Zambia - Economy
How is the economy of Zambia? Based on the information we have, Zambia has a lower middle-income Sub-Saharan economy; major copper exporter; high public debt is held mostly by China; systemic corruption; one of youngest and fastest growing labor forces; regional hydroelectricity exporter; extreme rural poverty. Key agricultural products in this country include: sugarcane, cassava, maize, milk, soybeans, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, beef, sweet potatoes (2022).
More about the economy of Zambia
Labor force 6.827 million (2022 est.)
Industrial production growth rate -2.23% (2022 est.)
Industries copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Population below poverty line 54.4% (2015 est.)
Taxes and other revenues 16.78% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Fiscal year
Exchange rates
Currency Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2022 16.938 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021 20.018 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020 18.344 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019 12.89 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2018 10.458 (2018 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 31 December 2017 $11.66 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
Debt - external 31 December 2016 $9.562 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022 $2.968 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021 $2.754 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020 $1.203 billion (2020 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022 $1.067 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021 $2.63 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020 $2.174 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2021 71.41% of GDP (2021 est.)
Public debt 2020 103.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Public debt 2019 61.93% of GDP (2019 est.)
Budget
Revenues $4.758 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures $7.044 billion (2019 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) -7.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022 0.83% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021 1.08% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2020 0.74% of GDP (2020 est.)
Household income
Lowest 10% 1.1%
Highest 10% 43.5% (2015 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022 $10.022 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021 $7.691 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020 $5.836 billion (2020 est.)
Imports (partners) South Africa 26%, Equatorial Guinea 18%, China 14%, UAE 7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6% (2022)
Comodities Imports force fertilizers, refined petroleum, trucks, copper ore, packaged medicine (2022)
Exports
Imports 2022 $10.022 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021 $7.691 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020 $5.836 billion (2020 est.)
Exports (partners) Switzerland 30%, China 18%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 10%, Pitcairn Islands 10%, UAE 7% (2022)
Comodities Exports force raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, iron alloys (2022)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022 $67.377 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021 $64.016 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020 $60.259 billion (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) $29.164 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP Per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022 $3,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2021 $3,300 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2020 $3,200 (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture 7.5% (2017 est.)
Industry 35.3% (2017 est.)
Services 57% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Household consumption 52.6% (2017 est.)
Government consumption 21% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital 27.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories 1.2% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services 43% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services -44.9% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022 4.37% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2021 5.2% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate 2020 6.03% (2020 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Total 26.1% (2021 est.)
Male 26.7%
Female 25.4%
All Important Facts about Zambia

Want to know more about Zambia? Check all different factbooks for Zambia below.

Zambia is found in Eastern Africa