Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Zambia
Zambia: Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) was 63.68 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Zambia, 2000–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 63.68 for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 26.3% on the previous year and up 102.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Zambia peaked at 187.85 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 5.98, in 2008.
That places Zambia 3rd out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 173.64 | — |
| 2001 | 187.85 | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 160.85 | -14.4% |
| 2003 | 138.1 | -14.1% |
| 2004 | 110.83 | -19.7% |
| 2005 | 75.09 | -32.2% |
| 2006 | 7.53 | -90.0% |
| 2007 | 8.46 | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 5.98 | -29.3% |
| 2009 | 9.05 | +51.2% |
| 2010 | 7.31 | -19.2% |
| 2011 | 7.96 | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 13.18 | +65.4% |
| 2013 | 12.41 | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 17.72 | +42.8% |
| 2015 | 31.47 | +77.6% |
| 2016 | 37.68 | +19.8% |
| 2017 | 36.94 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 43.39 | +17.5% |
| 2019 | 56.81 | +30.9% |
| 2020 | 78.94 | +39.0% |
| 2021 | 66.57 | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 53.17 | -20.1% |
| 2023 | 57.95 | +9.0% |
| 2024 | 50.43 | -13.0% |
| 2025 | 63.68 | +26.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 63.68 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.53, 2.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 63.68 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.44, 2.1× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 87.74 | 5.98 | 187.85 | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.49 | 7.31 | 56.81 | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.79 | 50.43 | 78.94 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 1 Senegal 85.64 compare
- 2 Mozambique 70.65 compare
- 4 Rwanda 61.93 compare
- 5 Eritrea 61.73 compare
- 6 Cape Verde 61.21 compare
More external debt data for Zambia
- IFC, private nonguaranteed -21.36 million NFL, US$ (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per capita -1 NFL, US$ per person (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per unit of GDP -0.0008 NFL, US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- IFC, private nonguaranteed (NFL, US$), per square kilometre 5.15 NFL, US$ per square kilometre (2023)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 3.0% (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA 334.58 million NFL, current US$ (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per capita 15.7 NFL, current US$ per person (2024)
- Net financial flows, IDA (NFL, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0132 NFL, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Net financial flows, IBRD -3.28 million NFL, current US$ (2004)
- Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 5.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Zambia?
- Gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) in Zambia was 63.68 in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 187.85 in 2001.
- What is the lowest gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.98 in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and)?
- Zambia ranks 3rd out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gross external debt, percent of gdp (balance of payments and) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 102.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross external debt, Percent of GDP (Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6)). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Economic Outlook (REO) provides information on recent economic developments and prospects for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Data for the REO for sub-Saharan Africa are prepared in conjunction with the semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercises, spring and fall.