Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia

Zambia: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 14.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
14.6%
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
33rd
of 116 countries
All-time high
24.0%
in 2006
All-time low
8.8%
in 2021
Years of data
23
2001–2024

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia, 2001–2024

05101520252001201220242001: 15.92002: 22.42003: 19.82004: 13.82005: 9.82006: 242007: 13.62008: 16.42009: 16.42010: 13.52011: 13.22012: 162013: 14.12014: 17.82015: 14.72016: 13.62017: 152019: 10.52020: 10.72021: 8.82022: 10.62023: 14.22024: 14.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia stood at 14.6%.

That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia peaked at 24.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 2021.

Zambia ranks 33rd of 116 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%) in Zambia, 2001 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2001 15.9%
2002 22.4% +40.4%
2003 19.8% -11.3%
2004 13.8% -30.5%
2005 9.8% -28.7%
2006 24.0% +144.3%
2007 13.6% -43.3%
2008 16.4% +20.2%
2009 16.4% +0.2%
2010 13.5% -18.0%
2011 13.2% -2.2%
2012 16.0% +21.6%
2013 14.1% -11.9%
2014 17.8% +26.5%
2015 14.7% -17.4%
2016 13.6% -7.4%
2017 15.0% +10.4%
2019 10.5% -30.1%
2020 10.7% +2.0%
2021 8.8% -17.9%
2022 10.6% +20.1%
2023 14.2% +33.8%
2024 14.6% +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.9% 9.8% 24.0% 9
2010s 14.3% 10.5% 17.8% 9
2020s 11.8% 8.8% 14.6% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 30 Israel 14.9% compare
  2. 31 Iceland 14.8% compare
  3. 32 Republic of Korea 14.8% compare
  4. 34 Indonesia 14.5% compare
  5. 35 Estonia 14.5% compare
  6. 36 Sweden 14.3% compare

See the full ranking of 127 places →

More education data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia was 14.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 2006.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 2021.
How does Zambia rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
Zambia ranks 33rd out of 116 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-education-percent/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
127 places, 2,344 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed