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Zambia

Zambia Economy Stats

Overview:

Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-08 about 6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting of approximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia, despite a stronger economy. Declining world commodity prices and demand slowed GDP growth in 2008, but a sharp rebound in copper prices and a bumper maize crop helped Zambia recover. Lack of economic diversity subjects Zambia to fluctuations in copper prices and in the weather.

Definitions

  • Budget > Revenues: Revenues calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms
  • Budget surplus > + or deficit > -: This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relative to their GDPs) generally have more difficulty raising funds to finance expenditures, than those with lower deficits.
  • Debt > Government debt > Public debt, share of GDP: Public debt as % of GDP (CIA).

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  • GDP: GDP at purchaser's prices is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Dollar figures for GDP are converted from domestic currencies using single year official exchange rates. For a few countries where the official exchange rate does not reflect the rate effectively applied to actual foreign exchange transactions, an alternative conversion factor is used.
  • GDP > Composition, by sector of origin > Services: This entry is derived from Economy > GDP > Composition, by sector of origin, which shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not produce material goods.
  • GDP > Per capita: This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The difference between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the weathly industrialized countries are generally much smaller. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.
  • GDP > Per capita > PPP: This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
  • GDP > Purchasing power parity per capita: This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The difference between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of the weathly industrialized countries are generally much smaller. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • GDP per capita: GDP at purchaser's prices is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources. Data are in current U.S. dollars. Dollar figures for GDP are converted from domestic currencies using single year official exchange rates. For a few countries where the official exchange rate does not reflect the rate effectively applied to actual foreign exchange transactions, an alternative conversion factor is used. Figures expressed per capita for the same year.
  • Gross National Income: GNI, Atlas method (current US$). GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and prop).
  • Inflation rate > Consumer prices: This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
  • Population below poverty line: National estimates of the percentage of the population lying below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
  • Public debt: This entry records the cumulatiive total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
  • Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
STAT AMOUNT DATE RANK HISTORY
Budget > Revenues $4.25 billion 2013 114th out of 223
Budget surplus > + or deficit > - -4.9% of GDP 2012 140th out of 182
Debt > Government debt > Public debt, share of GDP 31.2 CIA 2014 111th out of 153
Exports $9.41 billion 2012 94th out of 189
GDP $20.68 billion 2012 97th out of 177
GDP > Composition, by sector of origin > Services 46.3% 2012 142nd out of 189
GDP > Per capita $1,535.28 per capita 2010 96th out of 118
GDP > Per capita > PPP $1,700.00 2012 157th out of 188
GDP > Purchasing power parity per capita $1,515.47 2010 154th out of 181
GDP per capita $1,469.12 2012 136th out of 177
Gross National Income $3.33 billion 2001 108th out of 158
Inflation rate > Consumer prices 6.6% 2012 50th out of 199
Population below poverty line 64% 2006 3rd out of 21
Public debt 29.5% of GDP 2012 114th out of 149
Unemployment rate 14% 2006 6th out of 15

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; Wikipedia: List of countries by public debt (List) (Public debt , The World Factbook , United States Central Intelligence Agency , accessed on March 21, 2013.); World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; CIA World Factbook 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011

Citation

NationMaster

Zambia Economy Profiles (Subcategories)

