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Total debt service in Zambia

Zambia: Total debt service was 30.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
30.5%
Change on year
up 270.5%
World rank
14th
of 120 countries
All-time high
52.1%
in 1986
All-time low
1.9%
in 2010
Years of data
42
1978–2024

Total debt service in Zambia, 1978–2024

02040601978200120241978: 31.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1979: 22.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1980: 25.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1981: 36 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1982: 31.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1983: 29.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1984: 25 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1985: 15.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1986: 52.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1987: 19 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1988: 15.1 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1989: 13.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1990: 14.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1991: 46.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1997: 19.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1998: 21 % of exports of goods, services and primary income1999: 16.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2000: 21.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2001: 17.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2002: 19.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2003: 43.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2004: 22.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2005: 10 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2006: 3.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2007: 2.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2008: 2.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2009: 3.5 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2010: 1.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2011: 2.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2012: 2.3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2013: 3 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2014: 3.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2015: 7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2016: 10.4 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2017: 9.9 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2018: 13.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2019: 32.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2020: 23.8 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2021: 14.6 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2022: 11.7 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2023: 8.2 % of exports of goods, services and primary income2024: 30.5 % 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 total debt service in Zambia is 30.5%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 270.5% on the previous year and up 673.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total debt service in Zambia peaked at 52.1% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2010.

That places Zambia 14th out of 120 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.

Total debt service in Zambia, year by year

Year % of exports of goods, services and primary income Change
1978 31.2% —
1979 22.1% -29.1%
1980 25.4% +14.7%
1981 36.0% +42.2%
1982 31.1% -13.7%
1983 29.1% -6.4%
1984 25.0% -14.2%
1985 15.7% -37.1%
1986 52.1% +231.2%
1987 19.0% -63.5%
1988 15.1% -20.5%
1989 13.3% -11.8%
1990 14.7% +10.6%
1991 46.9% +218.2%
1997 19.4% -58.7%
1998 21.0% +8.6%
1999 16.5% -21.6%
2000 21.2% +28.9%
2001 17.4% -18.2%
2002 19.8% +13.9%
2003 43.6% +120.2%
2004 22.3% -48.9%
2005 10.0% -55.0%
2006 3.2% -68.2%
2007 2.4% -25.2%
2008 2.9% +22.4%
2009 3.5% +18.8%
2010 1.9% -44.1%
2011 2.4% +23.9%
2012 2.3% -4.4%
2013 3.0% +32.8%
2014 3.9% +29.3%
2015 7.0% +78.4%
2016 10.4% +48.6%
2017 9.9% -5.2%
2018 13.7% +38.4%
2019 32.8% +139.5%
2020 23.8% -27.4%
2021 14.6% -38.5%
2022 11.7% -19.8%
2023 8.2% -30.0%
2024 30.5% +270.5%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 30.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 1.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 30.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.8%, 2.6× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Total debt service 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.

YearChange FromTo
2024 +270.5% 8.2% 30.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 26.6% 22.1% 31.2% 2
1980s 26.2% 13.3% 52.1% 10
1990s 23.7% 14.7% 46.9% 5
2000s 14.6% 2.4% 43.6% 10
2010s 8.7% 1.9% 32.8% 10
2020s 17.8% 8.2% 30.5% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 11 Uzbekistan 36.0% compare
  2. 12 Mongolia 32.0% compare
  3. 13 Jamaica 31.9% compare
  4. 15 Montenegro 29.8% compare
  5. 16 Dominica 29.4% compare
  6. 17 Angola 28.9% compare

See the full ranking of 132 places →

More economy & growth data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is total debt service in Zambia?
Total debt service in Zambia was 30.5% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest total debt service recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 52.1% in 1986.
What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2010.
How does Zambia rank for total debt service?
Zambia ranks 14th out of 120 countries with data for 2024.
Is total debt service rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 673.7%. 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 Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total debt service in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/total-debt-service-percent-of-exports-of-goods-services-and-primary-income/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Total debt service (% 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
132 places, 5,268 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Total debt service to exports of goods, services and primary income. Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF.