Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Zambia
Zambia: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) was 1,125 millions in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in Zambia, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2018, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Zambia stood at 1,125 millions. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 32.2% on the previous year and up 646.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Zambia peaked at 1,125 millions in 2018 and was at its lowest, 117.6 millions, in 1994.
Zambia ranks 102nd of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 236.38 millions | — |
| 1971 | 328.08 millions | +38.8% |
| 1972 | 349.5 millions | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 319.5 millions | -8.6% |
| 1974 | 302.24 millions | -5.4% |
| 1975 | 377.76 millions | +25.0% |
| 1976 | 387.65 millions | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 349.43 millions | -9.9% |
| 1978 | 292.62 millions | -16.3% |
| 1979 | 248.7 millions | -15.0% |
| 1980 | 254.51 millions | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 261.96 millions | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 328.04 millions | +25.2% |
| 1983 | 336.13 millions | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 310.16 millions | -7.7% |
| 1985 | 261.93 millions | -15.6% |
| 1986 | 212.48 millions | -18.9% |
| 1987 | 173.95 millions | -18.1% |
| 1991 | 187.39 millions | +7.7% |
| 1992 | 140.54 millions | -25.0% |
| 1993 | 139.37 millions | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 117.6 millions | -15.6% |
| 1995 | 124.05 millions | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 156.99 millions | +26.6% |
| 1999 | 137.66 millions | -12.3% |
| 2000 | 144.1 millions | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 250.09 millions | +73.6% |
| 2005 | 188.94 millions | -24.5% |
| 2007 | 157.93 millions | -16.4% |
| 2008 | 150.86 millions | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 982.63 millions | +551.4% |
| 2016 | 826.31 millions | -15.9% |
| 2017 | 851.27 millions | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 1,125 millions | +32.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1,125 millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 806.8 millions, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1,125 millions is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 524.58 millions, 2.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +551.4% | 150.86 millions | 982.63 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 319.19 millions | 236.38 millions | 387.65 millions | 10 |
| 1980s | 267.4 millions | 173.95 millions | 336.13 millions | 8 |
| 1990s | 143.37 millions | 117.6 millions | 187.39 millions | 7 |
| 2000s | 178.38 millions | 144.1 millions | 250.09 millions | 5 |
| 2010s | 946.42 millions | 826.31 millions | 1,125 millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 99 Dominican Republic 1,215 millions compare
- 100 El Salvador 1,152 millions compare
- 101 Georgia 1,142 millions compare
- 103 Mongolia 1,111 millions compare
- 104 Moldova 1,096 millions compare
- 105 Mozambique 991.9 millions compare
More education data for Zambia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 86.21 (2017)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.49 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Zambia?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in Zambia was 1,125 millions in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,125 millions in 2018.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.6 millions in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- Zambia ranks 102nd out of 174 countries with data for 2018.
- Is government expenditure on education, constant us$ rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 646.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release