Total debt service in Zambia
Zambia: Total debt service was 17.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total debt service in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total debt service in Zambia is 17.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 374.7% on the previous year and up 957.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total debt service in Zambia peaked at 73.3% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2010.
That places Zambia 6th out of 122 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
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 GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.3% | — |
| 1971 | 5.7% | +30.4% |
| 1972 | 7.1% | +25.4% |
| 1973 | 17.1% | +141.2% |
| 1974 | 5.0% | -71.0% |
| 1975 | 7.5% | +50.4% |
| 1976 | 7.2% | -3.4% |
| 1977 | 10.7% | +48.9% |
| 1978 | 11.3% | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 11.1% | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 11.5% | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 10.8% | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 9.2% | -14.7% |
| 1983 | 9.7% | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 9.9% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | -31.0% |
| 1986 | 28.4% | +313.6% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | -68.7% |
| 1988 | 5.7% | -36.1% |
| 1989 | 5.3% | -7.0% |
| 1990 | 6.7% | +26.0% |
| 1991 | 19.8% | +197.1% |
| 1992 | 12.2% | -38.5% |
| 1993 | 12.0% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 10.9% | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 73.3% | +569.3% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | -89.9% |
| 1997 | 6.1% | -17.9% |
| 1998 | 6.1% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -23.0% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | +17.2% |
| 2001 | 4.8% | -13.4% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +17.9% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | +109.5% |
| 2004 | 8.1% | -31.4% |
| 2005 | 3.7% | -54.2% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -66.0% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | -20.2% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -27.5% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | +22.9% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | +36.6% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | +24.8% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | +69.2% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | +38.7% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | +44.5% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | +124.5% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 8.4% | -28.4% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | -37.0% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -31.3% |
| 2024 | 17.3% | +374.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.7% | 4.3% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.6% | 5.3% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 4.7% | 73.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 1.0% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 0.8% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.3% | 3.7% | 17.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 3 Mozambique 22.4% compare
- 4 Suriname 20.5% compare
- 5 Papua New Guinea 20.4% compare
- 7 Kazakhstan 17.3% compare
- 8 Georgia 15.2% compare
- 9 Montenegro 15.0% 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 total debt service in Zambia?
- Total debt service in Zambia was 17.3% 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 73.3% in 1995.
- What is the lowest total debt service recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2010.
- How does Zambia rank for total debt service?
- Zambia ranks 6th out of 122 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total debt service rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 957.5%. 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 GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.