Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Zambia
Zambia: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 5.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Zambia, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 5.7% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in 2023.
The figure is down 16.4% on the previous year and up 47.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Zambia peaked at 6.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1964.
Zambia ranks 48th of 205 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 South in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.7% | — |
| 1965 | 1.1% | +55.9% |
| 1966 | 1.3% | +21.7% |
| 1967 | 1.1% | -16.2% |
| 1968 | 1.0% | -11.7% |
| 1969 | 0.8% | -15.5% |
| 1970 | 1.0% | +23.7% |
| 1971 | 1.1% | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 1.6% | +51.4% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -6.6% |
| 1974 | 1.7% | +12.9% |
| 1975 | 1.2% | -26.7% |
| 1976 | 1.9% | +55.0% |
| 1977 | 1.9% | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 2.0% | +12.8% |
| 1980 | 2.0% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 2.9% | +49.8% |
| 1982 | 2.4% | -18.4% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.8% | -22.8% |
| 1985 | 1.3% | -29.2% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | -11.6% |
| 1988 | 4.1% | +252.1% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -41.5% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 4.6% | +59.6% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | -31.7% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | -58.4% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +225.7% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | -41.3% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | +32.9% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | -27.8% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -33.4% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | +20.5% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | +100.8% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -40.2% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | +28.8% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | +44.9% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | -8.9% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -20.0% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | +24.3% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -30.6% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +60.8% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | +14.7% |
| 2021 | 6.3% | +9.5% |
| 2022 | 6.9% | +9.0% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -16.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 5.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 2.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 5.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +252.1% | 1.2% | 4.1% |
| 1994 | +225.7% | 1.3% | 4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 6 |
| 1970s | 1.6% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.2% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.0% | 1.3% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 1.7% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 2.8% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.2% | 5.7% | 6.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 45 Saudi Arabia 6.1% compare
- 46 Cote d'Ivoire 5.9% compare
- 47 Burkina Faso 5.9% compare
- 49 Bahrain 5.7% compare
- 50 Kosovo 5.5% compare
- 50 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 5.5% 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Zambia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Zambia was 5.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Zambia ranks 48th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.3%. 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 imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia 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.