Adjusted savings 3 International tourism 13
Aid 5 Labor force 3
Balance of payments 34 Long-term debt 4
Bank and trade-related lending 4 Market capitalization of listed companies 4
Budget 10 Merchandise 4
Changes in net 4 Merchandise imports 4
Commercial service 4 National accounts 100
Commercial service imports 4 Natural gas 8
Companies 39 Net capital account 4
Currency 14 Net current transfers 4
Current account balance 5 Net current transfers from abroad 6
Current transfers 4 Net errors and omissions 4
Debt 100 Net financial flows 28
Economic aid 3 Net income 4
Electricity 8 Net income from abroad 6
Entrepreneurship 12 Net incurrence of liabilities 3
Exports 3 Net trade in goods 4
External balance on goods and services 7 Net trade in goods and services 4
External debt 215 Official development assistance and official aid 4
Final 20 Oil 10
Financial sector 36 Portfolio investment 12
Foreign aid 43 Poverty 29
Foreign direct investment 9 Poverty and inequality 14
GDP 42 Private investment 3
GDP growth 3 Private nonguaranteed debt 4
GDP per capita 4 Public and publicly guaranteed debt service 6
GNI 12 Public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debt 3
Goods 4 Purchasing power parity 11
Goods imports 4 Reserves 6
Government 11 Retail 3
Government debt 8 Royalty and license fees 4
Government spending 5 Savings 44
Gross capital formation 10 Service 4
Gross domestic savings 6 Service imports 4
Gross fixed capital formation 10 Services 10
Gross national expenditure 9 Spending 73
Gross savings 6 Stocks traded 5
Gross value added at factor cost 9 Tax 74
High-technology 4 Total 9
Household final 23 Total debt service 6
IBRD loans and IDA credits 4 Tourism 16
Income 24 Tourism expenditures 5
Income distribution 4 Tourism receipts 5
Income payments 4 Tourist arrivals by region of origin 6
Income receipts 4 Trade 1196
Inequality 8 Trademark applications 4
Inflation 9 Transnational corporations 4
Innovation 36 Use of IMF credit 4
Interest payments 3 Welfare 5

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In response to Becky:

<p>Deciding which country is the poorest depends on how you measure wealth. In terms of <a href=/graph/eco_gdp_cap>per capita GDP</a>, which is the total value of goods and services produced. Zambia is the 30th poorest country (this statistic includes ten territories which have no GDP). As the prices of goods and services varies between countries <a href=/graph/eco_gdp_ppp_cap>PPP (Purchasing power parity) GDP</a> measures should be used. Using this criteria the <a href=/country/cg>Democratic republic of Congo</a> is the poorest country and Zambia is twelfth.</p>

Other methods of determining poverty include:

<ul>
<li>The proportion of people living on <a href=/graph/eco_pop_und_1_a_day_cap>less than $US1 per day</a>. Using this criteria <a href=/country/ga>Gambia</a> is the poorest country and Zambia is tenth. This measurement can be misleading as a rural peasant who owns a small piece of land and some animals eg 2 goats and 4 chickens may have little or no cash income but still have sufficient food and shelter.</li>
<li>The proportion of the population <a href=/graph/eco_pop_bel_pov_lin>living below the poverty line</a>. Using this criteria Zambia is the poorest country.</li>
<li>The amount of time a person needs to work to buy a loaf of bread</li>
<li>The proportion of <a href=/red/graph/hea_chi_und_rat&int=-1>children who are underweight</a>.</li>
<li>The <a href=/graph/eco_hum_dev_ind>United Nations Human Development Index</a> which measures many criteria including <a href=/graph/hea_lif_exp_at_bir_tot_pop>life expectency</a>, <a href=/graph/edu_lit_tot_pop&int=-1>literacy</a>, <A href=/graph/hea_hea_car_fun_tot_per_cap>access to healthcare services</a>, access to <A href=/graph/hea_acc_to_san>sanitation</a> and <a href=/graph/hea_dri_wat_ava>clean drinking water</a> as well as GDP. Using this criteria <a href=/country/sl>Sierra Leone</a> is the poorest country and Zambia is twentieth.</li></ul>
Any measure of wealth is incomplete on its own. To gain a balanced overview several of these measures should be consulted and compared. In conclusion, Zambia is one of the world's poorest countries, but it is difficult to define one country as <em>the poorest</em>.

Posted on 28 Apr 2005

Edria Murray, Staff Editor

Edria Murray, Staff Editor

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Zambia is not a poor nation,it is just the mismanagement of the resources by the Government which makes us poor.And alot of Zambians need to change their mind set of accepting being poor when we are not.We need a government in place which will make all of us work hard towards developing our nation with the vast resources we have.Not where only afew party cadres benefit.

Posted on 21 Apr 2010

Mukonka Mudenda

Mukonka Mudenda

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