Share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia

Zambia: Share of government expenditure going to interest payments was 26.53 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
26.53
Change on year
down 18.4%
World rank
4th
of 152 countries
All-time high
42
in 2019
All-time low
6.44
in 2011
Years of data
23
1998–2021

Share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia, 1998–2021

102030401998200920211998: 15.91999: 19.92001: 6.62002: 16.12003: 262004: 25.82005: 19.42006: 9.62007: 6.82008: 9.92009: 9.42010: 10.72011: 6.42012: 8.42013: 8.92014: 14.32015: 16.92016: 222017: 22.82018: 33.72019: 422020: 32.52021: 26.5

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia is 26.53, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 18.4% on the previous year and up 312.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia peaked at 42 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.44, in 2011.

That places Zambia 4th out of 152 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia, 1998 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1998 15.95
1999 19.89 +24.7%
2001 6.55 -67.1%
2002 16.06 +145.1%
2003 26.03 +62.1%
2004 25.79 -0.9%
2005 19.41 -24.7%
2006 9.55 -50.8%
2007 6.84 -28.4%
2008 9.93 +45.2%
2009 9.38 -5.6%
2010 10.73 +14.4%
2011 6.44 -40.0%
2012 8.43 +31.0%
2013 8.94 +6.0%
2014 14.29 +59.8%
2015 16.89 +18.2%
2016 21.97 +30.1%
2017 22.83 +3.9%
2018 33.72 +47.7%
2019 42 +24.6%
2020 32.51 -22.6%
2021 26.53 -18.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 17.92 15.95 19.89 2
2000s 14.39 6.55 26.03 9
2010s 18.62 6.44 42 10
2020s 29.52 26.53 32.51 2

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 1 Sri Lanka 49.44 compare
  2. 2 Ghana 32.79 compare
  3. 3 Angola 31.91 compare
  4. 5 Malawi 26.35 compare
  5. 6 Egypt 24.23 compare
  6. 7 Brazil 24.14 compare

See the full ranking of 152 places →

More reference data data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia?
Share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia was 26.53 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of government expenditure going to interest payments recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 42 in 2019.
What is the lowest share of government expenditure going to interest payments recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 6.44 in 2011.
How does Zambia rank for share of government expenditure going to interest payments?
Zambia ranks 4th out of 152 countries with data for 2021.
Is share of government expenditure going to interest payments rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 312.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of government expenditure going to interest payments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of government expenditure going to interest payments in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-government-expenditure-going-to-interest-payments/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of government expenditure going to interest payments
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
152 places, 4,278 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed