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Economy of Palestine vs Zambia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Palestine has a GDP of $13.7B compared to $26.3B for Zambia, ranking 146/197 and 115/197 by economy size, respectively.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Palestine
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Zambia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Palestine Zambia
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - - $698,739,721 $3,745,698,444
1961 - - $682,359,727 $3,796,691,708
1962 - - $679,279,729 $3,702,122,212
1963 - - $704,339,719 $3,823,270,197
1964 - - $822,639,671 $4,290,246,254
1965 - - $1,061,199,576 $5,004,463,110
1966 - - $1,238,999,505 $4,725,699,011
1967 - - $1,340,639,464 $5,099,960,030
1968 - - $1,573,739,371 $5,163,624,360
1969 - - $1,926,399,230 $5,141,063,669
1970 - - $1,788,779,285 $5,387,686,297
1971 - - $1,653,259,341 $5,383,050,756
1972 - - $1,872,416,680 $5,878,768,641
1973 - - $2,434,255,237 $5,822,212,020
1974 - - $2,910,981,262 $6,196,473,040
1975 - - $2,442,672,141 $6,055,854,685
1976 - - $2,742,859,263 $6,432,587,907
1977 - - $2,515,296,940 $6,138,989,403
1978 - - $2,811,032,473 $6,172,984,907
1979 - - $3,353,445,378 $5,986,318,100
1980 - - $3,884,530,854 $6,168,040,111
1981 - - $4,008,126,497 $6,548,482,198
1982 - - $3,871,117,093 $6,364,287,628
1983 - - $3,321,048,451 $6,239,121,864
1984 - - $2,719,518,933 $6,218,106,324
1985 - - $2,252,454,500 $6,318,548,040
1986 - - $1,664,413,508 $6,364,287,628
1987 - - $2,265,250,972 $6,534,574,435
1988 - - $3,728,878,149 $6,944,994,654
1989 - - $3,994,673,161 $6,873,912,510
1990 - - $3,288,381,797 $6,840,844,039
1991 - - $3,376,806,697 $6,838,372,211
1992 - - $3,182,810,841 $6,720,005,310
1993 - - $3,273,505,344 $7,176,782,487
1994 $2,843,300,000 $5,057,700,000 $3,656,806,166 $6,557,753,280
1995 $3,282,800,000 $5,417,700,000 $3,806,983,413 $6,747,775,257
1996 $3,409,600,000 $5,483,500,000 $3,597,220,962 $7,167,388,798
1997 $3,759,800,000 $6,287,800,000 $4,303,288,480 $7,440,753,544
1998 $4,067,800,000 $7,189,100,000 $3,537,741,942 $7,412,051,124
1999 $4,271,200,000 $7,784,400,000 $3,404,284,891 $7,756,725,565
2000 $4,313,600,000 $7,118,400,000 $3,600,632,111 $8,059,030,210
2001 $4,003,700,000 $6,455,600,000 $4,094,441,301 $8,487,518,231
2002 $3,555,800,000 $5,649,400,000 $4,193,850,445 $8,869,967,014
2003 $3,968,000,000 $6,441,200,000 $4,901,869,764 $9,485,983,916
2004 $4,603,100,000 $7,853,400,000 $6,221,110,219 $10,153,075,785
2005 $5,125,700,000 $8,740,100,000 $8,331,870,169 $10,887,711,636
2006 $5,348,300,000 $8,653,000,000 $12,756,858,899 $11,748,243,096
2007 $5,815,700,000 $8,980,800,000 $14,056,957,976 $12,729,507,610
2008 $7,310,400,000 $9,648,000,000 $17,910,858,638 $13,719,086,270
2009 $8,085,700,000 $10,477,100,000 $15,328,342,304 $14,984,033,822
2010 $9,681,500,000 $11,082,400,000 $20,265,559,484 $16,527,123,088
2011 $11,186,100,000 $12,146,400,000 $23,459,515,276 $17,447,560,253
2012 $12,208,400,000 $12,886,900,000 $25,503,060,420 $18,773,117,889
2013 $13,515,500,000 $13,492,400,000 $28,037,239,463 $19,722,575,263
2014 $13,989,700,000 $13,471,100,000 $27,141,023,558 $20,648,211,567
2015 $13,972,400,000 $13,972,400,000 $21,251,216,799 $21,251,216,799
2016 $15,405,400,000 $15,211,000,000 $20,958,412,538 $22,049,221,308
2017 $16,128,000,000 $15,426,900,000 $25,873,601,261 $22,826,646,594
2018 $16,276,600,000 $15,616,200,000 $26,311,507,274 $23,747,586,257
2019 $17,133,500,000 $15,829,000,000 $23,308,667,781 $24,089,861,649
2020 $15,531,700,000 $14,037,400,000 $18,137,764,931 $23,418,945,737
2021 $18,109,000,000 $15,021,700,000 $22,096,416,932 $24,879,098,748
2022 $19,165,500,000 $15,635,000,000 $29,163,782,140 $26,175,604,214
2023 $17,847,900,000 $14,922,700,000 $27,577,956,471 $27,580,695,690
2024 $13,711,100,000 $10,959,600,000 $26,325,775,287 $28,695,824,119

