Zambia Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Zambia's government spending was 25.14% in 2021, ranked 54th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2020. Data from World Bank, covering 1998–2021.
Overview
Zambia's government spending stood at 25.14% in 2021, a decline of +0.24% from 2020. Zambia ranked 54th globally.
Zambia’s government spending as a share of GDP has risen steadily over the 23‑year series, moving from a low of 14.10 in 2001 to an all‑time peak of 25.37 in 2020, before settling at 25.14 in 2021, which placed the country 54th in the global ranking. The upward trajectory reflects expanded fiscal allocations to infrastructure, health and education during the late 2010s, counterbalancing earlier periods of fiscal restraint. Compared with peers of similar rank, Zambia’s 2021 level is almost identical to Thailand’s 25.13 and only marginally below Morocco’s 25.63, indicating a comparable fiscal stance among emerging economies. The modest decline from the 2020 peak suggests that the post‑pandemic fiscal consolidation efforts have begun to temper spending growth, yet the level remains well above the 2001 trough. Continued pressure from external debt service and domestic revenue constraints could moderate future increases, while any major policy shift toward higher public investment would likely lift the trajectory again.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25.14% | −0.24% | #54 |
| 2020 | 25.37% | +3.42% | #49 |
| 2019 | 21.96% | +1.85% | #53 |
| 2018 | 20.11% | −0.81% | #50 |
| 2017 | 20.92% | −1.49% | #55 |
| 2016 | 22.41% | −0.83% | #56 |
| 2015 | 23.23% | +2.98% | #64 |
| 2014 | 20.26% | +2.40% | #47 |
| 2013 | 17.85% | +1.32% | #36 |
| 2012 | 16.53% | +2.04% | #34 |
| 2011 | 14.50% | −0.17% | #24 |
| 2010 | 14.67% | +0.17% | #20 |
| 2009 | 14.50% | −1.88% | #17 |
| 2008 | 16.38% | +1.62% | #25 |
| 2007 | 14.77% | +0.53% | #20 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zambia's government spending was 25.14% in 2021. Ranked 54th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Zambia's government spending peaked at 25.37% in 2020.
The lowest government spending in Zambia was 14.10% in 2001.
Zambia ranks 54th globally in government spending as of 2021.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The government spending of Zambia in 2021 was 25.14%. This ranks 54th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zambia_government-spending,
title = {Zambia Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}