Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Zambia

Zambia: Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social was 5.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
5.6%
Change on year
up 98.7%
World rank
104th
of 127 countries
All-time high
5.6%
in 2024
All-time low
0.1%
in 2003
Years of data
24
2001–2024

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

02462001201220242001: 0.268 %2002: 0.775 %2003: 0.116 %2004: 0.35 %2005: 0.406 %2006: 0.443 %2007: 0.227 %2008: 0.313 %2009: 0.258 %2010: 0.19 %2011: 0.29 %2012: 0.312 %2013: 0.241 %2014: 0.384 %2015: 0.383 %2016: 0.346 %2017: 0.832 %2018: 0.655 %2019: 0.208 %2020: 1.4 %2021: 2.1 %2022: 2.7 %2023: 2.8 %2024: 5.6 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Zambia is 5.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 98.7% on the previous year and up 1,351.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Zambia peaked at 5.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2003.

That places Zambia 104th out of 127 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) in Zambia, 2001 to 2024.
Year % Change
2001 0.3%
2002 0.8% +189.0%
2003 0.1% -85.0%
2004 0.4% +201.2%
2005 0.4% +15.7%
2006 0.4% +9.1%
2007 0.2% -48.7%
2008 0.3% +38.1%
2009 0.3% -17.5%
2010 0.2% -26.5%
2011 0.3% +52.9%
2012 0.3% +7.3%
2013 0.2% -22.5%
2014 0.4% +59.1%
2015 0.4% -0.4%
2016 0.3% -9.6%
2017 0.8% +140.3%
2018 0.7% -21.3%
2019 0.2% -68.2%
2020 1.4% +560.9%
2021 2.1% +54.6%
2022 2.7% +25.4%
2023 2.8% +5.0%
2024 5.6% +98.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.4% 0.1% 0.8% 9
2010s 0.4% 0.2% 0.8% 10
2020s 2.9% 1.4% 5.6% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 101 Bangladesh 6.3% compare
  2. 102 Ethiopia 6.2% compare
  3. 103 State of Palestine 6.0% compare
  4. 105 Kenya 5.5% compare
  5. 106 Nicaragua 5.4% compare
  6. 107 Myanmar 4.6% compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Zambia?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Zambia was 5.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2024.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2003.
How does Zambia rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social?
Zambia ranks 104th out of 127 countries with data for 2024.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,351.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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, social protection (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-social-protection-percent/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
131 places, 2,404 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed