Government expenditure on education, US$ in Zambia
Zambia: Government expenditure on education, US$ was 1,247 millions in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, US$ in Zambia, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, us$ in Zambia is 1,247 millions, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 29.2% on the previous year and up 533.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, us$ in Zambia peaked at 1,247 millions in 2018 and was at its lowest, 55.57 millions, in 1986.
Zambia ranks 98th of 181 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, US$ in Zambia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 78.49 millions | — |
| 1971 | 100.77 millions | +28.4% |
| 1972 | 111.33 millions | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 133.59 millions | +20.0% |
| 1974 | 142 millions | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 152.39 millions | +7.3% |
| 1976 | 165.31 millions | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 143.18 millions | -13.4% |
| 1978 | 133.26 millions | -6.9% |
| 1979 | 139.33 millions | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 160.3 millions | +15.0% |
| 1981 | 160.35 millions | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 199.55 millions | +24.4% |
| 1983 | 178.94 millions | -10.3% |
| 1984 | 135.66 millions | -24.2% |
| 1985 | 93.38 millions | -31.2% |
| 1986 | 55.57 millions | -40.5% |
| 1987 | 60.31 millions | +8.5% |
| 1991 | 92.54 millions | +53.5% |
| 1992 | 66.57 millions | -28.1% |
| 1993 | 63.57 millions | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 65.59 millions | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 69.99 millions | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 74.94 millions | +7.1% |
| 1999 | 60.42 millions | -19.4% |
| 2000 | 64.39 millions | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 153.25 millions | +138.0% |
| 2005 | 144.6 millions | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 174.41 millions | +20.6% |
| 2008 | 196.97 millions | +12.9% |
| 2015 | 982.73 millions | +398.9% |
| 2016 | 785.5 millions | -20.1% |
| 2017 | 964.99 millions | +22.9% |
| 2018 | 1,247 millions | +29.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 129.97 millions | 78.49 millions | 165.31 millions | 10 |
| 1980s | 130.51 millions | 55.57 millions | 199.55 millions | 8 |
| 1990s | 70.52 millions | 60.42 millions | 92.54 millions | 7 |
| 2000s | 146.72 millions | 64.39 millions | 196.97 millions | 5 |
| 2010s | 995.08 millions | 785.5 millions | 1,247 millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0497 % change on previous year (2014)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 116,859 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 57.0% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 41.0% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 14 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, us$ in Zambia?
- Government expenditure on education, us$ in Zambia was 1,247 millions in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,247 millions in 2018.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.57 millions in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
- Zambia ranks 98th out of 181 countries with data for 2018.
- Is government expenditure on education, us$ rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 533.1%. 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, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release