Total reserves in months of imports in Zambia
Zambia: Total reserves in months of imports was 3.29 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in months of imports in Zambia, 1978–2024
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.29 for total reserves in months of imports in 2024.
The figure is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in months of imports in Zambia peaked at 5.04 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.4028, in 1999.
Zambia ranks 115th of 178 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.
Total reserves in months of imports in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 0.9752 | — |
| 1979 | 1.65 | +68.8% |
| 1980 | 1.25 | -24.4% |
| 1981 | 0.9603 | -22.9% |
| 1982 | 1.17 | +21.7% |
| 1983 | 1.28 | +9.6% |
| 1984 | 0.6036 | -52.9% |
| 1985 | 1.95 | +222.7% |
| 1986 | 0.8017 | -58.8% |
| 1987 | 1.17 | +45.8% |
| 1988 | 1.06 | -9.5% |
| 1989 | 0.8553 | -19.2% |
| 1990 | 1.03 | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 1.27 | +23.3% |
| 1997 | 1.76 | +37.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5524 | -68.6% |
| 1999 | 0.4028 | -27.1% |
| 2000 | 1.87 | +365.3% |
| 2001 | 1.21 | -35.6% |
| 2002 | 3.41 | +182.3% |
| 2003 | 1.49 | -56.2% |
| 2004 | 1.57 | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 2.11 | +34.8% |
| 2006 | 1.99 | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 2.19 | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 1.93 | -12.0% |
| 2009 | 5.04 | +161.1% |
| 2010 | 3.61 | -28.4% |
| 2011 | 3.2 | -11.2% |
| 2012 | 3.8 | +18.8% |
| 2013 | 2.65 | -30.4% |
| 2014 | 3.14 | +18.7% |
| 2015 | 3.86 | +22.9% |
| 2016 | 3.26 | -15.5% |
| 2017 | 2.51 | -23.0% |
| 2018 | 1.77 | -29.5% |
| 2019 | 2.05 | +15.6% |
| 2020 | 2.16 | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 3.51 | +62.4% |
| 2022 | 3.05 | -13.0% |
| 2023 | 3.02 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 3.29 | +9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.31 | 0.9752 | 1.65 | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.11 | 0.6036 | 1.95 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1 | 0.4028 | 1.76 | 5 |
| 2000s | 2.28 | 1.21 | 5.04 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.98 | 1.77 | 3.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.01 | 2.16 | 3.51 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More financial sector data for Zambia
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per capita 7,869 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP 5.97 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), annual growth rate 13.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gold reserves at 35 SDRs per ounce 0 SDR (2020)
- Gold reserves at market value 0 SDR (2020)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange 1.08 billion SDR (2024)
- Reserves excluding gold 3.14 billion SDR (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) 3.14 billion SDR (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) 3.14 billion SDR (2024)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 147.13 SDR per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in months of imports in Zambia?
- Total reserves in months of imports in Zambia was 3.29 in 2024, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.04 in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves in months of imports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4028 in 1999.
- How does Zambia rank for total reserves in months of imports?
- Zambia ranks 115th out of 178 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves in months of imports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. 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 Total reserves in months of imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This item is expressed in terms of the number of months of imports of goods and services they could pay for [X/(Imports/12)].