Macro-economy & structure16 datasets
Annual % change at constant 2010 prices, 2011–2025
Source: ZamStats · World Bank WDI · World Bank CCKP — Own calculation from constant-price values, which reproduces the rates ZamStats published for 2021–2025. Agricultural value added fell in 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2022–2024, and the 2024 fall coincides with the 2023/24 drought6.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, current US$ billion, 2010–2025 (World Bank)
Source: World Bank WDI · IMF — The World Bank series still uses an earlier estimate of 2025 value added than the ZamStats figure published in September 2026 (K35.2 billion). The decline after 2014 coincides with the kwacha's depreciation from 6.15 to 26.17 per US dollar between 2014 and 2024 (IMF annual averages).
Current prices, ZMW billion, 2010–2025
Source: ZamStats — Current prices, not adjusted for inflation. The second series is the total minus crop and animal production (own calculation). Total value added was K35.2 billion in 2025, against K18.8 billion in 2024.
Real growth on the same quarter a year earlier, %, Q1 2025 – Q2 2026
Source: ZamStats — 2026 quarters are provisional. Agricultural growth for the 2025 quarters is an own calculation from the quarterly GDP workbook. Agriculture's share of quarterly GDP was 5.7% in the second quarter of 2026.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing, % of total employment
Source: ZamStats · World Bank WDI — Since 2017 the Labour Force Survey follows the 19th ICLS standard, which counts as employed only those who work for pay or profit and excludes farming mainly for own consumption. The ILO modelled estimate covers all who work in agriculture. The 2019 share is an own calculation (667,582 of 2,995,103), and no 2025 survey had been published by October 2026.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing and the crop and livestock part, 2024, current prices, ZMW million
Source: ZamStats — Copperbelt's total consists mainly of forestry and logging (K5,561 million). In crop and livestock production Central, Southern and Eastern provinces lead.
Poverty headcount, % of population, Living Conditions Monitoring Surveys 2015 and 2022
Source: ZamStats (CSO) · ZamStats · World Bank WDI — The 2022 report compares 2022 with 2015 using an imputation method, because the 2022 consumption module differs. Extreme poverty was 46.1% nationally and 64.6% in rural areas in 2022.
Land area by use, 2024, thousand km² (total 743.4)
Source: World Bank WDI — World Bank (FAO) data. Agricultural land is 238.4 thousand km², of which 38.0 thousand km² is arable. The pasture and other-land figures are own calculations (agricultural minus arable, and land area minus forest and agricultural land).
IMF annual average of the official rate, ZMW per US$, 2010–2025
Source: IMF — Rebased kwacha (K1,000 old = K1 new from 2013). In 2026 the kwacha strengthened to 19.03 per dollar at the end of August.
Consumer prices, annual average change, %, 2011–2025
Source: MoFNP · ZamStats · World Bank WDI — All items 2017–2025 as published (ZamStats for 2017, Annual Economic Reports for 2018–2025). All items 2011–2016 and all food values are own calculations from the monthly CPI indices (2009 = 100).
Headline indicators, 2015–2025
| Indicator | 2015 | 2020 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP, current prices (ZMW billion) | 183.4 | 332.7 | 557.4 | 662.1 | 797.7 |
| GDP (US$ billion, World Bank) | 21.25 | 18.14 | 27.58 | 25.30 | 28.88 |
| Real GDP growth (%) | 2.9 | −2.8 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 5.4 |
| Agriculture, forestry & fishing value added (ZMW billion) | 9.13 | 9.89 | 12.43 | 18.76 | 35.20 |
| Agricultural value added (US$ billion, World Bank) | 1.06 | 0.54 | 0.62 | 0.72 | 1.19 |
| Agriculture, share of GDP at current prices (%) | 5.0 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 4.4 |
| Real growth of agriculture (%) | −7.7 | 17.2 | −20.5 | −9.2 | 35.3 |
| Agriculture, share of employment, Labour Force Survey (%) | – | 22.5 | 25.2 | 28.0 | – |
| Population (million, World Bank) | 16.40 | 19.06 | 20.72 | 21.31 | 21.91 |
| Rural population (% of total, World Bank) | 58.0 | 56.1 | 55.0 | 54.5 | 54.1 |
| CPI inflation, annual average (%) | 10.1 | 15.7 | 10.9 | 15.0 | 14.0 |
| Kwacha per US$, annual average | 8.63 | 18.34 | 20.21 | 26.17 | 25.28 |
| Agri-food exports, HS 01–24 (US$ million) | 657.3 | 621.5 | 1,075.5 | 1,000.5 | – |
| Agri-food imports, HS 01–24 (US$ million) | 492.2 | 480.6 | 720.9 | 907.2 | – |
Source: ZamStats · World Bank WDI · MoFNP · IMF · UN Comtrade — GDP is on the 2010 base. The agriculture total is the own sum of crop and animal production, forestry and fishing. CPI inflation for 2015 is an own calculation from the monthly indices. Zambia had not reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade by October 2026.
Employment in agriculture, Labour Force Surveys 2017–2024
| Year | Employed persons | Employed in agriculture, forestry & fishing | Agriculture share (%) | Informal employment rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2,971,170 | 768,605 | 25.9 | 63.1 |
| 2018 | 2,948,971 | 814,693 | 27.6 | 68.4 |
| 2019 | 2,995,103 | 667,582 | 22.3 | 68.6 |
| 2020 | 2,988,379 | 671,761 | 22.5 | 73.8 |
| 2021 | 3,164,748 | 747,036 | 23.6 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 3,273,123 | 721,448 | 22.0 | 76.3 |
| 2023 | 3,980,733 | 1,003,940 | 25.2 | 75.6 |
| 2024 | 3,972,883 | 1,111,602 | 28.0 | 71.2 |
Source: ZamStats — Employment excludes production mainly for own use, so most subsistence farmers are not counted. The 2019 share and the 2017–2020 informality rates are own calculations. Where a report gives two figures (2018 share 28.2% in the text, 2024 informality 74.2% in the summary), the table value is used.
