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Short-term debt in Zambia

Zambia: Short-term debt was 21.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
21.7%
Change on year
down 26.6%
World rank
34th
of 119 countries
All-time high
140.4%
in 1986
All-time low
5.6%
in 2011
Years of data
42
1978–2024

Short-term debt in Zambia, 1978–2024

0501001501978200120241978: 68.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1979: 42.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1980: 36.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1981: 52.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1982: 60 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1983: 49.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1984: 45.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1985: 77.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1986: 140.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1987: 127.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1988: 115 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1989: 108.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1990: 103.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1991: 106 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1997: 20.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1998: 34.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1999: 11.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2000: 8.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2001: 13.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2002: 8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2003: 6.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2004: 6.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2005: 8.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2006: 9.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2007: 10.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2008: 11.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2009: 9.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2010: 14.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2011: 5.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2012: 7.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2013: 6.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2014: 7.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2015: 9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2016: 10.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2017: 9.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2018: 6.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2019: 10.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2020: 8.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2021: 12.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2022: 21.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2023: 29.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2024: 21.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of exports of goods, services and primary income.

Analysis

The most recent figure for short-term debt in Zambia is 21.7%, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 26.6% on the previous year and up 194.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, short-term debt in Zambia peaked at 140.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2011.

That places Zambia 34th out of 119 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.

Short-term debt in Zambia, year by year

Year % of exports of goods, services and primary income Change
1978 68.3% —
1979 42.5% -37.8%
1980 36.1% -15.0%
1981 52.2% +44.7%
1982 60.0% +14.9%
1983 49.8% -17.1%
1984 45.8% -8.0%
1985 77.2% +68.7%
1986 140.4% +81.8%
1987 127.4% -9.3%
1988 115.0% -9.7%
1989 108.6% -5.5%
1990 103.8% -4.5%
1991 106.0% +2.2%
1997 20.3% -80.8%
1998 34.2% +68.0%
1999 11.9% -65.2%
2000 8.6% -28.1%
2001 13.1% +53.1%
2002 8.0% -38.9%
2003 6.9% -13.2%
2004 6.5% -6.5%
2005 8.2% +27.0%
2006 9.3% +12.4%
2007 10.5% +13.2%
2008 11.4% +9.1%
2009 9.1% -20.6%
2010 14.3% +56.8%
2011 5.6% -60.8%
2012 7.8% +39.6%
2013 6.5% -17.3%
2014 7.4% +14.5%
2015 9.0% +21.5%
2016 10.2% +13.3%
2017 9.8% -3.3%
2018 6.2% -36.8%
2019 10.1% +62.7%
2020 8.5% -16.0%
2021 12.1% +42.1%
2022 21.8% +81.1%
2023 29.6% +35.5%
2024 21.7% -26.6%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 21.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 13.3%, 1.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 21.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.1%, 2.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 55.4% 42.5% 68.3% 2
1980s 81.2% 36.1% 140.4% 10
1990s 55.2% 11.9% 106.0% 5
2000s 9.2% 6.5% 13.1% 10
2010s 8.7% 5.6% 14.3% 10
2020s 18.8% 8.5% 29.6% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 31 Pakistan 23.3% compare
  2. 32 Bosnia and Herzegovina 22.9% compare
  3. 33 El Salvador 22.4% compare
  4. 35 Indonesia 20.9% compare
  5. 36 Tanzania 20.8% compare
  6. 37 Kazakhstan 20.5% compare

See the full ranking of 151 places →

More economy & growth data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is short-term debt in Zambia?
Short-term debt in Zambia was 21.7% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 140.4% in 1986.
What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2011.
How does Zambia rank for short-term debt?
Zambia ranks 34th out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
Is short-term debt rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 194.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Short-term debt in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/short-term-debt-percent-of-exports-of-goods-services-and-primary-income/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Short-term debt (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Unit
% of exports of goods, services and primary income
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
151 places, 5,838 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Short-term external debt is defined as debt that has an original maturity of one year or less. Available data permit no distinction between public and private nonguaranteed short-term debt. Exports of goods, services and primary income is the sum of goods (merchandise) exports, exports of (nonfactor) services and income (factor) receipts.