Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Zambia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Zambia in 2025 — 91.71%. Ranked 31 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 9.85 pp.

2025 91.71% +2.61 pp vs 2024
World rank 31of 189
Period maximum 107.79%1971
Period minimum 40.29%1997

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Zambia, 1960–202540608010012019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 81.86%1962: 75.08%1964: 83.75%1966: 83.62%1968: 77.27%1970: 82.63%1972: 70.66%1974: 75.37%1976: 63.58%1978: 52.44%1980: 67.88%1982: 57.48%1984: 50.82%1986: 69.99%1988: 54.01%1990: 76.91%1992: 48.73%1994: 41.59%1996: 52.04%1998: 60.26%2000: 49.44%2002: 49.07%2004: 59.92%2006: 53.65%2008: 56.72%2010: 61.78%2012: 71.25%2014: 71.48%2016: 65.19%2018: 70.31%2020: 72.83%2022: 70.8%2024: 89.1%2025: 91.71%
Change over the period: +9.85 pp Annual average: 0.15 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Zambia

Zambia 91.71%
World 43.89%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 91.71 +2.61 pp
2024 89.1 +14.56 pp
2023 74.54 +3.74 pp
2022 70.8 −10.64 pp
2021 81.43 +8.6 pp
2020 72.83 +11.86 pp
2019 60.97 −9.34 pp
2018 70.31 +8.52 pp
2017 61.79 −3.39 pp
2016 65.19 −3.24 pp
2015 68.43 −3.05 pp
2014 71.48 −4.11 pp
2013 75.59 +4.34 pp
2012 71.25 +2.28 pp
2011 68.97 +7.18 pp
2010 61.78 +8.65 pp
2009 53.13 −3.59 pp
2008 56.72 −4.63 pp
2007 61.35 +7.7 pp
2006 53.65 +1.22 pp
2005 52.43 −7.5 pp
2004 59.92 +7.82 pp
2003 52.1 +3.03 pp
2002 49.07 −1.46 pp
2001 50.53 +1.1 pp
2000 49.44 −5.94 pp
1999 55.37 −4.89 pp
1998 60.26 +19.97 pp
1997 40.29 −11.75 pp
1996 52.04 +6.33 pp
1995 45.71 +4.11 pp
1994 41.59 −8.35 pp
1993 49.95 +1.22 pp
1992 48.73 −7.57 pp
1991 56.3 −20.61 pp
1990 76.91 +20.51 pp
1989 56.4 +2.39 pp
1988 54.01 −20.55 pp
1987 74.56 +4.57 pp
1986 69.99 +6.15 pp
1985 63.84 +13.02 pp
1984 50.82 +0.02 pp
1983 50.8 −6.68 pp
1982 57.48 −0.9 pp
1981 58.38 −9.5 pp
1980 67.88 +4.61 pp
1979 63.28 +10.84 pp
1978 52.44 −9.86 pp
1977 62.3 −1.28 pp
1976 63.58 −7.61 pp
1975 71.19 −4.18 pp
1974 75.37 +6.48 pp
1973 68.89 −1.77 pp
1972 70.66 −37.13 pp
1971 107.79 +25.16 pp
1970 82.63 +4.24 pp
1969 78.38 +1.12 pp
1968 77.27 −4.33 pp
1967 81.6 −2.01 pp
1966 83.62 +5.78 pp
1965 77.84 −5.92 pp
1964 83.75 +9.22 pp
1963 74.54 −0.54 pp
1962 75.08 −7.43 pp
1961 82.51 +0.65 pp
1960 81.86

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.