Poverty and farm households, LCMS 2015 and 2022
| Indicator | 2015 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty headcount, national (% of population) | 54.4 | 60.0 |
| Poverty headcount, rural (%) | 76.6 | 78.8 |
| Poverty headcount, urban (%) | 23.4 | 31.9 |
| Extreme poverty, national (%) | 40.8 | 46.1 |
| Extreme poverty, rural (%) | 60.8 | 64.6 |
| Poverty in small-scale agricultural households (%) | 78.9 | 81.0 |
| Agricultural households (number) | 1,769,020 | 2,159,670 |
| Agricultural households (% of all households) | 58.7 | 55.9 |
Source: ZamStats (CSO) · ZamStats — Agricultural-household figures refer to the 2013/14 and 2021/22 seasons. The 2022 executive summary gives extreme poverty of 48.0%, while chapter 12 gives 46.1%, which is used for the comparison with 2015.
2022 Census of Population and Housing, key figures
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,693,423 |
| Rural population | 10,900,054 |
| Rural share (%) | 55.3 |
| Households | 4,087,031 |
| Agricultural households | 2,692,471 |
| Agricultural households (% of households) | 65.9 |
| Agricultural households in 2010 (% of households) | 61.3 |
| Rural agricultural households | 1,910,026 |
| Urban agricultural households | 782,445 |
| Crop-growing households | 2,495,532 |
Effect of the 2010 GDP rebasing on agriculture
| Item (2010, current prices) | 1994-base estimate | 2010-base estimate | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing (ZMW million) | 15,642.3 | 9,601.6 | −38.6 |
| Agriculture, share of GDP (%) | 20.1 | 9.9 | – |
| Total GDP | – | – | +25.2 |
Source: ZamStats (CSO) · ZamStats — The benchmark report compares the two bases on the ISIC Rev.2 classification. The current series gives K9,158.7 million for agriculture in 2010 on ISIC Rev.4. ZamStats plans to publish GDP rebased to 2023 in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Production, trade & prices22 datasets
Exports and imports of HS chapters 01–24 by partner country, US$ million (UN Comtrade, as reported by Zambia)
Exports · All agri-food products1,000.5 US$ m
US$ m<0.10.10.41410+no trade / n.a.Zambia
Top 12 partners · share of total and US$ m
1
DR Congo
43.1%431.2
2
Zimbabwe
12.5%125.3
3
South Africa
12.2%122.4
4
Switzerland
5.8%58.3
5
Tanzania
4.8%47.8
6
Malawi
4.2%42.4
7
Kenya
3%30.5
8
Uganda
1.6%16
9
Botswana
1.3%13.1
10
Spain
1.3%12.7
11
Mozambique
1.2%12.1
12
Netherlands
1.1%10.5
53 more partners · 78.4 US$ m (7.8%)
Source: UN Comtrade — HS chapters 01–24 (live animals to tobacco). Raw cotton (HS chapter 52) is not included. Partner values are as reported by Zambia, and 2024 is the latest year Zambia has reported to UN Comtrade. Small territories without a shape on the 1:110m world map appear only in the ranked list.
Expected production, Crop Forecast Survey, thousand tonnes, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA — The 2020/21 workbook gives only the national total (3,620.1 thousand tonnes) and the 2015/16 workbook has no large-scale sheet (total 2,873.1 thousand tonnes). Post-harvest measurements differ from the forecasts, at 1,460.1 thousand tonnes for 2023/24 and 3,865.0 thousand tonnes for 2024/25.
Crop Forecast Survey, thousand ha, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA — In 2023/24 only 684.4 thousand of the 2,209.2 thousand hectares planted were expected to be harvested. The 2020/21 area is from the comparison sheet of the 2021/22 workbook.
Expected production per hectare harvested, tonnes per ha, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA · World Bank WDI — Own calculation (production divided by area expected to be harvested), because the printed yields switch between per-area-planted and per-area-harvested bases across seasons. The World Bank's cereal yield for Zambia was 2.32 tonnes per hectare in 2024.
Expected production, Crop Forecast Survey, thousand tonnes, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA — Own rounding of the tonnes printed in each workbook. Soybeans reached a peak of 760.1 thousand tonnes in 2022/23, before the drought season.
Expected production, Crop Forecast Survey, thousand tonnes, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA — Wheat is grown under irrigation in the dry season, almost entirely on large-scale farms, so its production does not follow the rainfall of the main season.
Expected production, Crop Forecast Survey, thousand tonnes, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA — The 2024/25 workbook omits cotton and tobacco and the 2025/26 workbook omits tobacco. The 2025 post-harvest survey put 2024/25 seed cotton at 6,979 tonnes.
Cassava root production, Crop Forecast Survey, thousand tonnes, 2010/11–2025/26
Source: ZamStats / MoA — The survey estimates cassava from the total area under cassava at a fixed 11.7 tonnes per hectare (the 2024/25 workbook implies about 11.0). The 2013/14 workbook gives no national total, and 2014/15–2016/17 and 2018/19 come from the small and medium-scale sheets.
