The 2027 Budget
Zambia’s national budget as the Minister presented it, set against what Parliament approved, what was actually collected and spent, and what the Auditor-General found. Every figure names the document and year it comes from.
- Budget Speech 2027
- Yellow Book 2027
- ZRA collections to 2025
- Budget execution to FY2025
- Audit findings to FY2023
At a glance
2027 Budget Speech. What the government plans to spend, how it plans to pay for it, and what it plans to spend it on. These are approved estimates, not yet actual spending.
- Deficit target 3% of GDP
- Growth target 4.9%
- Inflation target 6–8%
Where the kwacha comes from, and where it goes
Sources of the K284.8bn resource envelope (left) and planned spending by function (right). Debt service is shown on its own, out of General Public Services.
Show the numbers
| Line | Group | Amount | Share of budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAYE | Source · Tax revenue | K35.4bn | 12.4% |
| Company tax | Source · Tax revenue | K42.7bn | 15.0% |
| Withholding & other income tax | Source · Tax revenue | K26.2bn | 9.2% |
| VAT | Source · Tax revenue | K44.3bn | 15.6% |
| Customs duties | Source · Tax revenue | K15.4bn | 5.4% |
| Excise duties | Source · Tax revenue | K13.7bn | 4.8% |
| Export duties | Source · Tax revenue | K400m | 0.1% |
| Mineral royalty | Source · Non-tax revenue | K22.0bn | 7.7% |
| Other non-tax revenue | Source · Non-tax revenue | K33.5bn | 11.8% |
| Grants | Source · Grants | K9.23bn | 3.2% |
| Domestic borrowing | Source · Borrowing | K28.9bn | 10.1% |
| Foreign borrowing | Source · Borrowing | K13.0bn | 4.6% |
| Economic affairs | Use | K75.9bn | 26.7% |
| Debt service | Use | K67.6bn | 23.7% |
| Education | Use | K38.2bn | 13.4% |
| Health | Use | K30.3bn | 10.6% |
| Other general public services | Use | K22.9bn | 8.1% |
| Social protection | Use | K16.2bn | 5.7% |
| Defence | Use | K14.6bn | 5.1% |
| Public order & safety | Use | K11.4bn | 4.0% |
| Housing & community | Use | K4.63bn | 1.6% |
| Environmental protection | Use | K2.29bn | 0.8% |
| Recreation & culture | Use | K736m | 0.3% |
Money is pooled, not earmarked: no tax pays for a particular ministry. Lines under about 1% of the budget are grouped; the table lists every line.
Source: 2027 Budget Speech, resource envelope and expenditure annex
Of every K100 the government plans to spend
2027 approved estimates by function. K23.73 goes on servicing debt.
Source: 2027 Budget Speech, expenditure annex
What changed on 2026
2027 and 2026 Budget Speeches, current kwacha. Each line’s 2026 approved estimate against 2027’s. Switch to real prices above to strip out inflation.
Spending by function
Approved estimates, 2026 → 2027
Show the numbers
| Line | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic affairs | K58.6bn | K75.9bn | +29.4% |
| Debt service | K73.7bn | K67.6bn | −8.3% |
| Education | K33.0bn | K38.2bn | +15.7% |
| Health | K26.2bn | K30.3bn | +15.6% |
| Other general public services | K18.9bn | K22.9bn | +21.1% |
| Social protection | K15.7bn | K16.2bn | +3.2% |
| Defence | K11.9bn | K14.6bn | +23.4% |
| Public order & safety | K9.63bn | K11.4bn | +18.0% |
| Housing & community | K3.20bn | K4.63bn | +44.5% |
| Environmental protection | K1.57bn | K2.29bn | +45.4% |
| Recreation & culture | K669m | K736m | +10.1% |
Source: Budget Speeches, expenditure annexes
Revenue and borrowing by source
Approved estimates, 2026 → 2027
Show the numbers
| Line | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| VAT | K54.4bn | K44.3bn | −18.5% |
| Company tax | K30.1bn | K42.7bn | +42.0% |
| PAYE | K31.4bn | K35.4bn | +12.7% |
| Other non-tax revenue | K22.5bn | K33.5bn | +49.2% |
| Domestic borrowing | K21.6bn | K28.9bn | +33.4% |
| Withholding & other income tax | K21.0bn | K26.2bn | +24.4% |
| Mineral royalty | K18.2bn | K22.0bn | +20.9% |
| Customs duties | K14.4bn | K15.4bn | +7.3% |
| Excise duties | K14.1bn | K13.7bn | −2.8% |
| Foreign borrowing | K12.9bn | K13.0bn | +1.2% |
| Grants | K12.1bn | K9.23bn | −24.0% |
| Export duties | K419m | K400m | −4.5% |
Source: Budget Speeches, resource envelopes
The 2027 tax measures
26 revenue measures in the speech: 9 new taxes or charges, 8 increases, 4 administrative changes, 2 removals, 2 exemptions or reliefs, 1 reduction.
