Subsidies and other transfers in Zambia

Zambia: Subsidies and other transfers was 12.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
12.6%
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
142nd
of 152 countries
All-time high
25.4%
in 2008
All-time low
3.5%
in 2001
Years of data
23
1998–2021

Subsidies and other transfers in Zambia, 1998–2021

5101520251998200920211998: 18.9 % of expense1999: 20.1 % of expense2001: 3.5 % of expense2002: 19.1 % of expense2003: 8.1 % of expense2004: 15.2 % of expense2005: 18 % of expense2006: 18.5 % of expense2007: 25.2 % of expense2008: 25.4 % of expense2009: 20 % of expense2010: 19.2 % of expense2011: 10.8 % of expense2012: 16.2 % of expense2013: 19.5 % of expense2014: 18.2 % of expense2015: 23 % of expense2016: 9.8 % of expense2017: 13.8 % of expense2018: 11.9 % of expense2019: 9.8 % of expense2020: 11.8 % of expense2021: 12.6 % of expense

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

In 2021, subsidies and other transfers in Zambia stood at 12.6%.

That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and up 16.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, subsidies and other transfers in Zambia peaked at 25.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2001.

Zambia ranks 142nd of 152 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Subsidies and other transfers in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense) in Zambia, 1998 to 2021.
Year % of expense Change
1998 18.9%
1999 20.1% +6.3%
2001 3.5% -82.8%
2002 19.1% +452.3%
2003 8.1% -57.4%
2004 15.2% +86.7%
2005 18.0% +18.5%
2006 18.5% +2.8%
2007 25.2% +36.2%
2008 25.4% +0.7%
2009 20.0% -21.1%
2010 19.2% -4.2%
2011 10.8% -43.8%
2012 16.2% +50.2%
2013 19.5% +20.2%
2014 18.2% -6.4%
2015 23.0% +26.0%
2016 9.8% -57.5%
2017 13.8% +40.7%
2018 11.9% -13.6%
2019 9.8% -17.4%
2020 11.8% +20.5%
2021 12.6% +6.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.5% 18.9% 20.1% 2
2000s 17.0% 3.5% 25.4% 9
2010s 15.2% 9.8% 23.0% 10
2020s 12.2% 11.8% 12.6% 2

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 139 Belize 14.8% compare
  2. 140 Timor-Leste 14.1% compare
  3. 141 Denmark 13.3% compare
  4. 143 Guinea-Bissau 11.9% compare
  5. 144 Mozambique 11.9% compare
  6. 145 Lao People's Democratic Republic 11.7% compare

See the full ranking of 192 places →

More public sector data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is subsidies and other transfers in Zambia?
Subsidies and other transfers in Zambia was 12.6% in 2021, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest subsidies and other transfers recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 25.4% in 2008.
What is the lowest subsidies and other transfers recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2001.
How does Zambia rank for subsidies and other transfers?
Zambia ranks 142nd out of 152 countries with data for 2021.
Is subsidies and other transfers rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Subsidies and other transfers in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/subsidies-and-other-transfers-percent-of-expense/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense)
Unit
% of expense
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
192 places, 4,500 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Subsidies are current unrequited payments that government units, including nonresident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or the quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce, sell, export or import. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.