Production, FAOSTAT, thousand tonnes, 2010–2024
Source: FAOSTAT — Sugar cane is not covered by the Crop Forecast Survey. Several values are FAO estimates.
Cattle, goats, pigs and sheep, million head, FAOSTAT, 2010–2024
Source: FAOSTAT · MFL / CSO · MFL / ZamStats · MFL — From 2017 FAOSTAT follows the 2017/18 livestock census and the 2022 and 2023 livestock surveys. The 2024 Integrated Agriculture Survey counted fewer animals (3.97 million cattle) using a different design.
Production, thousand tonnes, FAOSTAT, 2010–2024
Source: FAOSTAT — Many values before 2017 are FAO estimates. Cattle meat was 221.9 thousand tonnes in 2024.
Production, thousand tonnes live weight, FAO FishStat, 2010–2024
Source: FAO FishStat · MFL — Own sums of all species records. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock estimated a national fish deficit of about 70,000 tonnes a year in 2022.
Exports and imports of HS chapters 01–24, US$ million, 2015–2024
Source: UN Comtrade · World Bank WDI · ZamStats — Own sums of chapters 01–24 as reported by Zambia. Raw cotton (chapter 52) is not included. Zambia had not reported 2025 to UN Comtrade by October 2026.
Exports by HS chapter, US$ million, 2015–2024
Source: UN Comtrade — Cereal exports, mainly maize, vary with the harvest and with export restrictions. Feed exports consist largely of soybean cake.
Agri-food exports by HS chapter, 2024, US$ million (top 10)
Agri-food imports by HS chapter, 2024, US$ million (top 10)
Source: UN Comtrade — Fish imports came mainly from Namibia (US$162.9 million) and cereal imports from South Africa, Tanzania and Australia in the drought year 2024.
National average retail prices, ZMW, September 2022 – September 2026
Source: ZamStats — Selected months from the tables of national average prices in the ZamStats monthly bulletin. March 2026 is not shown in the September 2026 table, so February and April 2026 are given.
Consumer prices, % change on the same month a year earlier, January 2024 – September 2026
Source: ZamStats — Food inflation reached 20.6% in February 2025, a year after the drought, and fell to 5.8% in September 2026, below the Bank of Zambia's 6–8% target band for overall inflation, which was 6.1% in that month.
Crop production, last three seasons (Crop Forecast Survey)
| Crop | 2023/24 (t) | 2024/25 (t) | 2025/26 (t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maize | 1,511,143 | 3,655,646 | 4,937,605 |
| Soybeans | 169,700 | 288,793 | 453,304 |
| Groundnuts | 87,655 | 101,884 | 149,918 |
| Sunflower | 44,128 | 115,011 | 70,611 |
| Wheat (irrigated) | 198,886 | 129,524 | 81,822 |
| Rice (paddy) | 24,566 | 39,457 | 71,938 |
| Mixed beans | 38,937 | 38,382 | 50,477 |
| Millet | 15,390 | 24,133 | 23,606 |
| Sorghum | 2,865 | 13,795 | 14,046 |
| Seed cotton | 9,072 | – | 1,930 |
| Virginia tobacco | 14,190 | – | – |
| Burley tobacco | 6,578 | – | – |
| Cassava (fresh roots) | 3,127,778 | 3,167,650 | 3,299,829 |
Source: ZamStats / MoA · ZamStats — Expected production at the time of each survey. The 2024 Integrated Agriculture Survey measured 2023/24 maize at 1,460,148 tonnes and the 2025 post-harvest survey 2024/25 maize at 3,865,019 tonnes. Workbooks for 2024/25 and 2025/26 omit some cash crops.
Livestock numbers from the census and national surveys
| Survey (reference date) | Cattle | Goats | Sheep | Pigs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 Livestock and Aquaculture Census (Jan 2018) | 3,714,667 | 3,583,696 | 170,262 | 1,082,765 |
| 2022 Livestock Survey (30 Apr 2022) | 4,698,972 | 4,455,860 | 260,560 | 1,160,842 |
| 2023 Livestock Survey (30 Apr 2023) | 5,115,495 | 5,568,730 | 308,354 | 1,613,248 |
| 2024 Integrated Agriculture Survey (31 Dec 2024) | 3,973,754 | 3,767,031 | 234,370 | 668,518 |
Source: MFL / CSO · MFL / ZamStats · ZamStats — The 2023 survey revised the 2022 counts to 4,940,718 cattle, 5,738,443 goats and 1,766,522 pigs. The 2024 survey uses a different design and covers the drought year, so it is not directly comparable.
Zambia in world production (FAOSTAT)
| Item | Zambia 2024 | World rank 2024 | Share of world 2024 | World rank 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassava, fresh (t) | 3,127,778 | 19 | 0.91% | 18 |
| Sugar cane (t) | 4,893,717 | 31 | 0.25% | 32 |
| Unmanufactured tobacco (t) | 20,768 | 27 | 0.34% | 18 |
| Goats (head) | 6,011,286 | 33 | 0.51% | 36 |
| Soya beans (t) | 169,700 | 34 | 0.04% | 14 |
| Groundnuts, excl. shelled (t) | 87,655 | 35 | 0.15% | 25 |
| Maize (t) | 1,511,143 | 53 | 0.12% | 35 |
| Cattle (head) | 4,887,687 | 53 | 0.31% | 53 |
Source: FAOSTAT — Own ranking among countries in the FAOSTAT bulk file, excluding regional aggregates. FAOSTAT 2024 corresponds to the drought season 2023/24, so 2023 ranks are also shown.
