GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Zambia
Zambia: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 4.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp growth in Zambia is 4.0%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 24.7% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Zambia peaked at 10.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, -8.6%, in 1994.
That places Zambia 70th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.8% | — |
| 1971 | -0.1% | -101.8% |
| 1972 | 9.2% | -10803.0% |
| 1973 | -1.0% | -110.4% |
| 1974 | 6.4% | -768.2% |
| 1975 | -2.3% | -135.3% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -374.1% |
| 1977 | -4.6% | -173.4% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -112.1% |
| 1979 | -3.0% | -646.1% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -200.4% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | +103.2% |
| 1982 | -2.8% | -145.6% |
| 1983 | -2.0% | -30.1% |
| 1984 | -0.3% | -82.9% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -579.6% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -55.2% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +269.6% |
| 1988 | 6.3% | +134.7% |
| 1989 | -1.0% | -116.3% |
| 1990 | -0.5% | -53.0% |
| 1991 | -0.0% | -92.5% |
| 1992 | -1.7% | +4690.8% |
| 1993 | 6.8% | -492.7% |
| 1994 | -8.6% | -226.9% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -133.6% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +114.6% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -38.7% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -110.1% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -1305.5% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +36.4% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | +54.1% |
| 2004 | 7.0% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 7.8% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 10.3% | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -45.9% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | +36.4% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -33.4% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -37.8% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +28.6% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +14.4% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -64.3% |
| 2020 | -2.8% | -293.2% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -323.9% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | -24.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.7%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.1%, 98% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +10803.0% | -0.1% | 9.2% |
| 1992 | -4690.8% | -0.0% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | +1305.5% | -0.4% | 4.7% |
| 1974 | +768.2% | -1.0% | 6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | -4.6% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | -2.8% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | -8.6% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 3.9% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 1.4% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | -2.8% | 6.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 67 Papua New Guinea 4.1% compare
- 68 Azerbaijan 4.1% compare
- 69 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.1% compare
- 71 Belarus 4.0% compare
- 72 Sierra Leone 4.0% compare
- 73 Somalia 4.0% compare
More population data for Zambia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2495 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.516 (2100)
- Population density 86.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.60 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Zambia?
- Gdp growth in Zambia was 4.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.3% in 2010.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.6% in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for gdp growth?
- Zambia ranks 70th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release