Domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia
Zambia: Domestic general government health expenditure was 40.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia is 40.7%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 15.4% on the previous year and up 42.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia peaked at 57.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 19.6%, in 2005.
That places Zambia 136th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.8% | — |
| 2001 | 40.3% | +12.6% |
| 2002 | 32.2% | -20.0% |
| 2003 | 24.2% | -24.8% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 19.6% | -18.4% |
| 2006 | 23.8% | +21.3% |
| 2007 | 32.6% | +37.0% |
| 2008 | 35.3% | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 31.9% | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 37.7% | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 39.7% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 38.1% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 28.6% | -24.9% |
| 2014 | 49.5% | +72.7% |
| 2015 | 47.2% | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 38.4% | -18.7% |
| 2017 | 52.5% | +36.9% |
| 2018 | 43.8% | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 33.4% | -23.6% |
| 2020 | 57.0% | +70.4% |
| 2021 | 42.5% | -25.4% |
| 2022 | 48.1% | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 40.7% | -15.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 40.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.9%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 40.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.1%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.0% | 19.6% | 40.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.9% | 28.6% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.1% | 40.7% | 57.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia?
- Domestic general government health expenditure in Zambia was 40.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest domestic general government health expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.6% in 2005.
- How does Zambia rank for domestic general government health expenditure?
- Zambia ranks 136th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic general government health expenditure rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic general government health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health. Domestic public sources include domestic revenue as internal transfers and grants, transfers, subsidies to voluntary health insurance beneficiaries, non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) or enterprise financing schemes as well as compulsory prepayment and social health insurance contributions. They do not include external resources spent by governments on health.