Main agri-food trade partners, 2024 (US$ million)
| Rank | Export partner | Exports | Import partner | Imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DR Congo | 431.2 | South Africa | 387.9 |
| 2 | Zimbabwe | 125.3 | Namibia | 169.0 |
| 3 | South Africa | 122.4 | Argentina | 41.4 |
| 4 | Switzerland | 58.3 | Tanzania | 36.9 |
| 5 | Tanzania | 47.8 | Malaysia | 32.2 |
| 6 | Malawi | 42.4 | Australia | 31.3 |
| 7 | Kenya | 30.5 | Mozambique | 21.8 |
| 8 | Uganda | 16.0 | Zimbabwe | 20.1 |
| 9 | Botswana | 13.1 | India | 18.2 |
| 10 | Spain | 12.7 | Singapore | 16.0 |
| Total, HS 01–24 | 1,000.5 | Total, HS 01–24 | 907.2 |
Source: UN Comtrade — As reported by Zambia to UN Comtrade. SADC members took 81.1% of agri-food exports and supplied 70.9% of imports (own calculation).
Value chains & food security9 datasets
Purchase price for white maize, ZMW per 50 kg bag, marketing seasons with an official figure
Source: MAL · MoA · FAO GIEWS FPMA · National Assembly · MoA / FRA — Only seasons for which a ministerial statement or official note gives the price are shown. The FRA announcement of the 2017 price was not found in an official source, and the K60 shown for 2017 is the price the Minister of Agriculture referred to in the National Assembly on 13 October 2017, also reported by FAO GIEWS. In 2022 the price was raised from K160 to K180 during the season.
Farmers on the electronic voucher, thousand farmers, seasons with an official figure
Source: MoA — The 2015/16, 2018/19, 2023/24 and 2024/25 values are targets, and the 2016/17 and 2019/20 values are farmers served. FISP targeted 1,024,434 farmers in 2017/18, one million in 2018/19–2020/21 and 1,024,434 in each season from 2021/22 to 2024/25 and in 2026/27. In 2022/23 all inputs were delivered directly. The e-voucher was to be extended to the remaining 42 districts in 2025/26, and in 2026/27 it covers all 116 districts.
Agriculture, fisheries and livestock in the budget address, ZMW billion, 2024–2026
Source: MoFNP — Allocations announced in the budget address, not outturns. The third series is the total for agriculture, fisheries and livestock (K13.8, 15.4 and 15.5 billion) minus FISP and food reserves (own calculation). Agriculture's share of total spending was 7.8% in 2024 and 6.1% in 2026 (own calculation).
People in IPC Phase 3 or above, million, October 2023 – March 2026
Source: DMMU · EC K4P / IPC · IPC — Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analyses. The projection for October 2024 – March 2025 was 33% of the analysed population, and the latest projection 17%.
National maize balance by marketing season (tonnes)
| Marketing season (harvest) | Production | Opening stock | Total supply | Requirement | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 (2015/16 crop) | 2,873,052 | 667,524 | 3,540,577 | 2,887,810 | 634,681 |
| 2017/18 (2016/17 crop) | 3,606,549 | 569,317 | 4,175,866 | – | about 1.1 million |
| 2022/23 (2021/22 crop) | 2,706,243 | 146,613 | 2,852,857 | 3,004,763 | −151,906 |
| 2023/24 (2022/23 crop) | 3,261,686 | 450,891 | 3,712,576 | 3,242,197 | 470,379 |
| 2024/25 (2023/24 crop) | 1,511,143 | – | – | – | −2,137,183 (all staples, maize equivalent) |
| 2025/26 (2024/25 crop) | 3,655,646 | 384,999 (own calculation) | 4,040,645 | 3,539,024 | 501,621 |
Source: MoA · ZamStats / MoA · ZamStats — Values as printed in ministerial statements and ZamStats releases. Requirements include a strategic reserve of 500,000 tonnes in several seasons. For 2016/17 the statement prints a surplus of 634,681 tonnes, while total supply minus requirement gives 652,767 tonnes. The 2022/23 balance in the 2021/22 workbook conflicts with the 1.72 million tonnes of stocks reported in March 2022 and should be read with caution. No official balance for the 2026/27 season had been published by October 2026.
Maize and mealie meal export restrictions in official records
| Period | Measure |
|---|---|
| Dec 2012 – early 2014 | Export bans on maize and maize meal introduced, lifted and reintroduced |
| About April 2014 | Ban on maize exports lifted, with 43,590 t of export permits issued since January 2014 |
| 2017 | Export ban on maize and maize products lifted after the 2016/17 harvest |
| September 2019 | Export of maize and maize products banned |
| 2021 | Monthly private export quota of 30,000 t, then a quota of 1,177,500 t and suspension of the 10% export tax in September |
| 2024/25 marketing season | Exports of maize and maize products restricted after the drought |
| May 2025 | Quota-based export programme introduced |
| April 2026 | Remaining trade restrictions removed |
Food Reserve Agency maize price and purchases
| Marketing season | FRA price (ZMW per 50 kg bag) | Purchases (t) | Purchase target (t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | – | 740,361 (to 8 Oct 2010) | – |
| 2013 | 65 | 407,113 (to 18 Sep 2013) | – |
| 2014 | 70 | – | – |
| 2015 | 75 | 595,883 (Nov 2015) | – |
| 2017 | 60 | – | 500,000 (cap) |
| 2022 | 160, raised to 180 | – | – |
| 2023 | 280 | – | 500,000 |
| 2024 | 330 | 580,594 (to 18 Sep 2024) | – |
| 2025 | 340 | 1,663,934 (to 31 Oct 2025) | 543,000 |
Source: MACO · MAL · MoA · FAO GIEWS FPMA · National Assembly · OVP / DMMU · MoA / FRA — Purchases are cumulative to the date shown. The FRA announcement of the 2017 price was not found in an official source, and the K60 shown is the price the Minister of Agriculture referred to in the National Assembly on 13 October 2017. Full-season totals and prices for the missing years were not found in an openable official source. The 2025 purchases were worth K11.3 billion and came from 846,655 farmers.
