Merchandise trade as a share of GDP rose 13.5% to 82.3% in Zambia in 2021, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, merchandise trade as a share of GDP in Zambia reached an all time high of 106% in 1971 and an all time low of 40.3% in 1997. When compared to Zambia's main peers, merchandise trade as a share of GDP in Angola amounted to 67.3%, 24.2% in Tanzania, 46.6% in Zimbabwe and 61.1% in Dem. Republic of the Congo in 2021.
Zambia has been ranked 45th within the group of 165 countries we follow in terms of merchandise trade as a share of GDP, 23 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Merchandise Trade (As % of GDP) | Unit | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Angola | % | 61.8% | 81.5% | 71.2% | 72.7% | 70.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Botswana | % | 100% | 89.6% | 69.5% | 75.6% | 70.7% | ||||||||||||||||
| Central African Republic | % | 25.5% | 28.2% | 30.3% | 34.7% | 33.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| Congo | % | 161% | 188% | 115% | 107% | 61.3% | ||||||||||||||||
| Dem. Republic of the Congo | % | 44.2% | 34.2% | 47.6% | 58.7% | 42.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| Kenya | % | 31.4% | 26.5% | 27.3% | 25.4% | 23.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| Mozambique | % | 73.6% | 71.5% | 79.2% | 80.5% | 78.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Namibia | % | 104% | 100% | 93.1% | 115% | 114% | ||||||||||||||||
| South Africa | % | 53.5% | 51.9% | 49.9% | 51.5% | 50.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| Tanzania | % | 33.0% | 27.7% | 23.3% | 23.1% | 23.6% | ||||||||||||||||
| Uganda | % | 24.1% | 25.0% | 27.6% | 29.8% | 31.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zambia | % | 68.4% | 65.2% | 61.8% | 70.3% | 61.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe | % | 46.6% | 42.2% | 48.6% | 30.6% | 41.6% |
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