Central government debt, total (current LCU) in Zambia
Zambia: Central government debt, total (current LCU) was 315.88 billion current LCU in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Central government debt, total in Zambia, 1990–2021
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 315.88 billion current LCU for central government debt, total in 2021.
The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and up 1,434.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government debt, total in Zambia peaked at 344.51 billion current LCU in 2020 and was at its lowest, 276.98 million current LCU, in 1990.
That places Zambia 43rd out of 83 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Central government debt, total (current LCU) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 276.98 million current LCU | — |
| 1991 | 605.78 million current LCU | +118.7% |
| 1992 | 938.08 million current LCU | +54.9% |
| 1993 | 2.40 billion current LCU | +155.6% |
| 1994 | 3.65 billion current LCU | +52.3% |
| 1995 | 5.11 billion current LCU | +39.9% |
| 1996 | 7.64 billion current LCU | +49.7% |
| 1997 | 8.49 billion current LCU | +11.0% |
| 1998 | 10.62 billion current LCU | +25.1% |
| 2010 | 16.84 billion current LCU | +58.5% |
| 2011 | 20.58 billion current LCU | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 30.83 billion current LCU | +49.8% |
| 2013 | 36.66 billion current LCU | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 74.16 billion current LCU | +102.3% |
| 2015 | 90.60 billion current LCU | +22.2% |
| 2016 | 100.34 billion current LCU | +10.7% |
| 2017 | 128.74 billion current LCU | +28.3% |
| 2018 | 164.31 billion current LCU | +27.6% |
| 2019 | 186.07 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 2020 | 344.51 billion current LCU | +85.2% |
| 2021 | 315.88 billion current LCU | -8.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 315.88 billion current LCU is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 149.14 billion current LCU, 2.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 315.88 billion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 944.88 billion current LCU, 33% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.41 billion current LCU | 276.98 million current LCU | 10.62 billion current LCU | 9 |
| 2010s | 84.91 billion current LCU | 16.84 billion current LCU | 186.07 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 330.19 billion current LCU | 315.88 billion current LCU | 344.51 billion current LCU | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More public sector data for Zambia
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Arms imports 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.0469 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate -80 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government debt, total in Zambia?
- Central government debt, total in Zambia was 315.88 billion current LCU in 2021, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest central government debt, total recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 344.51 billion current LCU in 2020.
- What is the lowest central government debt, total recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 276.98 million current LCU in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for central government debt, total?
- Zambia ranks 43rd out of 83 countries with data for 2021.
- Is central government debt, total rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,434.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Central government debt, total (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year. Central government is the part of general government that includes all administrative departments of the national executive, legislative, and judicial functions, other central agencies and those non-market producers controlled by the central government, whose competence extends normally over the whole economic territory. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.