Farmer Input Support Programme by season
| Season | Beneficiaries | Of which e-voucher | Farmer contribution and pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009/10 | 534,000 | – | – |
| 2015/16 | 1,000,000 | 241,000 targeted (13 districts) | K400 maize pack, subsidy 70.67% |
| 2016/17 | 1,006,666 conventional + 602,521 e-voucher | 602,521 (39 districts) | – |
| 2017/18 | 1,024,434 | planned for all | K400 of a K2,100 voucher |
| 2018/19 | 1,000,000 | 626,384 targeted | K400 (Government K1,700) |
| 2019/20 | 1,000,000 | 382,455 (42 districts) | – |
| 2020/21 | 1,000,000 | – | K400 |
| 2021/22 | 1,024,434 | – | K400, 6 × 50 kg fertiliser + 10 kg maize seed |
| 2022/23 | 1,024,434 | 0 (all direct input supply) | K400, 3 Compound D + 3 urea + 10 kg maize seed + legume seed |
| 2023/24 | 1,024,434 | 221,899 targeted (17 districts) | same pack |
| 2024/25 | 1,024,434 | 739,266 targeted (74 districts) | – |
| 2025/26 | – | planned for remaining 42 districts | – |
| 2026/27 | 1,024,434 targeted | all 116 districts | – |
Agriculture in the budget address (ZMW)
| Budget year | Total budget | Agriculture, fisheries and livestock | FISP | Strategic food reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | K64.5 billion | – | K2.9 billion | K942.5 million |
| 2023 | K167.3 billion | K11.2 billion | – | – |
| 2024 | K177.9 billion | K13.8 billion | K8.6 billion | K1.7 billion |
| 2025 | K217.1 billion | K15.4 billion | K9.3 billion | K2.4 billion |
| 2026 | K253.1 billion | K15.5 billion | K9.2 billion | K2.1 billion |
Source: MoF · MoFNP · Parliament — Allocations announced in the budget address, not outturns. The 2026 allocation for agriculture, fisheries and livestock is worth about US$815 million at the end-August 2026 rate (own calculation). Budget addresses for 2018–2022 were not opened.
Climate & environment13 datasets
Country-average annual mean temperature, °C, 2000–2025 (CRU TS 4.09 to 2024 and ERA5 reanalysis)
Source: World Bank CCKP — World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. The two datasets differ in level. The CRU average was 21.53 °C in 1961–1990 and 22.17 °C in 1991–2020 (own calculation). In the ERA5 series 2024 was the warmest year since 2000.
October–April rainfall, country average, mm, 2000/01–2023/24 (ERA5)
Source: World Bank CCKP — Own sums of ERA5 monthly country averages. The 1991/92–2020/21 average is 1,081.3 mm. In 2023/24 rainfall was 19.8% below it, and February 2024 had about half its usual rainfall. CRU station data are not used here because for Zambia they revert to the long-term average from 2023.
Country-average calendar-year precipitation, mm, 2000–2025 (ERA5)
Source: World Bank CCKP — The 1991–2020 average is 1,085.9 mm (own calculation). Calendar years split the rainy season, which runs from October to April.
Projected change in annual mean temperature against 1995–2014, °C, CMIP6 multi-model median
Source: World Bank CCKP — World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. The median projections for annual rainfall show declines of 25–32 mm, but the model range spans both wetter and drier outcomes.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector, Mt CO2-equivalent, 2010 and 2023 (Climate Watch)
Source: Climate Watch · MGEE · World Bank WDI — Climate Watch figures, whose agriculture values follow FAOSTAT. Agriculture was 49.9% of emissions excluding land use and forestry in 2023 (own calculation). The national inventory in the first Biennial Transparency Report uses other methods and reports gross emissions of 220.5 Mt CO2-equivalent for 2022, of which 202.1 Mt from agriculture, forestry and other land use.
Agriculture emissions, thousand tonnes CO2-equivalent (AR5), 2010–2023, FAOSTAT
Source: FAOSTAT — FAO Tier 1 estimates. Manure is the own sum of manure management, manure left on pasture and manure applied to soils, and the last series the own sum of crop residues, burning of crop residues and rice cultivation. Emissions from drained organic soils (15,299 kt in 2023) are counted by FAO under farm-gate emissions and are not shown.
Forest land, million ha, 2010–2025, FAOSTAT (FAO Forest Resources Assessment)
Source: FAOSTAT · GRZ · World Bank — The average net loss was 97,000 ha a year in 2020–2025 (own calculation). National estimates of gross deforestation are higher, at 276,021 ha a year in the NDC and about 172,000 ha a year (2021) in World Bank project documents.
National electricity generation sent out, GWh, 2023–2025
Source: ERB — Energy Regulation Board. Generation fell 31.2% in 2024 because of low water at the Kariba and Kafue hydro stations, with load-shedding of up to 20 hours a day between March and December 2024. Electricity used in agriculture fell 19.9% in 2024. The chart shows the 2024 value of the Energy Sector Report 2024. The Energy Sector Report 2025 revises 2024 generation to 13,566.52 GWh, a fall of 30.0% from 2023 (own calculation).
