Food imports in Zambia
Zambia: Food imports was 7.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Zambia, 1966–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 7.8% for food imports in 2024.
The figure is up 14.1% on the previous year and up 67.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Zambia peaked at 13.6% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2013.
That places Zambia 172nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Food imports in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 10.3% | — |
| 1967 | 8.4% | -18.5% |
| 1970 | 10.6% | +26.0% |
| 1971 | 13.6% | +28.1% |
| 1972 | 10.5% | -22.5% |
| 1973 | 8.6% | -18.8% |
| 1974 | 10.2% | +19.4% |
| 1975 | 7.8% | -24.0% |
| 1976 | 8.2% | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 7.6% | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 8.1% | +6.9% |
| 1979 | 8.6% | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 9.9% | +14.9% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 8.5% | -22.4% |
| 1998 | 11.8% | +38.2% |
| 1999 | 10.0% | -14.6% |
| 2000 | 7.7% | -23.1% |
| 2001 | 8.9% | +15.3% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +22.6% |
| 2003 | 12.8% | +17.3% |
| 2004 | 7.0% | -45.4% |
| 2005 | 6.3% | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 7.7% | +23.3% |
| 2007 | 5.4% | -30.0% |
| 2008 | 5.6% | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | +16.9% |
| 2010 | 4.7% | -27.9% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | +10.8% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -24.5% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | +10.7% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | +28.8% |
| 2016 | 6.1% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -13.7% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | +37.6% |
| 2020 | 8.7% | +20.0% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 7.8% | -13.6% |
| 2023 | 6.9% | -11.7% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | +14.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 7.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.4%, 43% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 7.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.0%, 39% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.4% | 8.4% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.4% | 7.6% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.2% | 8.5% | 11.8% | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 5.4% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 4.2% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 6.9% | 9.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More private sector data for Zambia
- Merchandise trade 91.7% (2025)
- 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$), annual growth rate 18.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 601.03 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Zambia?
- Food imports in Zambia was 7.8% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 1971.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2013.
- How does Zambia rank for food imports?
- Zambia ranks 172nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.