Expenditure on primary education in Zambia
Zambia: Expenditure on primary education was 67.4% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Expenditure on primary education in Zambia, 1970–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on primary education in Zambia is 67.4%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Zambia peaked at 67.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 1992.
That places Zambia 1st out of 149 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Expenditure on primary education in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 38.6% | — |
| 1971 | 37.9% | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 38.6% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 36.6% | -5.1% |
| 1974 | 38.4% | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 39.0% | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 41.0% | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 42.3% | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 45.1% | +6.6% |
| 1979 | 48.5% | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 43.4% | -10.6% |
| 1981 | 38.6% | -11.1% |
| 1982 | 48.1% | +24.7% |
| 1983 | 43.5% | -9.6% |
| 1984 | 41.7% | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 41.0% | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 36.6% | -10.8% |
| 1987 | 33.7% | -7.9% |
| 1991 | 38.7% | +14.8% |
| 1992 | 33.7% | -13.1% |
| 1993 | 38.4% | +14.2% |
| 1994 | 38.1% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 40.9% | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 54.8% | +34.1% |
| 2004 | 63.9% | +16.5% |
| 2005 | 59.8% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 62.7% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 67.4% | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 67.4% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.6% | 36.6% | 48.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.8% | 33.7% | 48.1% | 8 |
| 1990s | 38.0% | 33.7% | 40.9% | 5 |
| 2000s | 59.5% | 54.8% | 63.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 65.8% | 62.7% | 67.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 169,961 (2013)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.49 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.55 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2106 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.49 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on primary education in Zambia?
- Expenditure on primary education in Zambia was 67.4% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 67.4% in 2016.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Zambia ranks 1st out of 149 countries with data for 2017.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Expenditure on primary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on primary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.