Usable storage, % of live storage, selected dates 2023–2026
Source: ZRA — Zambezi River Authority. Kariba supplies the Kariba North Bank power station, whose output fell 41% in 2024.
Projected change in temperature and rainfall (CMIP6, against 1995–2014)
| Scenario | Period | Temperature, median (°C) | Temperature, 10th–90th percentile (°C) | Rainfall, median (mm) | Rainfall, 10th–90th percentile (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSP2-4.5 | 2040–2059 | +1.44 | 1.04 to 2.21 | −32.4 | −99.3 to +29.0 |
| SSP2-4.5 | 2080–2099 | +2.47 | 1.61 to 3.37 | −25.2 | −110.0 to +17.3 |
| SSP5-8.5 | 2040–2059 | +1.85 | 1.33 to 2.69 | −24.6 | −91.0 to +28.4 |
| SSP5-8.5 | 2080–2099 | +4.62 | 3.13 to 6.55 | −29.8 | −183.4 to +120.2 |
Source: World Bank CCKP — World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, CMIP6 ensemble. Annual mean temperature and annual total rainfall.
Zambia's NDC mitigation targets
| Document | Date | Target for 2030 | Base | Finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First NDC | 9 Dec 2016 | 25% (20,000 Gg CO2e) with limited support, 47% (38,000 Gg CO2e) with substantial support | Business as usual, base year 2010 | – |
| Revised and updated NDC | 30 Jul 2021 | 25% (20,000 Gg CO2e) with limited international support, up to 47% (38,000 Gg CO2e) with substantial support | Base year 2010 (120,604 Gg CO2e) | US$15 bn with limited support, US$35 bn with substantial support |
| NDC 3.0 | Oct 2025 | 25% (20,000 Gg CO2e) unconditional, up to 47% (38,000 Gg CO2e) conditional | Base year 2010 recalculated to 185,957.4 Gg CO2e gross | Needs by sector, no total |
Source: GRZ · Openclimatedata — NDC 3.0 extends coverage to ten sectors. For agriculture it envisages solar-powered irrigation on 150,000 ha, halving post-harvest losses from about 15% and insurance cover for 120,000 ha of smallholder production.
Drought and large hydropower stations
| Station | 2023 (GWh) | 2024 (GWh) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kafue Gorge | 7,497.97 | 4,783.50 | −36.2 |
| Kariba North Bank | 2,955.17 | 1,730.74 | −41.4 |
| Victoria Falls | 819.35 | 768.33 | −6.2 |
| ZESCO large stations, total | 11,272.49 | 7,282.57 | −35.4 |
| Independent power producers | 7,893.74 | 5,848.01 | −25.9 |
| National total | 19,372.93 | 13,324.38 | −31.2 |
Source: ERB — Energy Regulation Board, Energy Sector Report 2024. Electricity used in agriculture fell from 312,197 MWh in 2023 to 250,048 MWh in 2024.
Climate and environment at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Mean temperature, 1991–2020 average (CRU) | 22.17 °C | 1991–2020 |
| Mean temperature, 1961–1990 average (CRU) | 21.53 °C | 1961–1990 |
| October–April rainfall, 2023/24 (ERA5) | 867.8 mm (−19.8% on average) | 2023/24 |
| Projected warming, SSP5-8.5 median | +1.85 °C / +4.62 °C | 2040–2059 / 2080–2099 |
| GHG emissions excl. land use (Climate Watch) | 47.80 Mt CO2e | 2023 |
| Agriculture share of emissions excl. land use | 49.9% | 2023 |
| Gross GHG emissions, national inventory | 220,462.1 Gg CO2e | 2022 |
| Forest land | 44.87 million ha | 2025 |
| Water withdrawals for agriculture | 73.3% of total | 2022 |
| Area equipped for irrigation (FAO, 2002 survey) | 155,890 ha | 2002 |
Source: World Bank CCKP · Climate Watch · MGEE · FAOSTAT · World Bank WDI · FAO AQUASTAT — Averages and shares are own calculations from the cited series. FAOSTAT carries the 2002 irrigation survey forward unchanged, and in 2015 the Minister of Agriculture reported 425,000 ha under irrigation out of 2.75 million ha of irrigable land.
Agricultural finance21 datasets
Commercial bank loans and advances to agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, ZMW billion, end of year 2010–2025 and August 2026
Source: BoZ — Bank of Zambia fortnightly statistics, December values, in rebased kwacha. The totals agree with the Bank of Zambia distribution of loans workbook (K104,555,347.9 thousand at 26 December 2025), which indicates that foreign-currency loans valued in kwacha are included. Total bank loans were K104.6 billion at the end of 2025 and K108.6 billion in August 2026. Loans to agriculture rose from K10.43 billion in July to K13.46 billion in August 2026.
Commercial bank loans to agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, converted at the IMF end-of-period rate, US$ million, 2010–2025 and August 2026
Source: BoZ · IMF — Own conversion of the kwacha stock at the IMF end-of-period ZMW/USD rate (the Bank of Zambia rate). The rates used are 4.80 (2010), 5.12 (2011), 5.15 (2012), 5.51 (2013), 6.39 (2014), 10.98 (2015), 9.92 (2016), 9.92 (2017), 11.92 (2018), 14.11 (2019), 21.17 (2020), 16.67 (2021), 18.08 (2022), 25.72 (2023), 27.89 (2024), 22.11 (2025) and 19.03 (end-August 2026). In dollars the stock fell from US$731 million in 2012 to US$264 million in 2023, as the kwacha depreciated, and rose to US$708 million by August 2026.
