Net foreign assets in Zambia
Zambia: Net foreign assets was 85.43 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net foreign assets in Zambia, 1965–2025
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, net foreign assets in Zambia stood at 85.43 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 60 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 188.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net foreign assets in Zambia peaked at 85.43 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, -3.08 billion current LCU, in 2001.
That places Zambia 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net foreign assets in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 148,594 current LCU | — |
| 1966 | 157,984 current LCU | +6.3% |
| 1967 | 134,394 current LCU | -14.9% |
| 1968 | 140,230 current LCU | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 267,846 current LCU | +91.0% |
| 1970 | 381,499 current LCU | +42.4% |
| 1971 | 181,914 current LCU | -52.3% |
| 1972 | 75,078 current LCU | -58.7% |
| 1973 | 67,387 current LCU | -10.2% |
| 1974 | 74,910 current LCU | +11.2% |
| 1975 | 15,575 current LCU | -79.2% |
| 1976 | -30,216 current LCU | -294.0% |
| 1977 | -67,742 current LCU | +124.2% |
| 1978 | -699,258 current LCU | +932.2% |
| 1979 | -581,966 current LCU | -16.8% |
| 1980 | -756,413 current LCU | +30.0% |
| 1981 | -1.10 million current LCU | +45.0% |
| 1982 | -1.24 million current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1983 | -1.55 million current LCU | +25.5% |
| 1984 | -2.29 million current LCU | +47.7% |
| 1985 | -4.64 million current LCU | +102.7% |
| 1986 | -11.02 million current LCU | +137.3% |
| 1987 | -8.46 million current LCU | -23.3% |
| 1988 | -11.86 million current LCU | +40.2% |
| 1989 | -25.81 million current LCU | +117.6% |
| 1990 | -51.16 million current LCU | +98.2% |
| 1991 | -101.73 million current LCU | +98.9% |
| 1993 | -495.90 million current LCU | +387.4% |
| 1994 | -787.63 million current LCU | +58.8% |
| 1995 | 149.34 million current LCU | -119.0% |
| 1996 | 245.91 million current LCU | +64.7% |
| 1997 | 378.97 million current LCU | +54.1% |
| 1998 | 328.29 million current LCU | -13.4% |
| 1999 | 508.26 million current LCU | +54.8% |
| 2000 | 973.21 million current LCU | +91.5% |
| 2001 | -3.08 billion current LCU | -416.3% |
| 2002 | -3.00 billion current LCU | -2.5% |
| 2003 | -3.02 billion current LCU | +0.5% |
| 2004 | -2.11 billion current LCU | -30.1% |
| 2005 | -352.67 million current LCU | -83.3% |
| 2006 | 3.50 billion current LCU | -1092.0% |
| 2007 | 4.55 billion current LCU | +30.1% |
| 2008 | 4.98 billion current LCU | +9.5% |
| 2009 | 4.91 billion current LCU | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 6.69 billion current LCU | +36.2% |
| 2011 | 9.39 billion current LCU | +40.4% |
| 2012 | 12.01 billion current LCU | +27.9% |
| 2013 | 11.66 billion current LCU | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 15.31 billion current LCU | +31.2% |
| 2015 | 29.57 billion current LCU | +93.2% |
| 2016 | 21.88 billion current LCU | -26.0% |
| 2017 | 21.98 billion current LCU | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 24.81 billion current LCU | +12.8% |
| 2019 | 24.25 billion current LCU | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 38.98 billion current LCU | +60.8% |
| 2021 | 37.62 billion current LCU | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 50.56 billion current LCU | +34.4% |
| 2023 | 56.46 billion current LCU | +11.7% |
| 2024 | 81.97 billion current LCU | +45.2% |
| 2025 | 85.43 billion current LCU | +4.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 85.43 billion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 256.19 billion current LCU, 33% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 85.43 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 241.93 billion current LCU, 35% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net foreign assets 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +1092.0% | -352.67 million current LCU | 3.50 billion current LCU |
| 1978 | -932.2% | -67,742 current LCU | -699,258 current LCU |
| 2001 | -416.3% | 973.21 million current LCU | -3.08 billion current LCU |
| 1993 | -387.4% | -101.73 million current LCU | -495.90 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 169,810 current LCU | 134,394 current LCU | 267,846 current LCU | 5 |
| 1970s | -58,282 current LCU | -699,258 current LCU | 381,499 current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | -6.87 million current LCU | -25.81 million current LCU | -756,413 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.37 million current LCU | -787.63 million current LCU | 508.26 million current LCU | 9 |
| 2000s | 736.46 million current LCU | -3.08 billion current LCU | 4.98 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.76 billion current LCU | 6.69 billion current LCU | 29.57 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.50 billion current LCU | 37.62 billion current LCU | 85.43 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More financial sector data for Zambia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0011 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0008 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0011 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net foreign assets in Zambia?
- Net foreign assets in Zambia was 85.43 billion current LCU in 2025, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net foreign assets recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 85.43 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest net foreign assets recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.08 billion current LCU in 2001.
- How does Zambia rank for net foreign assets?
- Zambia ranks 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net foreign assets rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 188.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net foreign assets (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net foreign assets are the sum of foreign assets held by monetary authorities and deposit money banks, less their foreign liabilities. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.