External health expenditure per capita (current US$) in Zambia
Zambia: External health expenditure per capita (current US$) was 38.11 current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure per capita in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external health expenditure per capita in Zambia is 38.11 current US$, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.0% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure per capita in Zambia peaked at 49.3 current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.9324 current US$, in 2000.
Zambia ranks 16th of 177 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External health expenditure per capita (current US$) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.9324 current US$ | — |
| 2001 | 1.94 current US$ | +108.0% |
| 2002 | 7.18 current US$ | +270.1% |
| 2003 | 10.16 current US$ | +41.6% |
| 2004 | 10.4 current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 20.58 current US$ | +97.8% |
| 2006 | 23.63 current US$ | +14.8% |
| 2007 | 17.24 current US$ | -27.0% |
| 2008 | 23.55 current US$ | +36.6% |
| 2009 | 29.51 current US$ | +25.3% |
| 2010 | 27.14 current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 29.58 current US$ | +9.0% |
| 2012 | 32.11 current US$ | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 46.77 current US$ | +45.7% |
| 2014 | 21.28 current US$ | -54.5% |
| 2015 | 20.89 current US$ | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 23.58 current US$ | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 22.4 current US$ | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 30.8 current US$ | +37.5% |
| 2019 | 49.3 current US$ | +60.1% |
| 2020 | 19.81 current US$ | -59.8% |
| 2021 | 37.02 current US$ | +86.9% |
| 2022 | 31.5 current US$ | -14.9% |
| 2023 | 38.11 current US$ | +21.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 38.11 current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.9 current US$, 3.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 38.11 current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.24 current US$, 3.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External health expenditure per capita (current US$) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +270.1% | 1.94 current US$ | 7.18 current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.51 current US$ | 0.9324 current US$ | 29.51 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.39 current US$ | 20.89 current US$ | 49.3 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.61 current US$ | 19.81 current US$ | 38.11 current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 13 Vanuatu 45.84 current US$ compare
- 14 South Sudan 45.33 current US$ compare
- 15 Namibia 45.21 current US$ compare
- 17 Solomon Islands 37.72 current US$ compare
- 18 Saint Lucia 32.23 current US$ compare
- 19 Botswana 31.99 current US$ compare
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure per capita in Zambia?
- External health expenditure per capita in Zambia was 38.11 current US$ in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 49.3 current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9324 current US$ in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for external health expenditure per capita?
- Zambia ranks 16th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure per capita rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 External health expenditure per capita (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Current external expenditures on health per capita expressed in current US dollars. External sources are composed of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country.