Ores and metals imports in Zambia
Zambia: Ores and metals imports was 4.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals imports in Zambia, 1966–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 4.0% for ores and metals imports in 2024.
That represents a change of down 29.1% on the previous year and down 80.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Zambia peaked at 21.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1967.
Zambia ranks 32nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals imports in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.9% | — |
| 1967 | 0.7% | -28.6% |
| 1970 | 1.2% | +78.2% |
| 1971 | 1.3% | +11.5% |
| 1972 | 1.4% | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 1.2% | -9.5% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -20.1% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | -7.0% |
| 1976 | 1.2% | +31.4% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | -8.3% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | +20.3% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +58.4% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | +12.9% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +35.8% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | -39.2% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -57.9% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | +258.9% |
| 2001 | 1.7% | -44.4% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | +82.6% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | +16.0% |
| 2006 | 3.2% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | +81.3% |
| 2008 | 13.3% | +127.7% |
| 2009 | 13.1% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 21.0% | +59.9% |
| 2011 | 17.4% | -17.3% |
| 2012 | 14.6% | -15.9% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | +13.3% |
| 2014 | 20.6% | +24.5% |
| 2015 | 7.0% | -66.0% |
| 2016 | 10.7% | +51.9% |
| 2017 | 13.9% | +30.3% |
| 2018 | 15.6% | +12.7% |
| 2019 | 5.1% | -67.3% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | -24.2% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +47.8% |
| 2022 | 9.6% | +66.7% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -40.8% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | -29.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 3.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.9%, 4.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +258.9% | 0.8% | 3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.1% | 0.8% | 3.3% | 5 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 1.6% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 5.1% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 3.9% | 9.6% | 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 exports 73.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in Zambia?
- Ores and metals imports in Zambia was 4.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1967.
- How does Zambia rank for ores and metals imports?
- Zambia ranks 32nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.