Zambia's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) was US$3.91 billion in 2024, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is up 796.99% from US$436.22 million in 2014 (24.53% a year on average, compounded).
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | US$3.91 billion | 2024 |
| Five years earlier | US$2.72 billion | 2019 |
| Ten years earlier | US$436.22 million | 2014 |
| Highest | US$3.91 billion | 2024 |
| Lowest | US$75.57 million | 1970 |
| Average since 2015 | US$1.65 billion | 2015–2024 |
| First recorded | US$75.57 million |
What the numbers say
In 2024, Zambia's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) rose 313.2% on 2023 (from US$946.86 million to US$3.91 billion).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +27.7% and a typical year strayed about 116.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 597.6% in 1995 and the biggest yearly fall was 90.4% in 1996. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about US$208.06 million a year. A straight line explains 38% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2024, Zambia had the 40th highest value of the 120 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | US$3.91 billion | 2024 |
| Lower middle income | US$313.35 billion | 2024 |
Closest to Zambia in the 2024 ranking
- Mozambique — 37th of 120: US$4.54 billion
- Jordan — 38th of 120: US$4.51 billion
- Azerbaijan — 39th of 120: US$4.18 billion
- Senegal — 41st of 120: US$3.44 billion
- Iraq — 42nd of 120: US$3.42 billion
- Cambodia — 43rd of 120: US$3.41 billion
What this measures
Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.
All 55 values
| Year | Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,912,853,422 |
| 2023 | 946,860,783 |
| 2022 | 1,464,925,792 |
| 2021 | 1,719,814,788 |
| 2020 | 2,046,504,996 |
| 2019 | 2,723,539,892 |
| 2018 | 1,371,148,236 |
| 2017 | 905,826,012 |
| 2016 | 782,057,720 |
| 2015 | 578,207,324 |
Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) in nearby economies
- Angola — US$10.87 billion (2024)
- Benin — US$1.14 billion (2024)
- Botswana — US$275.16 million (2024)
- Burkina Faso — US$884.32 million (2024)
- Burundi — US$35.82 million (2024)
- Cabo Verde — US$152.48 million (2024)
- Cameroon — US$1.68 billion (2024)
- Central African Republic — US$56.51 million (2024)
- Chad — US$365.92 million (2024)
More economic policy & debt data for Zambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$) — US$1.19 billion (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current LCU) — 29.79 billion (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) — 4.11% (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current US$) — US$2.53 billion (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (current LCU) — 63.49 billion (2025)
- Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP) — 8.75% (2025)
- Industry, including construction, value added (current US$) — US$10.2 billion (2025)
- Industry, including construction, value added (current LCU) — 256.39 billion (2025)
- Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Zambia's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)?
- US$3.91 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1970?
- It is up 5,077% from US$75.57 million in 1970 (7.58% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$3.91 billion in 2024 and the lowest US$75.57 million in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank?
- 40th highest of 120 economies with data for 2024.
- Is the latest change in debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) unusual for Zambia?
- In 2024, Zambia's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) rose 313.2% on 2023 (from US$946.86 million to US$3.91 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +27.7% and a typical year strayed about 116.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 2.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator DT.TDS.DECT.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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