External health expenditure in Zambia
Zambia: External health expenditure was 47.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
External 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
In 2023, external health expenditure in Zambia stood at 47.9%.
The figure is up 14.7% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Zambia peaked at 58.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2000.
That places Zambia 7th out of 177 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
External health expenditure in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.3% | — |
| 2001 | 10.2% | +62.5% |
| 2002 | 30.9% | +202.4% |
| 2003 | 38.0% | +22.7% |
| 2004 | 34.7% | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 45.7% | +31.9% |
| 2006 | 40.3% | -12.0% |
| 2007 | 33.8% | -16.1% |
| 2008 | 38.1% | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 49.7% | +30.4% |
| 2010 | 45.2% | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 46.0% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 46.4% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 56.1% | +21.0% |
| 2014 | 32.5% | -42.0% |
| 2015 | 36.4% | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 42.6% | +16.9% |
| 2017 | 31.6% | -25.8% |
| 2018 | 44.1% | +39.7% |
| 2019 | 58.0% | +31.5% |
| 2020 | 33.0% | -43.1% |
| 2021 | 49.5% | +49.9% |
| 2022 | 41.8% | -15.5% |
| 2023 | 47.9% | +14.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 47.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.8%, 4.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 47.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.5%, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32.8% | 6.3% | 49.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.9% | 31.6% | 58.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.0% | 33.0% | 49.5% | 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 external health expenditure in Zambia?
- External health expenditure in Zambia was 47.9% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for external health expenditure?
- Zambia ranks 7th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. 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 External 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 external sources. External sources compose of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country. External sources either flow through the government scheme or are channeled through non-governmental organizations or other schemes.