Increase customs duty on ceramic tiles to 40 percent from 25 percent to promote the local ceramic industry;
25 percent 40 percent
Introduce a selected goods surtax at 20 percent and increase customs duty to 25 percent from zero and 5 percent on selected imported aluminium bars, rods and profiles;
Increase the selected goods surtax to 30 percent from 20 percent on selected processed meat products, including meat and edible offal of bovine, sheep, goats, horses and mules;
20 percent 30 percent
Introduce customs duty at 15 percent and a selected goods surtax at 10 percent on crude soya bean oil and sunflower oil;
Harmonise selected goods surtax at 30 percent on imports of cement packaging bags and woven bags; and
Provide for 100 percent customs duty suspension and Value Added Tax exemption on imported raw materials used in the local manufacturing of sanitary products.
Suspend customs duty on safari vehicles, hospitality equipment and communications infrastructure. This is to support the attainment of the five million international tourist arrivals under the Grow Zambia Agenda.
Increase excise duty on single use plastics to 200 percent from 100 percent;
100 percent 200 percent
Introduce a specific excise duty of 80 ngwee per bottle on plastic bottles; and
Increase excise duty to 30 percent from 15 percent on selected plastic articles.
15 percent 30 percent
Reduce mineral royalty for artisanal and small- scale miners who sell their gold to aggregators approved by Government, to three percent from six percent.
Exclude second-hand clothing and handbags from customs duty relief granted to approved Public Benefit Organisations;
Discontinue the exemption of customs duty and Value Added Tax zero- rating on energy saving appliances;
Introduce an export duty at 5 percent on zinc concentrates;
Introduce excise duty on sugar at K1 per kilogram and at 20 percent on chocolate and sugar confectionery; and
Increase mobile money levy across all bands.
Adjust the Value Added Tax rate to 16.5 percent from 16 percent.
16 percent 16.5 percent
Increase Corporate Income Tax rates by 5 percentage points on all income currently taxed at 20 percent and below. This measure will ensure neutrality, fairness and alignment of the tax system.
Introduce a top marginal rate of 39.5 percent PAYE tax for individuals earning above K37,000 per month. In simple terms, those earning K37,000 per month and below will continue to be taxed under the current regime and will therefore, not be affected by this measure. Only the additional income above
Increase withholding tax on dividends paid by mining companies to 15 percent from zero percent. This will align with tax treatment of dividends distributed by companies in other sectors.
Reform the minimum alternative tax regime. Under this proposal, minimum alternative tax will only apply where a business has recorded losses for three consecutive years. This will ensure that only businesses with a persistent pattern of loss declaration are brought into the alternative tax net while
Introduce and revise upward, selected passport fees and travel documents of identity;
Introduce and revise upward, selected civil registration fees;
Reclassify mechanical horse to the class of heavy vehicle with 4 axle and above category and charge appropriate tolls;
Introduce new fees and revise upwards, existing fees for registration of non- governmental organisations; and
Revise upwards mining, mineral processing and exploration license fees, area charges and related fees. This will align Zambia’s mining license regime with international good practice.
Each measure is filed by tax and direction automatically from the speech’s wording, so check the speech before relying on a label. The speech puts the net effect of all measures at +K10.8bn.
Source: 2027 Budget Speech, revenue measures
Households
PAYE schedule for 2027; PAYE collected to 2025; prices to 2025. In 2027, compared with 2026: the top rate goes from 37.0% to 39.5%; the schedule has 5 bands instead of 4, the new top band starting above K37,000. KSJ’s wage tracker, built from NAPSA’s average earnings and PAYE collected, puts formal-sector pay up 15.4% in 2025 against inflation of 13.9%: a real rise of 1.2%.
