Total reserves in Zambia
Zambia: Total reserves 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 93rd out of 111 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 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% |
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
- 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 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 93rd out of 111 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.