Zambia recorded an external debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.9% in 2025. Government Debt to GDP in Zambia averaged 112.30 percent of GDP from 1990 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 277.53 percent of GDP in 1991 and a record low of 28.80 percent of GDP in 2013. source: Bank of Zambia

Government Debt to GDP in Zambia is expected to reach 70.00 percent of GDP by the end of 2026, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Zambia External Debt to GDP is projected to trend around 72.00 percent of GDP in 2027 and 72.60 percent of GDP in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Credit Rating 33.75
Government Budget -3.80 -3.50 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Government Debt 16145.20 15434.00 USD Million Dec 2025
Government Debt to GDP 60.90 66.40 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Holidays
Military Expenditure 405.90 349.00 USD Million Dec 2025


Zambia External Debt to GDP
Generally, Government debt as a percent of GDP is used by investors to measure a country ability to make future payments on its debt, thus affecting the country borrowing costs and government bond yields.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
60.90 66.40 277.53 28.80 1990 - 2025 percent of GDP Yearly