Short-term debt in Zambia
Zambia: Short-term debt was 68.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Short-term debt in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total reserves.
Analysis
The most recent figure for short-term debt in Zambia is 68.3%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 36.5% on the previous year and up 156.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, short-term debt in Zambia peaked at 1,454.2% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 17.1%, in 2002.
That places Zambia 20th out of 111 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 total reserves | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 31.1% | — |
| 1971 | 58.8% | +89.1% |
| 1972 | 108.0% | +83.7% |
| 1973 | 96.6% | -10.5% |
| 1974 | 119.6% | +23.7% |
| 1975 | 200.1% | +67.3% |
| 1976 | 323.8% | +61.8% |
| 1977 | 687.8% | +112.4% |
| 1978 | 673.3% | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 341.0% | -49.3% |
| 1980 | 284.4% | -16.6% |
| 1981 | 428.8% | +50.8% |
| 1982 | 411.4% | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 371.4% | -9.7% |
| 1984 | 812.1% | +118.7% |
| 1985 | 333.2% | -59.0% |
| 1986 | 1,454.2% | +336.5% |
| 1987 | 1,035.8% | -28.8% |
| 1988 | 1,032.3% | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 1,259.5% | +22.0% |
| 1990 | 702.3% | -44.2% |
| 1991 | 697.5% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 674.0% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 302.1% | -55.2% |
| 1995 | 186.2% | -38.4% |
| 1996 | 213.9% | +14.9% |
| 1997 | 107.9% | -49.6% |
| 1998 | 472.9% | +338.3% |
| 1999 | 241.6% | -48.9% |
| 2000 | 31.2% | -87.1% |
| 2001 | 76.9% | +146.8% |
| 2002 | 17.1% | -77.7% |
| 2003 | 36.0% | +110.0% |
| 2004 | 40.6% | +12.8% |
| 2005 | 41.9% | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 58.8% | +40.5% |
| 2007 | 50.7% | -13.9% |
| 2008 | 59.2% | +16.8% |
| 2009 | 23.6% | -60.1% |
| 2010 | 54.9% | +132.9% |
| 2011 | 22.7% | -58.7% |
| 2012 | 27.0% | +19.0% |
| 2013 | 27.9% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 24.9% | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 32.4% | +30.0% |
| 2017 | 43.2% | +33.6% |
| 2018 | 39.6% | -8.4% |
| 2019 | 57.9% | +46.2% |
| 2020 | 60.6% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 51.4% | -15.2% |
| 2022 | 91.8% | +78.5% |
| 2023 | 107.4% | +17.0% |
| 2024 | 68.3% | -36.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 264.0% | 31.1% | 687.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 742.3% | 284.4% | 1,454.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 399.8% | 107.9% | 702.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 43.6% | 17.1% | 76.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.7% | 22.7% | 57.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.9% | 51.4% | 107.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 17 South Africa 71.6% compare
- 18 El Salvador 71.5% compare
- 19 Egypt 69.0% compare
- 21 Fiji 65.8% compare
- 22 North Macedonia 60.5% compare
- 23 Bangladesh 60.5% 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)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0875 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$), per capita 115.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.2 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU), per capita 2,897 current LCU per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.086 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant 2015 US$), per capita 113.36 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 722.42 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 14.41 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is short-term debt in Zambia?
- Short-term debt in Zambia was 68.3% in 2024, according to World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,454.2% in 1986.
- What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.1% in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for short-term debt?
- Zambia ranks 20th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is short-term debt rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 156.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Development Indicators, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of total reserves). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Total reserves includes gold.