Merchandise imports in Zambia
Zambia: Merchandise imports was 3.41 billion constant US$ in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2011)
3.41 billion constant US$
Change on year
up 25.1%
World rank
16th
of 45 countries
All-time high
3.41 billion constant US$
in 2011
All-time low
635.12 million constant US$
in 1986
Years of data
28
1983–2011
Merchandise imports in Zambia, 1983–2011
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in constant US$.
Analysis
In 2011, merchandise imports in Zambia stood at 3.41 billion constant US$. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.1% on the previous year and up 207.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in Zambia peaked at 3.41 billion constant US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 635.12 million constant US$, in 1986.
Zambia ranks 16th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports in Zambia, year by year
| Year | constant US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 873.16 million constant US$ | — |
| 1984 | 770.72 million constant US$ | -11.7% |
| 1985 | 901.09 million constant US$ | +16.9% |
| 1986 | 635.12 million constant US$ | -29.5% |
| 1987 | 668.60 million constant US$ | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 739.98 million constant US$ | +10.7% |
| 1989 | 851.01 million constant US$ | +15.0% |
| 1990 | 807.82 million constant US$ | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 848.48 million constant US$ | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 1.12 billion constant US$ | +31.6% |
| 1994 | 847.44 million constant US$ | -24.1% |
| 1995 | 939.22 million constant US$ | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 859.33 million constant US$ | -8.5% |
| 1997 | 1.07 billion constant US$ | +24.2% |
| 1998 | 877.12 million constant US$ | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 805.83 million constant US$ | -8.1% |
| 2000 | 825.57 million constant US$ | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.11 billion constant US$ | +34.3% |
| 2002 | 1.06 billion constant US$ | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 1.10 billion constant US$ | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 1.32 billion constant US$ | +20.8% |
| 2005 | 1.46 billion constant US$ | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 1.68 billion constant US$ | +15.1% |
| 2007 | 2.19 billion constant US$ | +30.8% |
| 2008 | 2.43 billion constant US$ | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 2.09 billion constant US$ | -14.2% |
| 2010 | 2.73 billion constant US$ | +30.7% |
| 2011 | 3.41 billion constant US$ | +25.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.41 billion constant US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.16 billion constant US$, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.41 billion constant US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.26 billion constant US$, 2.7× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 777.10 million constant US$ | 635.12 million constant US$ | 901.09 million constant US$ | 7 |
| 1990s | 907.73 million constant US$ | 805.83 million constant US$ | 1.12 billion constant US$ | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.53 billion constant US$ | 825.57 million constant US$ | 2.43 billion constant US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.07 billion constant US$ | 2.73 billion constant US$ | 3.41 billion constant US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More trade data for Zambia
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 119.45 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 105.29 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 103.77 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 116.15 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 98.55 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 71.85 (2025)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 1.81 (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 22.4 units per person (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0189 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 15.70 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports in Zambia?
- Merchandise imports in Zambia was 3.41 billion constant US$ in 2011, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.41 billion constant US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 635.12 million constant US$ in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for merchandise imports?
- Zambia ranks 16th out of 45 countries with data for 2011.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 207.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Merchandise imports (constant US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total merchandise imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in 1987 constant US dollars.