Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in Zambia
Zambia: Government expenditure on primary education, US$ was 649.93 millions in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in Zambia, 1970–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 649.93 millions for government expenditure on primary education, us$ in 2017. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
The figure is up 22.7% on the previous year and up 652.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Zambia peaked at 649.93 millions in 2017 and was at its lowest, 20.34 millions, in 1987.
That places Zambia 74th out of 154 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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 primary education, US$ in Zambia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 30.31 millions | — |
| 1971 | 38.15 millions | +25.9% |
| 1972 | 42.94 millions | +12.6% |
| 1973 | 48.88 millions | +13.8% |
| 1974 | 54.46 millions | +11.4% |
| 1975 | 59.4 millions | +9.1% |
| 1976 | 67.83 millions | +14.2% |
| 1977 | 60.53 millions | -10.8% |
| 1978 | 60.07 millions | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 67.56 millions | +12.5% |
| 1980 | 69.52 millions | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 61.86 millions | -11.0% |
| 1982 | 96.02 millions | +55.2% |
| 1983 | 77.85 millions | -18.9% |
| 1984 | 56.6 millions | -27.3% |
| 1985 | 38.31 millions | -32.3% |
| 1986 | 20.35 millions | -46.9% |
| 1987 | 20.34 millions | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 35.84 millions | +76.2% |
| 1992 | 22.41 millions | -37.5% |
| 1993 | 24.43 millions | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 25 millions | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 28.61 millions | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 35.28 millions | +23.3% |
| 2004 | 97.87 millions | +177.4% |
| 2005 | 86.41 millions | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 616.3 millions | +613.2% |
| 2016 | 529.82 millions | -14.0% |
| 2017 | 649.93 millions | +22.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 53.02 millions | 30.31 millions | 67.83 millions | 10 |
| 1980s | 55.11 millions | 20.34 millions | 96.02 millions | 8 |
| 1990s | 27.26 millions | 22.41 millions | 35.84 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 73.19 millions | 35.28 millions | 97.87 millions | 3 |
| 2010s | 598.68 millions | 529.82 millions | 649.93 millions | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Zambia?
- Government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Zambia was 649.93 millions in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 649.93 millions in 2017.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.34 millions in 1987.
- How does Zambia rank for government expenditure on primary education, us$?
- Zambia ranks 74th out of 154 countries with data for 2017.
- Is government expenditure on primary education, us$ rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 652.1%. 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 primary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release