IMF end-of-period rate, 2010–2025, and end-August 2026
Source: IMF — The kwacha lost about half of its value in 2015 and again between 2018 and 2020. It strengthened from 27.89 per dollar at the end of 2024 to 19.03 at the end of August 2026.
Commercial banks' foreign-currency loans to agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, US$ million, 2010–2025 and August 2026
Source: BoZ — Published in US dollars. Agriculture's share of all foreign-currency loans fell from 34.5% in 2010 to 8.4% in August 2026 (own calculation). In the April 2025 Financial Stability Report, agro-based borrowers held 12.4% of foreign-currency loans and 22.5% of foreign-currency non-performing loans.
Non-performing loans, % of gross loans, end of year 2010–2025
Source: BoZ · World Bank WDI — Each year from that year's Bank of Zambia Annual Report, except 2023, where the agriculture ratio of 6.6% comes from the 2024 and 2025 Annual Reports on the ISIC basis and the 2023 report printed 6.7%. Later reports revised some values, for example agriculture in 2020 to 28.9%. The banking ratio was 2.7% in March 2026.
Non-performing loan ratio of banks and non-bank lenders, %, fourth quarter 2016–2025 and Q1 2026
Source: BoZ — Bank of Zambia credit market monitoring data, which cover banks and non-bank financial institutions. Loans are non-performing when 90 days or more past due. In the Bank of Zambia glossary small and emergent farmers have up to 50 hectares (smallholders up to 5 ha, small emergent 5–20 ha, large emergent 20–50 ha) and large farms more than 50 hectares.
Loans outstanding to agriculture by type of borrower, banks and non-bank lenders, ZMW million, fourth quarter
Source: BoZ · BoZ/MoFNP — Small and emergent farmers held 14% of outstanding agricultural loans at the end of 2025, against 4% in 2016 (own calculation). The National Financial Inclusion Strategy reports that only 11% of the small and emergent segment received formal credit in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Rate in force at the end of the year, %, 2012–2025, and October 2026
Source: BoZ — The policy rate was introduced in April 2012 at 9.0%. It was raised to 14.5% in February 2025, cut to 14.25% on 12 November 2025 and then cut to 13.50% in February 2026, 13.25% in May 2026 and 10.75% from 30 September 2026.
Average lending rate, %, end of year 2010–2025 and October 2026
Source: BoZ · World Bank WDI — Last weekly observation of December. The Bank of Zambia changed its reporting template in March 2023, so the two parts of the series are not strictly comparable.
Domestic credit to the private sector, % of GDP, 2011–2025
Adults (16+) using formal financial services, %, FinScope surveys 2009–2025
Source: BoZ · FinScope 2025 · FinScope 2020 · FinScope 2015 — 2009–2020 from the Bank of Zambia financial inclusion indicators, 2025 from the FinScope 2025 topline findings, which restate rural formal inclusion in 2020 as 44.2%. Overall inclusion, which adds informal services, was 80.1% in 2025.
Adults (15+) with an account at a financial institution or mobile-money provider, %, Global Findex
Source: Global Findex · World Bank WDI — Rural account ownership was 69.5% in 2024213. In the same year 6.6% of adults borrowed from a formal financial institution214.
Agricultural finance at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bank loans to agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | K13.46 billion (≈US$708 million) | Aug 2026 |
| Bank loans to agriculture | K9.80 billion (≈US$443 million) | Dec 2025 |
| Agriculture's share of bank loans | 12.4% | Aug 2026 |
| Foreign-currency loans to agriculture | US$201.8 million | Aug 2026 |
| Non-performing loans, all banks | 2.8% | Dec 2025 |
| Non-performing loans, agriculture | 3.0% | Dec 2025 |
| Agriculture's share of non-performing loans | 10.2% | Dec 2025 |
| Loans to small and emergent farmers (banks and non-banks) | K1,534 million | Q1 2026 |
| Policy rate | 10.75% | Oct 2026 |
| Average lending rate, retail / non-retail | 27.33% / 21.47% | Oct 2026 |
| Formal financial inclusion, adults / rural adults | 76.4% / 66.8% | 2025 |
| Account ownership, adults 15+ | 72.7% | 2024 |
Source: BoZ · FinScope 2025 · Global Findex · IMF — US dollar values are own conversions at the IMF end-of-period rate of the stock date (22.11 for December 2025 and 19.03 for August 2026).
Banks' asset quality and agriculture, 2010–2025 (%)
| Year | NPL ratio, all loans | Agriculture share of loans | Agriculture share of NPLs | NPL ratio, agriculture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14.8 | 17.3 | 25.3 | 21.8 |
| 2011 | 10.4 | 17.9 | 15.7 | 9.1 |
| 2012 | 8.1 | 23.2 | 12.9 | 4.6 |
| 2013 | 7.0 | 20.2 | 10.8 | 3.8 |
| 2014 | 6.1 | 16.6 | 22.0 | 8.1 |
| 2015 | 7.3 | 17.3 | 20.8 | 8.7 |
| 2016 | 9.7 | 17.0 | 26.7 | 15.2 |
| 2017 | 12.0 | – | 32.7 | 26.7 |
| 2018 | 11.0 | 16.8 | 32.4 | 28.3 |
| 2019 | 8.9 | 16.3 | 36.0 | 25.7 |
| 2020 | 11.6 | 16.0 | 40.4 | 30.4 |
| 2021 | 5.8 | 11.5 | 24.6 | 12.5 |
| 2022 | 5.0 | 9.5 | 15.8 | 8.3 |
| 2023 | 4.2 | 9.7 | 15.2 | 6.6 |
| 2024 | 4.1 | 10.2 | 11.3 | 4.5 |
| 2025 | 2.8 | 9.5 | 10.2 | 3.0 |
Source: BoZ — As published in the Bank of Zambia Annual Reports. Later reports revised some years, and the 2010 ratio is 14.8% in the 2010 report but 10.4% in a 2012 table.
