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
Zambia recorded 1,247 millions for government expenditure on education, us$ in 2018. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 29.3% on the previous year and up 533.2% 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, 55.49 millions, in 1986.
That places Zambia 90th out of 174 countries with data for 2018, 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 education, US$ in Zambia, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 80.09 millions | — |
| 1971 | 102.83 millions | +28.4% |
| 1972 | 113.61 millions | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 124.51 millions | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 152.28 millions | +22.3% |
| 1975 | 163.37 millions | +7.3% |
| 1976 | 165.54 millions | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 141.34 millions | -14.6% |
| 1978 | 133.38 millions | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 138.17 millions | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 158.03 millions | +14.4% |
| 1981 | 154.93 millions | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 205.93 millions | +32.9% |
| 1983 | 173.29 millions | -15.8% |
| 1984 | 136.66 millions | -21.1% |
| 1985 | 94.58 millions | -30.8% |
| 1986 | 55.49 millions | -41.3% |
| 1987 | 60.43 millions | +8.9% |
| 1991 | 92.6 millions | +53.2% |
| 1992 | 66.55 millions | -28.1% |
| 1993 | 63.57 millions | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 65.58 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 | 982.36 millions | +398.7% |
| 2016 | 785.37 millions | -20.1% |
| 2017 | 964.79 millions | +22.8% |
| 2018 | 1,247 millions | +29.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1,247 millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 741.13 millions, 1.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1,247 millions is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 418.12 millions, 3.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, US$ in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +398.7% | 196.97 millions | 982.36 millions |
| 2004 | +138.0% | 64.39 millions | 153.25 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 131.51 millions | 80.09 millions | 165.54 millions | 10 |
| 1980s | 129.92 millions | 55.49 millions | 205.93 millions | 8 |
| 1990s | 70.52 millions | 60.42 millions | 92.6 millions | 7 |
| 2000s | 146.72 millions | 64.39 millions | 196.97 millions | 5 |
| 2010s | 994.91 millions | 785.37 millions | 1,247 millions | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (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 55.49 millions in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for government expenditure on education, us$?
- Zambia ranks 90th out of 174 countries with data for 2018.
- Is government expenditure on education, us$ rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 533.2%. 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.
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About this data
Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ (nominal value). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Total government expenditure for a given level of education (e.g. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) in national currency is converted to US$. Limitations: In some instances data on total government expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/