Goods imports (BoP, current US$) in Zambia
Zambia: Goods imports (BoP, current US$) was 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Goods imports in Zambia, 1978–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for goods imports in Zambia is 11.85 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.7% on the previous year and up 59.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods imports in Zambia peaked at 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 517.80 million BoP, current US$, in 1986.
Zambia ranks 105th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Goods imports (BoP, current US$) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 618.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 756.00 million BoP, current US$ | +22.3% |
| 1980 | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.4% |
| 1981 | 1.07 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.4% |
| 1982 | 1.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 1983 | 711.10 million BoP, current US$ | -29.1% |
| 1984 | 612.10 million BoP, current US$ | -13.9% |
| 1985 | 571.40 million BoP, current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 517.80 million BoP, current US$ | -9.4% |
| 1987 | 585.30 million BoP, current US$ | +13.0% |
| 1988 | 687.20 million BoP, current US$ | +17.4% |
| 1989 | 773.60 million BoP, current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1990 | 1.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +95.3% |
| 1991 | 752.20 million BoP, current US$ | -50.2% |
| 1997 | 1.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.4% |
| 1998 | 971.00 million BoP, current US$ | -8.0% |
| 1999 | 870.00 million BoP, current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 977.69 million BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2001 | 1.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.2% |
| 2002 | 1.20 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 1.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2004 | 1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.0% |
| 2005 | 2.16 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.1% |
| 2006 | 2.64 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.0% |
| 2007 | 3.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.0% |
| 2008 | 4.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.1% |
| 2009 | 3.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.1% |
| 2010 | 4.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2011 | 6.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.0% |
| 2012 | 7.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2013 | 9.20 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.0% |
| 2014 | 8.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 7.44 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 6.54 billion BoP, current US$ | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 7.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 8.52 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2019 | 6.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.6% |
| 2020 | 4.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.4% |
| 2021 | 6.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.4% |
| 2022 | 8.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.4% |
| 2023 | 9.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2024 | 10.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2025 | 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.13 billion BoP, current US$, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.65 billion BoP, current US$, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 687.00 million BoP, current US$ | 618.00 million BoP, current US$ | 756.00 million BoP, current US$ | 2 |
| 1980s | 764.14 million BoP, current US$ | 517.80 million BoP, current US$ | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 752.20 million BoP, current US$ | 1.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.29 billion BoP, current US$ | 977.69 million BoP, current US$ | 4.55 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 9.20 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.79 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 102 Nepal 13.42 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 103 Cyprus 12.65 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 104 Armenia 12.29 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 106 North Macedonia 11.67 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 107 Kyrgyzstan 11.67 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 108 Mongolia 11.33 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Zambia
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -28.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is goods imports in Zambia?
- Goods imports in Zambia was 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest goods imports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.85 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest goods imports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 517.80 million BoP, current US$ in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for goods imports?
- Zambia ranks 105th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is goods imports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 59.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Goods imports (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods occur when there are changes in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.