Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia
Zambia: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in was 29.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia is 29.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.8% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia peaked at 49.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1969.
That places Zambia 20th out of 204 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 13.3% | — |
| 1965 | 11.2% | -15.6% |
| 1966 | 8.6% | -23.4% |
| 1967 | 7.7% | -9.7% |
| 1968 | 3.5% | -55.0% |
| 1969 | 2.1% | -40.6% |
| 1970 | 2.3% | +8.7% |
| 1971 | 4.2% | +87.9% |
| 1972 | 3.8% | -10.1% |
| 1973 | 2.2% | -43.5% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | +56.3% |
| 1975 | 3.3% | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | -7.9% |
| 1977 | 3.2% | +7.3% |
| 1978 | 3.1% | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 3.2% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 3.9% | +23.3% |
| 1981 | 4.5% | +16.7% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | +30.4% |
| 1983 | 5.9% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 8.0% | +41.0% |
| 1986 | 6.8% | -14.8% |
| 1987 | 6.3% | -7.2% |
| 1988 | 6.5% | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 9.1% | +39.0% |
| 1990 | 8.2% | -9.3% |
| 1991 | 14.0% | +69.8% |
| 1992 | 9.9% | -29.4% |
| 1993 | 5.6% | -43.6% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +132.4% |
| 1995 | 13.0% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 23.1% | +77.5% |
| 1997 | 13.7% | -40.8% |
| 1998 | 23.8% | +74.1% |
| 1999 | 44.7% | +87.3% |
| 2000 | 44.7% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 31.3% | -30.0% |
| 2002 | 36.4% | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 45.5% | +25.2% |
| 2004 | 49.3% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 24.3% | -50.7% |
| 2006 | 20.0% | -17.9% |
| 2007 | 24.1% | +20.6% |
| 2008 | 20.7% | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 23.3% | +12.2% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | -17.0% |
| 2011 | 22.5% | +16.7% |
| 2012 | 28.9% | +28.1% |
| 2013 | 30.9% | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 24.7% | -20.1% |
| 2015 | 24.5% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 21.9% | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 19.5% | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 20.8% | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 24.0% | +15.6% |
| 2020 | 21.1% | -12.2% |
| 2021 | 19.3% | -8.6% |
| 2022 | 24.9% | +29.0% |
| 2023 | 29.5% | +18.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 29.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 5.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 29.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.7% | 2.1% | 13.3% | 6 |
| 1970s | 3.2% | 2.2% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.3% | 3.9% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.9% | 5.6% | 44.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.0% | 20.0% | 49.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.7% | 19.3% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.7% | 19.3% | 29.5% | 4 |
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 merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in in Zambia was 29.5% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 49.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1969.
- How does Zambia rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in?
- Zambia ranks 20th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Sub-Saharan Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.