Real gdp growth in Zambia
Zambia: Real gdp growth was 3.82 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Real gdp growth in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.82 for real gdp growth in 2024.
The figure is down 28.8% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real gdp growth in Zambia peaked at 10.3 in 2010 and was at its lowest, -13.31, in 1994.
That places Zambia 81st out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Real gdp growth in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.85 | — |
| 1981 | 6.63 | +72.1% |
| 1982 | -2.91 | -143.9% |
| 1983 | -1.15 | -60.7% |
| 1984 | -1.72 | +50.0% |
| 1985 | 1.24 | -172.0% |
| 1986 | 1.7 | +37.3% |
| 1987 | 1.49 | -12.2% |
| 1988 | 9.27 | +521.8% |
| 1989 | -3.66 | -139.5% |
| 1990 | -0.579 | -84.2% |
| 1991 | -0.666 | +15.0% |
| 1992 | 2.05 | -408.1% |
| 1993 | -0.077 | -103.8% |
| 1994 | -13.31 | +17184.4% |
| 1995 | 2.9 | -121.8% |
| 1996 | 6.22 | +114.6% |
| 1997 | 3.81 | -38.7% |
| 1998 | -0.386 | -110.1% |
| 1999 | 4.65 | -1304.7% |
| 2000 | 3.9 | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 5.32 | +36.4% |
| 2002 | 4.51 | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 6.95 | +54.1% |
| 2004 | 7.03 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 7.24 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 7.9 | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 8.35 | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 7.77 | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 9.22 | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 10.3 | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 5.57 | -45.9% |
| 2012 | 7.6 | +36.4% |
| 2013 | 5.06 | -33.4% |
| 2014 | 4.69 | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 2.92 | -37.8% |
| 2016 | 3.76 | +28.6% |
| 2017 | 3.53 | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 4.04 | +14.4% |
| 2019 | 1.44 | -64.3% |
| 2020 | -2.79 | -293.3% |
| 2021 | 6.24 | -323.9% |
| 2022 | 5.21 | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 5.37 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 3.82 | -28.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.82 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.07, 94% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.82 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.52, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Real gdp growth in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | -17184.4% | -0.077 | -13.31 |
| 1999 | +1304.7% | -0.386 | 4.65 |
| 1988 | +521.8% | 1.49 | 9.27 |
| 1992 | +408.1% | -0.666 | 2.05 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.47 | -3.66 | 9.27 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4616 | -13.31 | 6.22 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.82 | 3.9 | 9.22 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.89 | 1.44 | 10.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.57 | -2.79 | 6.24 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 78 Andorra, Principality of 3.9 compare
- 79 Papua New Guinea 3.89 compare
- 80 Eritrea, The State of 3.84 compare
- 82 Morocco 3.79 compare
- 83 Cyprus 3.77 compare
- 84 Vanuatu 3.77 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 real gdp growth in Zambia?
- Real gdp growth in Zambia was 3.82 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest real gdp growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.3 in 2010.
- What is the lowest real gdp growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.31 in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for real gdp growth?
- Zambia ranks 81st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is real gdp growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Real gdp growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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