Economic indicators

Palestine Zambia
Gross domestic product
$13.7B
2024
$26.3B
2024
GDP rank
146/197
2024
115/197
2024
GDP growth
-23.2%
2023-2024
-4.54%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,592
2024
$1,235
2024
GDP per capita rank
147/197
2024
169/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,371
2024
$4,224
2024
Government debt n/a
$30.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio n/a
99%
2025
Government debt per person n/a
$1,420
2024
Government debt per person rank n/a
132/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$7,705
2025
$1,168
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$4.08B
2024
$7.77B
2024
Income share by richest 10%
27.1%
2023
39.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2023
1.5%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20%
2025
27.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
53.7%
2023-2024
14.2%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
14.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
31.4%
2024
5.86%
2023
Population
5459557
22402291

GDP per capita in Palestine vs Zambia

Palestine's GDP per capita is $2,592, ranking 147/197, compared to $1,235 in Zambia, ranking 169/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Palestine ranks 163rd at $4,371, while Zambia ranks 164th at $4,224.

Palestine
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Zambia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Palestine Zambia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $221.6 -
1961 - - $209.7 -
1962 - - $202.3 -
1963 - - $203.2 -
1964 - - $230 -
1965 - - $287.4 -
1966 - - $325 -
1967 - - $341 -
1968 - - $387 -
1969 - - $459 -
1970 - - $414 -
1971 - - $372 -
1972 - - $410 -
1973 - - $518 -
1974 - - $601 -
1975 - - $490 -
1976 - - $533 -
1977 - - $474 -
1978 - - $514 -
1979 - - $595 -
1980 - - $669 -
1981 - - $670 -
1982 - - $627 -
1983 - - $520 -
1984 - - $413 -
1985 - - $332 -
1986 - - $238.2 -
1987 - - $315 -
1988 - - $504 -
1989 - - $526 -
1990 - - $422 $1,522
1991 - - $423 $1,534
1992 - - $389 $1,505
1993 - - $391 $1,607
1994 $1,202 $2,201 $426 $1,464
1995 $1,327 $2,302 $433 $1,501
1996 $1,317 $2,269 $400 $1,585
1997 $1,389 $2,530 $466 $1,631
1998 $1,465 $2,852 $373 $1,601
1999 $1,499 $3,052 $350 $1,654
2000 $1,476 $2,783 $359 $1,709
2001 $1,336 $2,515 $397 $1,785
2002 $1,156 $2,179 $394 $1,837
2003 $1,258 $2,469 $446 $1,942
2004 $1,422 $3,014 $549 $2,068
2005 $1,544 $3,372 $711 $2,213
2006 $1,570 $3,354 $1,052 $2,378
2007 $1,664 $3,486 $1,119 $2,555
2008 $2,035 $3,713 $1,376 $2,708
2009 $2,192 $3,950 $1,136 $2,872
2010 $2,557 $4,121 $1,451 $3,098
2011 $2,881 $4,495 $1,625 $3,228
2012 $3,067 $5,215 $1,710 $3,324
2013 $3,315 $5,288 $1,821 $3,477
2014 $3,352 $5,382 $1,707 $3,441
2015 $3,272 $5,770 $1,296 $3,337
2016 $3,528 $6,062 $1,239 $3,313
2017 $3,620 $6,107 $1,483 $3,392
2018 $3,562 $6,216 $1,464 $3,442
2019 $3,657 $6,508 $1,259 $3,361
2020 $3,234 $5,956 $952 $3,157
2021 $3,679 $5,663 $1,127 $3,503
2022 $3,800 $6,163 $1,447 $3,841
2023 $3,455 $5,950 $1,331 $4,077
2024 $2,592 $4,371 $1,235 $4,224

