Transport services in Zambia
Zambia: Transport services was 4.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Transport services in Zambia, 1978–2024
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service exports.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 4.9% for transport services in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 27.8% on the previous year and down 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in Zambia peaked at 82.0% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2005.
That places Zambia 167th out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Transport services in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 74.9% | — |
| 1979 | 76.2% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 68.3% | -10.4% |
| 1981 | 61.4% | -10.1% |
| 1982 | 69.1% | +12.7% |
| 1983 | 70.8% | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 73.8% | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 79.8% | +8.1% |
| 1986 | 74.4% | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 76.9% | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 82.0% | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 78.3% | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 68.9% | -12.0% |
| 1991 | 71.2% | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 64.3% | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 58.2% | -9.4% |
| 1999 | 47.8% | -17.8% |
| 2000 | 37.3% | -22.1% |
| 2001 | 37.5% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 35.1% | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 30.1% | -14.2% |
| 2004 | 30.0% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | -90.6% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | +51.0% |
| 2007 | 4.1% | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 4.9% | +19.1% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | +58.0% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -27.0% |
| 2013 | 8.5% | +48.2% |
| 2014 | 7.2% | -15.9% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -29.5% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -14.8% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | +30.7% |
| 2018 | 5.6% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | -25.4% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +97.5% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +53.5% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -42.5% |
| 2023 | 6.8% | -7.3% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | -27.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 75.5% | 74.9% | 76.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 73.5% | 61.4% | 82.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 62.1% | 47.8% | 71.2% | 5 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 2.8% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 4.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 4.9% | 12.8% | 5 |
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 transport services in Zambia?
- Transport services in Zambia was 4.9% in 2024, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 1988.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2005.
- How does Zambia rank for transport services?
- Zambia ranks 167th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is transport services rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are commercial services provided by residents to non-residents.