Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) in Zambia
Zambia: Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) 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 117th of 179 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 (reserves International Financial) 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% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.29 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.09, 65% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.29 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.67, 90% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves in months of imports (reserves International Financial) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +365.3% | 0.4028 | 1.87 |
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
- 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 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 117th out of 179 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)].