Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Zambia
Zambia: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 40.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending 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, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending 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.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending 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
- 133 Barbados 41.6% compare
- 134 Palestine, State of 41.4% compare
- 135 Côte d'Ivoire 40.8% compare
- 137 Lao People's Democratic Republic 39.8% compare
- 138 India 39.0% compare
- 139 Lebanon 37.9% 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)
- 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 public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Zambia?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Zambia was 40.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.6% in 2005.
- How does Zambia rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Zambia ranks 136th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending 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, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. 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.