Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) in Zambia
Zambia: Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) was 14.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Manufactures exports in Zambia, 1966–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, manufactures exports in Zambia stood at 14.1%.
The figure is up 9.8% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures exports in Zambia peaked at 26.0% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1966.
That places Zambia 131st out of 196 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.
Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.2% | — |
| 1967 | 0.2% | +36.6% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | -23.3% |
| 1971 | 0.4% | +166.7% |
| 1972 | 0.4% | -11.1% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | -11.5% |
| 1974 | 0.4% | +29.2% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | +52.6% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -39.5% |
| 1977 | 0.9% | +118.0% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -13.0% |
| 1979 | 0.7% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | +611.7% |
| 1995 | 6.9% | +32.4% |
| 1996 | 9.6% | +37.5% |
| 1997 | 12.9% | +35.0% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 17.5% | +25.4% |
| 2000 | 19.8% | +12.9% |
| 2001 | 22.5% | +13.8% |
| 2002 | 22.0% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 21.3% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 26.0% | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 15.5% | -40.3% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | -37.1% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | +25.7% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 9.6% | -19.5% |
| 2010 | 8.1% | -16.4% |
| 2011 | 9.6% | +19.2% |
| 2012 | 13.0% | +35.7% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | -21.4% |
| 2016 | 13.1% | +21.3% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | -21.8% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | +29.9% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | -28.8% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | +11.4% |
| 2023 | 12.8% | +15.3% |
| 2024 | 14.1% | +9.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.3%, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.5%, 1.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +611.7% | 0.7% | 5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.0% | 5.2% | 17.5% | 6 |
| 2000s | 17.1% | 9.6% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.0% | 8.1% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 10.0% | 14.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 128 Burundi 15.2% compare
- 129 Antigua and Barbuda 14.8% compare
- 130 Uganda 14.3% compare
- 132 New Zealand 14.0% compare
- 133 Iceland 14.0% compare
- 134 Cape Verde 13.6% compare
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)
- Commercial service imports 2.17 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 8.7% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 13.31 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 1.39 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures exports in Zambia?
- Manufactures exports in Zambia was 14.1% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures exports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.0% in 2004.
- What is the lowest manufactures exports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1966.
- How does Zambia rank for manufactures exports?
- Zambia ranks 131st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is manufactures exports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-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.