Share of imports that come from China in Zambia
Zambia: Share of imports that come from China was 20.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of imports that come from China in Zambia, 1964–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of imports that come from china in Zambia is 20.7%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 21.3% on the previous year and up 140.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of imports that come from china in Zambia peaked at 20.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1964.
That places Zambia 71st out of 206 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of imports that come from China in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.1% | +186.3% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | +206.0% |
| 1968 | 0.3% | +86.4% |
| 1969 | 0.3% | -14.9% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | +129.0% |
| 1971 | 1.1% | +61.1% |
| 1972 | 2.6% | +141.9% |
| 1973 | 3.0% | +14.2% |
| 1974 | 5.4% | +79.8% |
| 1975 | 3.2% | -41.1% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | -30.4% |
| 1977 | 1.5% | -33.5% |
| 1978 | 1.5% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 0.4% | -71.1% |
| 1980 | 0.7% | +68.8% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +16.3% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -58.1% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -14.6% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +51.3% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | -76.0% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +171.9% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | +121.3% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -35.4% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -32.4% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -38.5% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | +204.7% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | +29.9% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -38.6% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +37.0% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | +64.6% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -35.3% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | +33.7% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | +24.2% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +244.9% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | -25.5% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | -22.1% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | +51.5% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | -17.1% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | +122.4% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | -25.7% |
| 2009 | 4.7% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | +15.3% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | +83.3% |
| 2012 | 9.9% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -48.6% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | +80.9% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 8.0% | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 12.8% | +60.6% |
| 2018 | 13.7% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 12.7% | -24.7% |
| 2022 | 15.5% | +22.2% |
| 2023 | 16.6% | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 17.1% | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 20.7% | +21.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 20.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.0%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 20.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.0%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 5 |
| 1970s | 2.2% | 0.4% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 1.0% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 5.1% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 12.7% | 20.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 share of imports that come from china in Zambia?
- Share of imports that come from china in Zambia was 20.7% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of imports that come from china recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of imports that come from china recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for share of imports that come from china?
- Zambia ranks 71st out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of imports that come from china rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 140.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of imports that come from China. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of a country's total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, that come from China.