Government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Government expenditure on education, total was 17.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe, 2010–2025
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2025, government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe stood at 17.9%.
That represents a change of up 9.7% on the previous year and down 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe peaked at 30.0% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2010.
Zimbabwe ranks 34th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.5% | — |
| 2012 | 29.8% | +248.5% |
| 2013 | 28.7% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 30.0% | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 29.5% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 23.5% | -20.2% |
| 2017 | 19.7% | -16.3% |
| 2018 | 19.2% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 10.5% | -45.4% |
| 2020 | 15.7% | +49.7% |
| 2023 | 10.7% | -31.8% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | +52.7% |
| 2025 | 17.9% | +9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 22.1% | 8.5% | 30.0% | 9 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 10.7% | 17.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 31 Sao Tome and Principe 18.1% compare
- 32 Benin 18.0% compare
- 33 Madagascar 18.0% compare
- 35 Jamaica 17.9% compare
- 36 Mali 17.8% compare
- 37 Côte d'Ivoire 17.6% compare
More education data for Zimbabwe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2013)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,514 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 328,055 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,698 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 957,461 (2013)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.4866 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1767 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe?
- Government expenditure on education, total in Zimbabwe was 17.9% in 2025, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 30.0% in 2014.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, total recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2010.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for government expenditure on education, total?
- Zimbabwe ranks 34th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government expenditure on education, total rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Government expenditure on education, total (% of government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.