Ores and metals exports in Zambia
Zambia: Ores and metals exports was 73.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals exports in Zambia, 1966–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ores and metals exports in Zambia is 73.0%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Zambia peaked at 99.1% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 46.6%, in 2004.
Zambia ranks 2nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Ores and metals exports in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 97.9% | — |
| 1967 | 96.7% | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 99.1% | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 98.0% | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 98.5% | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 98.3% | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 97.6% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 97.5% | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 98.3% | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 97.3% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 95.8% | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 97.6% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 88.2% | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 86.5% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 78.4% | -9.5% |
| 1997 | 77.4% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 69.9% | -9.7% |
| 1999 | 62.9% | -10.1% |
| 2000 | 64.4% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 60.4% | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 59.3% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 60.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 46.6% | -22.4% |
| 2005 | 67.4% | +44.9% |
| 2006 | 80.8% | +19.9% |
| 2007 | 78.1% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 79.8% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 78.6% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 82.3% | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 78.6% | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 69.7% | -11.3% |
| 2013 | 70.6% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 73.0% | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 74.8% | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 73.2% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 79.5% | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 77.5% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 74.6% | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 78.8% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 79.3% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 75.6% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 71.4% | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 73.0% | +2.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 73.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.8%, 19.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 73.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 32.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals exports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +44.9% | 46.6% | 67.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 97.3% | 96.7% | 97.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 97.8% | 95.8% | 99.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 77.2% | 62.9% | 88.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 67.6% | 46.6% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.4% | 69.7% | 82.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.6% | 71.4% | 79.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More energy & mining data for Zambia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.0312 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 22.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 4.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Zambia?
- Ores and metals exports in Zambia was 73.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 99.1% in 1970.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.6% in 2004.
- How does Zambia rank for ores and metals exports?
- Zambia ranks 2nd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.