Imports of goods and services in Zambia
Zambia: Imports of goods and services was 27.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Imports of goods and services in Zambia, 1994–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in Zambia is 27.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 26.3% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Zambia peaked at 42.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 25.3%, in 2006.
Zambia ranks 155th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Imports of goods and services in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 33.7% | — |
| 1995 | 36.3% | +7.8% |
| 1996 | 35.3% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 30.9% | -12.6% |
| 1998 | 31.6% | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 34.7% | +9.8% |
| 2000 | 36.5% | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 39.6% | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 37.8% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 36.6% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 37.3% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 31.6% | -15.2% |
| 2006 | 25.3% | -20.0% |
| 2007 | 32.2% | +27.4% |
| 2008 | 30.5% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 26.9% | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 32.3% | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 35.3% | +9.2% |
| 2013 | 40.0% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 37.4% | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 42.7% | +14.3% |
| 2016 | 38.6% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 36.6% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 36.9% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 34.2% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 32.5% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 34.0% | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 29.1% | -14.4% |
| 2023 | 37.4% | +28.5% |
| 2024 | 27.6% | -26.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 27.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 66% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 27.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.0%, 92% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.8% | 30.9% | 36.3% | 6 |
| 2000s | 33.4% | 25.3% | 39.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.5% | 30.9% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.1% | 27.6% | 37.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 152 Saudi Arabia 28.2% compare
- 153 Ecuador 27.9% compare
- 154 Dominican Republic 27.9% compare
- 156 Guinea-Bissau 27.0% compare
- 157 Mali 26.7% compare
- 158 New Zealand 26.0% 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 imports of goods and services in Zambia?
- Imports of goods and services in Zambia was 27.6% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.7% in 2015.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.3% in 2006.
- How does Zambia rank for imports of goods and services?
- Zambia ranks 155th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.