Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in Zambia
Zambia: Government expenditure on primary education, US$ was 649.8 millions in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on primary education, US$ in Zambia, 1970–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2017, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Zambia stood at 649.8 millions. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.7% on the previous year and up 652.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Zambia peaked at 649.8 millions in 2017 and was at its lowest, 20.32 millions, in 1986.
That places Zambia 72nd out of 151 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 | 30.93 millions | — |
| 1971 | 38.93 millions | +25.9% |
| 1972 | 43.82 millions | +12.6% |
| 1973 | 45.56 millions | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 58.4 millions | +28.2% |
| 1975 | 63.68 millions | +9.0% |
| 1976 | 67.93 millions | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 59.76 millions | -12.0% |
| 1978 | 60.12 millions | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 66.99 millions | +11.4% |
| 1980 | 68.53 millions | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 59.77 millions | -12.8% |
| 1982 | 99.09 millions | +65.8% |
| 1983 | 75.39 millions | -23.9% |
| 1984 | 57.01 millions | -24.4% |
| 1985 | 38.8 millions | -31.9% |
| 1986 | 20.32 millions | -47.6% |
| 1987 | 20.38 millions | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 35.87 millions | +76.0% |
| 1992 | 22.4 millions | -37.5% |
| 1993 | 24.43 millions | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 24.99 millions | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 28.61 millions | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 35.29 millions | +23.3% |
| 2004 | 97.87 millions | +177.4% |
| 2005 | 86.41 millions | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 616.08 millions | +612.9% |
| 2016 | 529.72 millions | -14.0% |
| 2017 | 649.8 millions | +22.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 649.8 millions is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 231.78 millions, 2.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 649.8 millions is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 147.19 millions, 4.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on primary 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 | +612.9% | 86.41 millions | 616.08 millions |
| 2004 | +177.4% | 35.29 millions | 97.87 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 53.61 millions | 30.93 millions | 67.93 millions | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.91 millions | 20.32 millions | 99.09 millions | 8 |
| 1990s | 27.26 millions | 22.4 millions | 35.87 millions | 5 |
| 2000s | 73.19 millions | 35.29 millions | 97.87 millions | 3 |
| 2010s | 598.53 millions | 529.72 millions | 649.8 millions | 3 |
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 primary education, us$ in Zambia?
- Government expenditure on primary education, us$ in Zambia was 649.8 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 649.8 millions in 2017.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, us$ recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.32 millions in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for government expenditure on primary education, us$?
- Zambia ranks 72nd out of 151 countries with data for 2017.
- Is government expenditure on primary education, us$ rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 652.0%. 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 primary 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 primary 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/