Total natural resource rents in Zambia
Zambia: Total natural resource rents was 35.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total natural resource rents in Zambia, 1970–2021
Source: The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 35.3% for total natural resource rents in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 117.4% on the previous year and up 102.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total natural resource rents in Zambia peaked at 38.7% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 1993.
Zambia ranks 5th of 211 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total natural resource rents in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 36.5% | — |
| 1971 | 23.7% | -35.0% |
| 1972 | 20.6% | -13.0% |
| 1973 | 38.7% | +87.7% |
| 1974 | 31.8% | -18.0% |
| 1975 | 12.7% | -59.9% |
| 1976 | 16.2% | +27.3% |
| 1977 | 14.0% | -13.8% |
| 1978 | 10.2% | -27.4% |
| 1979 | 17.1% | +68.2% |
| 1980 | 16.9% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 9.3% | -45.0% |
| 1982 | 6.6% | -28.8% |
| 1983 | 9.2% | +40.0% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | -28.0% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | +18.3% |
| 1986 | 7.6% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 10.4% | +37.3% |
| 1988 | 18.6% | +79.1% |
| 1989 | 21.1% | +13.8% |
| 1990 | 21.0% | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 5.8% | -72.3% |
| 1992 | 5.8% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 5.1% | -12.6% |
| 1994 | 5.5% | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | +32.2% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 5.8% | -21.9% |
| 1998 | 7.4% | +27.6% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | -29.5% |
| 2000 | 9.1% | +75.4% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -24.2% |
| 2002 | 8.6% | +24.1% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | +47.3% |
| 2004 | 13.8% | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 14.1% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 19.2% | +36.2% |
| 2007 | 21.8% | +13.5% |
| 2008 | 16.1% | -26.3% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 18.7% | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 17.4% | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 13.6% | -22.1% |
| 2013 | 12.0% | -11.4% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 11.2% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 11.7% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | +13.3% |
| 2018 | 11.7% | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 7.9% | -32.6% |
| 2020 | 16.2% | +105.0% |
| 2021 | 35.3% | +117.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 35.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.4%, 8.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 35.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.7%, 4.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.1% | 10.2% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 6.6% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 5.1% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.9% | 6.9% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 7.9% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.7% | 16.2% | 35.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total natural resource rents in Zambia?
- Total natural resource rents in Zambia was 35.3% in 2021, according to The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total natural resource rents recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 1973.
- What is the lowest total natural resource rents recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for total natural resource rents?
- Zambia ranks 5th out of 211 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total natural resource rents rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 102.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total natural resource rents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Natural resources rents are estimated as the difference between the price of a commodity and the average cost of producing it. Total natural resources rents are the sum of oil rents, natural gas rents, coal rents, mineral rents, and forest rents.