Trade & investment · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Zambia: trade and investment
Exports is 35.0% (2024), 98th of 184 in the world and 16th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Imports is 27.6% (2024), 146th of 184 in the world and 30th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade openness is 62.5% (2024), 123rd of 184 in the world and 19th of 43 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
12 indicators
Trade & investment: Zambia in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 35.0%2024 | 98/184 | 16/43 | 23.9% | 37.0% | 46.7% | −3.8 ppsince 2014 | 27.9% | 23.2% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 27.6%2024 | 146/184 | 30/43 | 36.5% | 30.9% | 32.5% | −9.8 ppsince 2014 | 27.9% | 26.3% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 62.5%2024 | 123/184 | 19/43 | 60.4% | 67.9% | 79.2% | −13.7 ppsince 2014 | 55.7% | 46.6% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | -5.5%2025 | 137/185 | 27/42 | -18.4% | 7.5% | 11.8% | −1.8 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $13.3bn2025 | 93/206 | 8/48 | $892m | $7.2bn | $7.9bn | +102%since 2015 | $487bn | $1.1tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 1.5%2024 | 143/170 | 27/39 | · | 0.5% | 1.4% | −0.2 ppsince 2014 | 6.0% | 14.7% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 2.7%2024 | 92/172 | 14/39 | 1.3% | 0.5% | 1.7% | +1.5 ppsince 2014 | 40.9% | 24.8% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 8.7%2024 | 123/172 | 29/39 | 9.4% | 6.8% | 7.5% | −0.1 ppsince 2014 | 14.6% | 13.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 4.1%2022 | 93/184 | 38/45 | 14.3%2001 | 3.3% | 4.8% | +0.5 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 4.5%2025 | 46/197 | 15/46 | 3.4% | 8.5% | 1.4% | −3.0 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 1.4%2025 | 108/178 | 30/41 | · | 0.2% | 0.7% | +1.2 ppsince 2015 | 3.1% | 5.8% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 502,0002020 | 123/196 | 17/42 | 457,000 | 815,000 | 502,000 | −38%since 2010 | 56.0m | 208m | 2.4bn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
Zambia and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Zambia. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Zambia | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Tanzania | Angola | Mozambique | Malawi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 35.0%2024 | 43.4%2025 | 19.0%2025 | 23.0%2025 | 41.4%2025 | 10.6%2025 |
| Imports | 27.6%2024 | 43.9%2025 | 20.0%2025 | 11.7%2025 | 55.7%2025 | 28.8%2025 |
| Trade openness | 62.5%2024 | 87.3%2025 | 39.0%2025 | 34.6%2025 | 97.1%2025 | 39.4%2025 |
| Current account | -5.5%2025 | -4.3%2025 | -3.0%2024 | 0.3%2025 | -14.2%2025 | -14.0%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $13.3bn2025 | $32.1bn2025 | $10.0bn2025 | $32.5bn2025 | $8.1bn2025 | $947m2025 |
| High-tech exports | 1.5%2024 | 0.2%2023 | 3.0%2024 | 16.7%2024 | 3.6%2024 | 1.6%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 2.7%2024 | 1.8%2024 | 1.3%2025 | 91.5%2025 | 54.2%2025 | 0.0%2025 |
| Food exports | 8.7%2024 | 1.3%2024 | 31.0%2025 | 0.5%2025 | 12.4%2025 | 93.3%2025 |
| Average tariff | 4.1%2022 | 8.4%2020 | 8.6%2022 | 8.8%2022 | 4.2%2021 | 6.0%2021 |