Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Zambia
Zambia: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East was 18.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Zambia, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Zambia is 18.1%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 186.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Zambia peaked at 18.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1964.
Zambia ranks 105th of 206 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.1% | +399.2% |
| 1966 | 0.3% | +214.3% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | -36.1% |
| 1968 | 0.5% | +126.1% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | +41.1% |
| 1970 | 1.1% | +60.0% |
| 1971 | 1.6% | +47.0% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | +86.3% |
| 1973 | 3.2% | +10.0% |
| 1974 | 5.3% | +65.9% |
| 1975 | 3.3% | -37.3% |
| 1976 | 2.5% | -24.5% |
| 1977 | 1.8% | -26.3% |
| 1978 | 2.3% | +23.1% |
| 1979 | 0.7% | -67.2% |
| 1980 | 1.0% | +37.0% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -26.3% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | -26.8% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.5% | -15.1% |
| 1985 | 0.6% | +22.1% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | +28.2% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | -39.7% |
| 1988 | 0.9% | +102.8% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -49.9% |
| 1990 | 0.7% | +62.2% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | -19.6% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | +25.1% |
| 1993 | 0.9% | +18.6% |
| 1994 | 1.2% | +38.3% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -41.2% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | +52.3% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +27.5% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | -27.8% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | +42.0% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +184.1% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | -33.1% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -21.1% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | +46.7% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | -15.5% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | +120.1% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | -25.3% |
| 2009 | 5.5% | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 10.5% | +80.1% |
| 2012 | 10.7% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | -40.9% |
| 2014 | 9.9% | +56.7% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | +47.7% |
| 2018 | 14.1% | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 18.2% | +19.4% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | -17.3% |
| 2022 | 17.3% | +14.6% |
| 2023 | 18.1% | +4.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 18.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.4%, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 18.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.6%, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +399.2% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 6 |
| 1970s | 2.5% | 0.7% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.9% | 1.7% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.4% | 5.8% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.2% | 15.1% | 18.2% | 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Zambia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Zambia was 18.1% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east?
- Zambia ranks 105th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 186.6%. 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.