Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Zambia
Zambia: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region was 29.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 within region in Zambia is 29.5%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of 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 within region in Zambia peaked at 49.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1969.
Zambia ranks 57th of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 26.9%, 1.1× the median. (47 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
- 54 Japan 29.9% compare
- 55 Papua New Guinea 29.8% compare
- 56 Barbados 29.6% compare
- 58 Kyrgyzstan 28.3% compare
- 59 South Africa 28.3% compare
- 60 Guinea 28.3% 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)
- 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 within region in Zambia?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 within region recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 49.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 within region?
- Zambia ranks 57th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region 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 within region (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region 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. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.