Government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of GDP in Zambia
Zambia: Government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of GDP was 0.9% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of GDP in Zambia, 1970–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp in Zambia is 0.9%, measured in 2017.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.7% on the previous year and up 246.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp in Zambia peaked at 2.1% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2005.
Zambia ranks 127th of 165 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of GDP in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.6% | — |
| 1971 | 2.0% | +25.1% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 2.1% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 1.9% | -13.1% |
| 1975 | 2.1% | +12.0% |
| 1976 | 1.9% | -9.2% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | -10.8% |
| 1978 | 1.3% | -25.1% |
| 1979 | 1.2% | -5.9% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 1.7% | +61.7% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 2.1% | +18.9% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | -37.4% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | -14.2% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | -25.8% |
| 1991 | 0.5% | -33.9% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -20.7% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | -27.0% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | +36.3% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | -28.9% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | -23.3% |
| 2015 | 1.2% | +357.9% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -35.8% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +17.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | 0.8% | 2.1% | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 5 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 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 government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp in Zambia?
- Government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp in Zambia was 0.9% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.1% in 1973.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2005.
- How does Zambia rank for government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp?
- Zambia ranks 127th out of 165 countries with data for 2017.
- Is government expenditure on secondary education as a percentage of gdp rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 246.0%. 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 secondary education as a percentage of GDP (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release