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MacroZambia

Government debt in Zambia

How indebted is the state my taxes would go to?

Zambia's government debt is 100.60 % — #112 of 125 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

100.60%

Checked 24 Oct 2026Period 2025

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook (general government gross debt, % of GDP)

The central government owes about 1.0 years' worth of the country's entire economic output.

Government debt in Zambia over time

261.00 %139.95 %18.90 %261.00 % · 200018.90 % · 20102000: 261.00 %2001: 210.20 %2002: 180.20 %2003: 159.50 %2004: 129.90 %2005: 75.70 %2006: 25.00 %2007: 21.90 %2008: 19.20 %2009: 20.50 %2010: 18.90 %2011: 20.80 %2012: 24.90 %2013: 25.90 %2014: 33.90 %2015: 61.90 %2016: 61.20 %2017: 66.60 %2018: 81.20 %2019: 103.30 %2020: 140.00 %2021: 111.00 %2022: 99.50 %2023: 136.80 %2024: 125.50 %2025: 100.60 %200020122025100.60 %
26 official observations, 2000 → 2025. Every point is a published value — never interpolated.
Rank
#112 of 125
lower is better
Ranked behind
10 %
13 of 125 countries
Latest move
▼ 24.90 pp
since 2024
Below its peak
160.40 pp
peak 261.00 % in 2000
Full series
▼ 160.40 pp
since 2000

In Africa: #20 of 21vs median 54.70 %: +45.90 pp (worse)

Among 125 countries

6 of 125 countries between 12.30 % and 17.90 %2 of 125 countries between 17.90 % and 23.49 %10 of 125 countries between 23.49 % and 29.09 %11 of 125 countries between 29.09 % and 34.68 %8 of 125 countries between 34.68 % and 40.28 %9 of 125 countries between 40.28 % and 45.88 %7 of 125 countries between 45.88 % and 51.47 %13 of 125 countries between 51.47 % and 57.07 %8 of 125 countries between 57.07 % and 62.66 %10 of 125 countries between 62.66 % and 68.26 %4 of 125 countries between 68.26 % and 73.85 %3 of 125 countries between 73.85 % and 79.45 %7 of 125 countries between 79.45 % and 85.05 %6 of 125 countries between 85.05 % and 90.64 %2 of 125 countries between 90.64 % and 96.24 %6 of 125 countries between 96.24 % and 101.83 %2 of 125 countries between 101.83 % and 107.43 %1 of 125 countries between 107.43 % and 113.02 %2 of 125 countries between 113.02 % and 118.62 %1 of 125 countries between 124.22 % and 129.81 %2 of 125 countries between 135.41 % and 141.00 %5 of 125 countries between 141.00 % and 146.60 %median 54.70 %Zambia: ahead of 10 % of the 125 countries with a published government debtZambia 100.60 %12.30 %146.60 %
Half of all 125 countries sit between 36.10 % and 81.70 %. Zambia is ahead of 10 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 5 values beyond it sit in the end bars.

The neighbourhood

#CountryGovernment debtvs Zambia
110 China98.60 %−2.00 pp
111 Spain100.50 %−0.10 pp
112 Zambia100.60 %—
113 United Kingdom102.10 %+1.50 pp
114 Ukraine107.10 %+6.50 pp

General government gross debt as a share of GDP (IMF World Economic Outlook, annual).

How to read this figure

Central government debt as a share of GDP (World Bank). General government debt (including local government and social funds) can be meaningfully higher; comparisons across countries are indicative.

Next, about Zambia

Debt per personGDP growthInflation rate
Government debt, all countries ranked →Compare Zambia with another country →Everything about Zambia →
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