Zambia
Zambia’s recent data highlights both progress and persistent challenges in education financing and equity. In 2023, the country allocated 4.07% of GDP to public education—above the regional average but still below the international target of 6% set in 2015. Education spending accounted for 17.09% of the national budget, again above the regional average but short of the 20% global benchmark. Public spending per school-age child, however, was only USD 163.65 (2018), falling below the regional average.
Zambia’s commitment to providing free education from early childhood through secondary level represents a transformative policy shift that requires substantial and sustained financial investment. Since 2022, the government has significantly increased its education budget, reflecting growing recognition of education as a national priority. However, achieving universal quality education and meeting SDG 4 targets demands not only increased domestic financing but also careful resource allocation, effective budget execution, and strategic partnerships with development partners and civil society organizations.
Check out the international comparative figures below, and, in addition, our members’ brief featuring national-level analysis, insights, and policy recommendations.
Read our members’ education financing brief
The first dimension we examine is public financial effort, which measures the share of national resources that a country dedicates to education. Since 2015, international benchmarks have set 4–6% of GDP and 15–20% of total government spending as reference targets.
In Zambia, the most recent data (2023) shows that 4.07% of GDP was invested in public education, above the regional average but below the 6% benchmark. Education accounted for 17.09% of the national budget, also above the regional average but under the 20% global target. Public spending per school-age child was USD 163.65 (2018), which remains below the regional average, underscoring resource constraints.
Public expenditure on education as a % of GDP
Public expenditure on education as a % of total public expenditure
Public spending per school-age child, however, was only USD 163.65 (2018), falling below the regional average.
Public spending per school-age person
The third dimension considers school attendance by gender and household income.
- The gender ratio was 0.98 in 2018, slightly above the regional average and reflecting near parity between boys and girls in school attendance.
- The wealth parity index stood at 2.44 in 2018, showing that children from the wealthiest households were more than twice as likely to attend school compared to those from the poorest households. This inequality is more pronounced than the regional average, highlighting the urgent need to address barriers faced by children in poorer households.