of 184 countries
All-time high
71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2023
All-time low
4.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1955
Years of data
69
1955–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Zambia, 1955–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices for gross domestic product (gdp) in 2023. That is the highest value across all 69 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.3% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in Zambia peaked at 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1955.
Zambia ranks 102nd of 184 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.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 4.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1956 | 4.84 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.3% |
| 1957 | 5.52 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.1% |
| 1958 | 5.40 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 6.09 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.9% |
| 1960 | 6.61 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.5% |
| 1961 | 6.82 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 6.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 6.94 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 1964 | 7.89 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.7% |
| 1965 | 9.50 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +20.3% |
| 1966 | 9.96 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 11.78 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +18.3% |
| 1968 | 12.52 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 11.96 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.5% |
| 1970 | 10.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.9% |
| 1971 | 10.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 12.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.0% |
| 1973 | 12.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 11.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 13.25 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.5% |
| 1976 | 13.81 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 12.04 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -12.8% |
| 1978 | 11.37 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 11.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 1980 | 10.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 1981 | 12.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.0% |
| 1982 | 12.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 12.70 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 14.31 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.7% |
| 1985 | 15.48 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 13.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -14.9% |
| 1987 | 13.39 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 14.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.4% |
| 1989 | 12.31 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -15.9% |
| 1990 | 12.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 12.16 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 10.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.6% |
| 1993 | 10.73 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 10.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 10.40 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 11.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.2% |
| 1997 | 12.71 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 12.24 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 12.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 15.09 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +23.0% |
| 2001 | 16.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 17.15 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 19.43 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.3% |
| 2004 | 20.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 23.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.5% |
| 2006 | 27.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.5% |
| 2007 | 37.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +34.8% |
| 2008 | 39.89 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 44.79 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 50.80 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.4% |
| 2011 | 58.43 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.0% |
| 2012 | 57.15 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 57.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 60.19 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 58.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 59.17 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 60.74 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 61.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 61.54 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 56.23 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 60.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.8% |
| 2022 | 66.29 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.4% |
| 2023 | 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 72.56 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 98% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.59 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.23 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.09 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5 |
| 1960s | 9.06 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.61 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 12.52 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.94 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 13.81 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.48 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 12.71 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.13 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.09 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 44.79 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 50.80 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 61.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.56 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 56.23 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 99 Bahrain 84.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 100 Senegal 74.34 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 101 Lebanon 74.01 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 103 El Salvador 70.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 104 Kyrgyzstan 69.96 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 105 Honduras 68.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 310.54 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0123 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.57 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.36 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 268.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0932 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 110.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 28.89 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp) in Zambia?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in Zambia was 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 71.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.27 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1955.
- How does Zambia rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Zambia ranks 102nd out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 69 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.