Real interest rate in Zambia
Zambia: Real interest rate was -3.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Real interest rate in Zambia, 1978–2020
Source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded -3.9% for real interest rate in 2020.
That represents a change of down 257.6% on the previous year and down 163.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real interest rate in Zambia peaked at 23.7% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -41.8%, in 1992.
Zambia ranks 137th of 148 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -7.2% | -10.5% | -3.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | -12.2% | -34.5% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.6% | -41.8% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.8% | 4.7% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | -0.2% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.9% | -3.9% | -3.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More financial sector data for Zambia
- Domestic credit to private sector 17.0% (2024)
- Net domestic credit 172.45 billion current LCU (2025)
- Total reserves in months of imports 3.29 (2024)
- Net foreign assets 85.43 billion current LCU (2025)
- Domestic credit to private sector by banks 13.7% (2025)
- Claims on central government, etc. 9.1% (2025)
- Monetary Sector credit to private sector 13.7% (2025)
- Broad money 30.8% (2025)
- Official exchange rate 25.28 LCU per US$, period average (2025)
- Net migration 6,562 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is real interest rate in Zambia?
- Real interest rate in Zambia was -3.9% in 2020, according to International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest real interest rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 1996.
- What is the lowest real interest rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -41.8% in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for real interest rate?
- Zambia ranks 137th out of 148 countries with data for 2020.
- Is real interest rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 163.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Real interest rate (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
An interest rate is the amount charged, expressed as a percentage of the principal over a period of time, by the owners of certain kinds of financial assets for putting the financial assets at the disposal of another institutional unit. The real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability. This indicator is expressed as a percentage (a÷b)*100.