Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Zambia
Zambia: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 239.71 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Zambia, 2003–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 239.71 million current US$ for personal remittances and foreign aid received in 2021. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of up 77.7% on the previous year and up 418.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Zambia peaked at 239.71 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 36.30 million current US$, in 2003.
That places Zambia 134th out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 36.30 million current US$ | — |
| 2004 | 48.40 million current US$ | +33.3% |
| 2005 | 52.87 million current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 57.68 million current US$ | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 59.30 million current US$ | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 68.19 million current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2009 | 41.26 million current US$ | -39.5% |
| 2010 | 43.66 million current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 46.28 million current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 72.86 million current US$ | +57.5% |
| 2013 | 53.98 million current US$ | -25.9% |
| 2014 | 58.30 million current US$ | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 47.05 million current US$ | -19.3% |
| 2016 | 38.46 million current US$ | -18.2% |
| 2017 | 93.64 million current US$ | +143.5% |
| 2018 | 106.97 million current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 98.26 million current US$ | -8.1% |
| 2020 | 134.87 million current US$ | +37.3% |
| 2021 | 239.71 million current US$ | +77.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 239.71 million current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 650.39 million current US$, 37% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 239.71 million current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 318.64 million current US$, 75% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.00 million current US$ | 36.30 million current US$ | 68.19 million current US$ | 7 |
| 2010s | 65.95 million current US$ | 38.46 million current US$ | 106.97 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 187.29 million current US$ | 134.87 million current US$ | 239.71 million current US$ | 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 personal remittances and foreign aid received in Zambia?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Zambia was 239.71 million current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 239.71 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.30 million current US$ in 2003.
- How does Zambia rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Zambia ranks 134th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 418.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.