Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Zambia
Zambia: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 14.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Zambia, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 14.5% for total reserves in 2024.
The figure is up 33.3% on the previous year and down 54.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Zambia peaked at 52.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1999.
That places Zambia 95th out of 112 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 33.3% | — |
| 1972 | 18.2% | -45.5% |
| 1973 | 20.2% | +11.1% |
| 1974 | 16.4% | -18.9% |
| 1975 | 9.8% | -39.8% |
| 1976 | 6.1% | -38.2% |
| 1977 | 4.0% | -33.9% |
| 1978 | 3.7% | -7.0% |
| 1979 | 6.3% | +67.9% |
| 1980 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 3.9% | -37.7% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | +8.9% |
| 1983 | 3.7% | -14.7% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -60.1% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +206.6% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | -71.7% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | +34.7% |
| 1988 | 2.1% | +21.8% |
| 1989 | 1.9% | -9.8% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | +55.2% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | +7.4% |
| 1994 | 3.9% | +32.6% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | -18.7% |
| 1996 | 3.2% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | -71.9% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -24.4% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | +451.9% |
| 2001 | 3.0% | -29.7% |
| 2002 | 8.0% | +170.5% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | -55.1% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | +24.1% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | +133.4% |
| 2006 | 32.0% | +206.8% |
| 2007 | 39.8% | +24.4% |
| 2008 | 37.3% | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 52.0% | +39.3% |
| 2010 | 48.5% | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 44.7% | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 49.2% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 40.2% | -18.2% |
| 2014 | 31.9% | -20.7% |
| 2015 | 24.1% | -24.4% |
| 2016 | 14.9% | -38.1% |
| 2017 | 8.8% | -41.3% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -27.3% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | -22.7% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | -17.3% |
| 2021 | 10.2% | +150.8% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 10.9% | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | +33.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 39% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 61% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) 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 | +451.9% | 0.8% | 4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.1% | 3.7% | 33.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.1% | 1.3% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 0.8% | 3.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.5% | 3.0% | 52.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 4.9% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.0% | 4.1% | 14.5% | 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 Zambia?
- Total reserves in Zambia was 14.5% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 52.0% in 2009.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1999.
- How does Zambia rank for total reserves?
- Zambia ranks 95th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total reserves (% of total external debt). 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 indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.