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 28 years, Palestine has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.9%, compared with 14.4% in Zambia. In 2024, inflation was 53.7% in Palestine and 14.2% in Zambia.

Inflation
Palestine

Zambia
Year Inflation
Palestine Zambia Palestine Zambia
1996 - 38.6%
1997 7.09% 21.4%
1998 5.58% 22.7%
1999 5.54% 23.9%
2000 2.8% 24.1%
2001 1.22% 21.4%
2002 5.71% 22.2%
2003 4.4% 21.4%
2004 3% 18%
2005 4.11% 18.3%
2006 3.84% 9%
2007 1.86% 10.7%
2008 9.89% 12.4%
2009 2.75% 13.4%
2010 3.75% 8.5%
2011 2.88% 8.7%
2012 2.78% 6.6%
2013 1.72% 7%
2014 1.73% 7.8%
2015 1.43% 10.1%
2016 -0.22% 17.9%
2017 0.21% 6.6%
2018 -0.2% 7.5%
2019 1.58% 9.2%
2020 -0.74% 15.7%
2021 1.24% 22%
2022 3.74% 11%
2023 5.87% 10.9%
2024 53.7% 15%
2025 - 14.2%

Balance of trade

Palestine Zambia
Current account balance
-$2.9B
2024
-$583M
2023
Current account balance ranking
152/189
2024
105/189
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-21.1%
2024
-2.11%
2023
Goods imports
$6.87B
2024
$9.15B
2023
Goods exports
$2.37B
2024
$10.5B
2023
Service imports
$1.39B
2024
$1.71B
2023
Service exports
$514M
2024
$933M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
60.3%
2024
37.4%
2023
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
21%
2024
40.8%
2023

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Palestine Zambia
Economic freedom 30 50.9
Economic freedom ranking 192/197 162/197
Property rights n/a 45.8
Government integrity n/a 36.7
Judicial effectiveness n/a 45.3
Tax burden n/a 74.7
Government spending n/a 75
Fiscal health n/a 0
Business freedom n/a 45.9
Labor freedom n/a 48.7
Monetary freedom n/a 68.2
Trade freedom n/a 65.8
Investment freedom n/a 55
Financial freedom n/a 50

More economic indicators

Palestine Zambia
Services, % of GDP
58.3%
2022
55.1%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
17.4%
2022
37.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.75%
2022
1.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$16.3B
2024
$27B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$5,310
2024
$3,950
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.33B
2024
$4.09B
2024
Total reserves ranking
138/177
2024
106/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$151M
2024
$31.1M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$162M
2024
$1.24B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$10.7M
2024
-$170M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
n/a
3.61%
2023
Poverty at national poverty lines
29.2%
2016
60%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.5%
2024
31.4%
2023

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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Economy comparisons

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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.