Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) in Zambia
Zambia: Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) was 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in Zambia, 1978–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in Zambia stood at 14.05 billion BoP, current US$. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 16.5% on the previous year and up 58.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Zambia peaked at 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 716.60 million BoP, current US$, in 1986.
Zambia ranks 111th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.2% |
| 1980 | 1.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +45.6% |
| 1981 | 1.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.5% |
| 1982 | 1.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1983 | 1.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.0% |
| 1984 | 902.60 million BoP, current US$ | -13.6% |
| 1985 | 825.90 million BoP, current US$ | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 716.60 million BoP, current US$ | -13.2% |
| 1987 | 808.30 million BoP, current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1988 | 976.30 million BoP, current US$ | +20.8% |
| 1989 | 1.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.7% |
| 1990 | 1.90 billion BoP, current US$ | +55.8% |
| 1991 | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.2% |
| 1997 | 1.34 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1998 | 1.25 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 1.18 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 1.62 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.4% |
| 2002 | 1.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 1.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2004 | 2.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.1% |
| 2005 | 2.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.3% |
| 2006 | 3.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.4% |
| 2007 | 4.45 billion BoP, current US$ | +41.1% |
| 2008 | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.2% |
| 2009 | 4.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.2% |
| 2010 | 5.60 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.0% |
| 2011 | 7.55 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.8% |
| 2012 | 9.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.7% |
| 2013 | 11.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 10.24 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 8.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.4% |
| 2016 | 7.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.6% |
| 2017 | 8.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 10.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2019 | 8.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -21.2% |
| 2020 | 5.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.0% |
| 2021 | 7.69 billion BoP, current US$ | +31.1% |
| 2022 | 10.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.3% |
| 2023 | 10.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 12.06 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2025 | 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.62 billion BoP, current US$, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.19 billion BoP, current US$, 2.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.21 billion BoP, current US$ | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 716.60 million BoP, current US$ | 1.77 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.90 billion BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.31 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.39 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.74 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 11.01 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 108 Kyrgyzstan 15.10 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 109 Senegal 14.92 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 110 North Macedonia 14.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 112 Albania 13.07 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 113 Moldova 12.29 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 114 Laos 11.83 billion BoP, current US$ 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)
- 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)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0464 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in Zambia?
- Imports of goods and services in Zambia was 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.05 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 716.60 million BoP, current US$ in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for imports of goods and services?
- Zambia ranks 111th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.4%. 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 Imports of goods and services (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.