Expenditure on tertiary education in Zambia
Zambia: Expenditure on tertiary education was 8.9% in 2017. ▬ Flat
Expenditure on tertiary 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
In 2017, expenditure on tertiary education in Zambia stood at 8.9%. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.
The figure is down 27.7% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on tertiary education in Zambia peaked at 28.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2017.
That places Zambia 145th out of 160 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Expenditure on tertiary education in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14.2% | — |
| 1971 | 18.3% | +29.1% |
| 1972 | 14.8% | -19.3% |
| 1973 | 15.4% | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 14.2% | -7.8% |
| 1975 | 16.1% | +12.9% |
| 1976 | 17.2% | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 17.6% | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 18.0% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 21.7% | +20.6% |
| 1980 | 18.7% | -13.9% |
| 1981 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 18.1% | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 13.1% | -27.7% |
| 1984 | 11.3% | -13.1% |
| 1985 | 17.3% | +52.8% |
| 1986 | 19.2% | +10.5% |
| 1987 | 15.1% | -21.4% |
| 1991 | 20.8% | +38.5% |
| 1992 | 24.7% | +18.5% |
| 1993 | 28.8% | +16.5% |
| 1994 | 20.8% | -27.7% |
| 1995 | 22.1% | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 19.4% | -12.0% |
| 2004 | 18.0% | -7.0% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | +42.7% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | -54.0% |
| 2016 | 12.3% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 8.9% | -27.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.8% | 14.2% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.4% | 11.3% | 19.2% | 8 |
| 1990s | 23.4% | 20.8% | 28.8% | 5 |
| 2000s | 21.1% | 18.0% | 25.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 11.0% | 8.9% | 12.3% | 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 tertiary education in Zambia?
- Expenditure on tertiary education in Zambia was 8.9% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest expenditure on tertiary education recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for expenditure on tertiary education?
- Zambia ranks 145th out of 160 countries with data for 2017.
- Is expenditure on tertiary education rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 tertiary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on tertiary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.