Bank of Zambia refinancing facilities open to agriculture
| Facility | Launched | Size | Terms | Use and status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Targeted Medium-Term Refinancing Facility | April 2020 | K10 billion | Priced at the policy rate, up to 5 years, 60% for priority sectors including agriculture | 23 approvals worth K7.8 billion and K3.3 billion drawn by end-2020, balance K4,129.5 million at end-2025 |
| Stability and Resilience Facility | 30 December 2024 | K5.0 billion | Up to 7 years, 24-month moratorium, policy rate minus 1 point (minus 3 points for green loans) | For agriculture and businesses hit by power shortages after the drought, K3,528.0 million of principal disbursed by end-2025 |
Source: BoZ — The Bank of Zambia does not publish the share of either facility lent to agriculture. The Stability and Resilience Facility was worth about US$179 million at the end-2024 rate (own calculation).
Statutory reserve ratio, 2023–2026
| Date | Change | Level |
|---|---|---|
| February 2023 | +2.5 points (kwacha and foreign-currency deposits) | 11.5% |
| November 2023 | +5.5 points | 17.0% |
| 5 February 2024 | +9.0 points | 26.0% |
| 3 August 2026 | Kwacha ratio −5.0 points, foreign-currency ratio unchanged | 21.0% kwacha, 26.0% foreign currency |
Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and agriculture
| Item | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Projects funded, all sectors | K187.7 million, 33,688 projects | 2022 |
| Agricultural mechanisation | K27.5 million, 21 projects | 2022 |
| Agro-processing | K7.8 million, 6 projects | 2022 |
| Total disbursed, all sectors | over K673 million, 48,248 beneficiaries | 2023 |
| Loans funded, all sectors | K839.6 million, 82,068 loans, 70% recovery | Aug 2022 – Dec 2023 |
| Support to farmers (mechanisation, agro-processing, irrigation) | over K766.4 million, 1,462 farmers | 2022 – Aug 2026 |
Microfinance institutions licensed by the Bank of Zambia
| Type | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit-taking microfinance institutions | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Consumer-lending microfinance institutions | 25 | 23 | 22 |
| Enterprise-lending microfinance institutions | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Credit reference bureaus | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Net loans of non-bank financial institutions (ZMW billion) | 4.9 | 6.7 | 8.7 |
| NPL ratio of non-bank financial institutions (%) | 6.4 | 8.6 | 10.2 |
Source: BoZ — The Bank of Zambia does not publish the share of microfinance lending that goes to agriculture.
Sustainable finance3 datasets
Investment costs 2023–2030 by area, two scenarios, ZMW billion
Source: MGEE — Table 4 of the National Green Growth Strategy 2024–2030. The total cost of low-carbon interventions is K150.6 billion in the first scenario and K323.7 billion in the second.
CEC Renewables green notes under a US$200 million programme, US$ million
Green and sustainable finance framework
| Date | Instrument or event | Issuer | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Securities (Green Bonds) Guidelines and green bond listing rules | Securities and Exchange Commission | Alignment with the ICMA Green Bond Principles, external review and use-of-proceeds disclosure |
| 2021 | Green Finance Mainstreaming Working Group | BIOFIN (UNDP) with SEC, Bank of Zambia and PIA | Coordination platform for green finance |
| 29 Sep 2023 | Banking and Financial Services (Green Loans) Guidelines | Bank of Zambia | Eligible categories include sustainable agriculture, irrigation, climate-smart agriculture and weather index insurance |
| 2023 | Membership of the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network | SEC and Bankers Association of Zambia | IFC-supported peer network |
| Dec 2023 | First green bond, US$53.5 million | CEC Renewables (Copperbelt Energy Corporation) | Solar generation |
| 24 Apr 2024 | National Green Growth Strategy 2024–2030 | Ministry of Green Economy and Environment | K150.6–323.7 billion of investment needs 2023–2030, K34.1 billion for sustainable agriculture |
| Dec 2024 | Second green bond tranche, US$96.7 million | CEC Renewables | Listed on the Lusaka Securities Exchange |
| 20 Dec 2024 (assent) | Green Economy and Climate Change Act No. 18 of 2024 | Parliament | Climate Change Fund and carbon market regulation |
| 30 Dec 2024 | Stability and Resilience Facility with a lower rate for green loans | Bank of Zambia | Policy rate minus 3 points for green loans |
| 2025 | Zambia Green Finance Taxonomy | Bank of Zambia, PIA and SEC | Voluntary classification covering agriculture, forestry, energy, mining, tourism, transport, water and waste |
| 9 Jan 2026 | Carbon Market Regulations, SI No. 5 of 2026 | Ministry of Green Economy and Environment | National carbon registry and a share of proceeds of US$1.00–2.00 per mitigation outcome |
Source: BIOFIN · BoZ · SBFN · MGEE · UNEP LEAP / FAOLEX · SEC · UNDP BIOFIN · GRZ — The original text of the 2019 green bond guidelines could not be opened, and its date rests on BIOFIN and SBFN pages. The Bank of Zambia was not listed as a member of the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network in October 2025.
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AI-assisted content, human-reviewed: This page was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by a human editor. (last review: October 2026) Despite review, errors or outdated values may remain; please verify critical figures against the linked primary sources before relying on them. Nothing here is investment, legal or financial advice.
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