Commercial service imports in Zambia
Zambia: Commercial service imports was 1.96 billion current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Commercial service imports in Zambia, 1978–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for commercial service imports in Zambia is 1.96 billion current US$, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is up 15.3% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in Zambia peaked at 1.96 billion current US$ in 2024 and was at its lowest, 179.20 million current US$, in 1986.
That places Zambia 126th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 397.70 million current US$ | — |
| 1979 | 444.70 million current US$ | +11.8% |
| 1980 | 638.40 million current US$ | +43.6% |
| 1981 | 562.30 million current US$ | -11.9% |
| 1982 | 389.40 million current US$ | -30.7% |
| 1983 | 320.80 million current US$ | -17.6% |
| 1984 | 280.70 million current US$ | -12.5% |
| 1985 | 249.20 million current US$ | -11.2% |
| 1986 | 179.20 million current US$ | -28.1% |
| 1987 | 207.40 million current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1988 | 260.40 million current US$ | +25.6% |
| 1989 | 408.10 million current US$ | +56.7% |
| 1990 | 370.10 million current US$ | -9.3% |
| 1991 | 352.30 million current US$ | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 281.70 million current US$ | -20.0% |
| 1998 | 278.00 million current US$ | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 297.60 million current US$ | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 322.33 million current US$ | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 353.13 million current US$ | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 360.60 million current US$ | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 387.80 million current US$ | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 417.80 million current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 387.12 million current US$ | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 487.54 million current US$ | +25.9% |
| 2007 | 806.90 million current US$ | +65.5% |
| 2008 | 804.95 million current US$ | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 640.20 million current US$ | -20.5% |
| 2010 | 849.42 million current US$ | +32.7% |
| 2011 | 1.05 billion current US$ | +23.8% |
| 2012 | 1.29 billion current US$ | +22.7% |
| 2013 | 1.77 billion current US$ | +37.2% |
| 2014 | 1.60 billion current US$ | -9.9% |
| 2015 | 1.38 billion current US$ | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 1.34 billion current US$ | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 1.42 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 1.62 billion current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2019 | 1.47 billion current US$ | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 1.04 billion current US$ | -29.4% |
| 2021 | 1.28 billion current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 1.85 billion current US$ | +45.3% |
| 2023 | 1.70 billion current US$ | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 1.96 billion current US$ | +15.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.96 billion current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.37 billion current US$, 83% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.96 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.39 billion current US$, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 421.20 million current US$ | 397.70 million current US$ | 444.70 million current US$ | 2 |
| 1980s | 349.59 million current US$ | 179.20 million current US$ | 638.40 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 315.94 million current US$ | 278.00 million current US$ | 370.10 million current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 496.84 million current US$ | 322.33 million current US$ | 806.90 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.38 billion current US$ | 849.42 million current US$ | 1.77 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.57 billion current US$ | 1.04 billion current US$ | 1.96 billion current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More private sector data for Zambia
- Merchandise trade 91.7% (2025)
- Food imports 7.8% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 64.4% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 13.17 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 8.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 14.1% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 13.31 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 607.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.461 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 18.07 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in Zambia?
- Commercial service imports in Zambia was 1.96 billion current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.96 billion current US$ in 2024.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 179.20 million current US$ in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for commercial service imports?
- Zambia ranks 126th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.