What PAYE takes from a salary
| Measure | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| PAYE a month | K1,326 | K1,326 |
| Take-home pay | K8,674 | K8,674 |
| Effective rate | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Marginal rate | 37.0% | 37.0% |
On K10,000 a month, PAYE is the same in 2027 as in 2026.
How 2027’s PAYE on this salary adds up
| Band | Rate | Salary in band | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| K0 – K5,100 | 0% | K5,100 | K0 |
| Over K5,100 to K7,100 | 20% | K2,000 | K400 |
| Over K7,100 to K9,200 | 30% | K2,100 | K630 |
| Over K9,200 to K37,000 | 37% | K800 | K296 |
| Above K37,000 | 39.5% | K0 | K0 |
| Total | K10,000 | K1,326 |
Each step is a PAYE band: as wide as its income range, as tall as its marginal rate (the rate on the next kwacha). Up to your salary the steps are solid: that is the tax you pay in each band. The blue ribbon is the effective rate, all your PAYE divided by your salary, which always sits below the step you’re on. The wireframe is 2026.
Marginal and effective rates, by salary
PAYE on a monthly salary, 2027 against 2026. The marginal rate is what the next kwacha of pay is taxed at; the effective rate is the share of the whole salary that goes in PAYE.
Rates at typical salaries
| Monthly salary | PAYE 2027 | Effective 2027 | Marginal 2027 | PAYE 2026 | Effective 2026 | Marginal 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K5,000 | K0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | K0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| K10,000 | K1,326 | 13.3% | 37.0% | K1,326 | 13.3% | 37.0% |
| K20,000 | K5,026 | 25.1% | 37.0% | K5,026 | 25.1% | 37.0% |
| K40,000 | K12,501 | 31.3% | 39.5% | K12,426 | 31.1% | 37.0% |
| K60,000 | K20,401 | 34.0% | 39.5% | K19,826 | 33.0% | 37.0% |
| K100,000 | K36,201 | 36.2% | 39.5% | K34,626 | 34.6% | 37.0% |
The 2027 PAYE bands
| Band | Monthly income | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | K0 – K5,100 | 0% | Unchanged; confirmed by a later document |
| 2 | Over K5,100 to K7,100 | 20% | Unchanged; confirmed by a later document |
| 3 | Over K7,100 to K9,200 | 30% | Unchanged; confirmed by a later document |
| 4 | Over K9,200 to K37,000 | 37% | Speech text |
| 5 | Above K37,000 | 39.5% | Speech text |
Not every band of the 2027 schedule comes from a speech table: some are carried forward unchanged, as a later document confirms; others are read from the speech’s text rather than a table. The bands table says which.
Source: Budget Speeches; PAYE schedules 2006–2027
Average earnings and the KSJ wage tracker
Zambia publishes no regular wage series. KSJ’s tracker combines two annual measures of formal-sector pay: the National Average Earnings NAPSA sets its contribution ceiling from (weight 62.5%) and PAYE collected with each year’s tax changes taken out (37.5%).
Show the numbers
| Year | KSJ wage tracker (nominal) (%) | Average earnings, NAPSA (growth) (%) | PAYE collected, tax changes removed (growth) (%) | Inflation (annual average) (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15.4 | 9.0 | 26.0 | 13.9 |
| 2024 | — | 14.6 | — | 15.0 |
| 2023 | 11.9 | 11.1 | 13.3 | 10.8 |
| 2022 | 15.5 | 9.8 | 24.9 | 10.8 |
| 2021 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 8.4 | 22.0 |
| 2020 | 10.0 | 0.9 | 25.2 | 15.7 |
| 2019 | 7.8 | 7.1 | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| 2018 | — | 7.9 | — | 7.5 |
| 2017 | — | — | — | 6.7 |
The tracker, by year of earnings
| Earnings year | Average earnings | Basis | Growth | Real | PAYE growth | PAYE, tax changes out | Tracker | Tracker, real | Inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | K9,309 (set for 2026) | Ceiling ÷ 4 | +9.0% | −4.3% | +26.0% | +26.0% (no schedule change) | +15.4% | +1.2% | 13.9% |
| 2024 | K8,541 (set for 2025) | Published | +14.6% | −0.3% | +27.3% | — (schedule changed; the 2024 speech gives no cost) | — | — | 15.0% |
| 2023 | K7,454 (set for 2024) | Published | +11.1% | +0.3% | +7.8% | +13.3% (plus the stated cost of the 2023 changes) | +11.9% | +1.0% | 10.8% |
| 2022 | K6,710 (set for 2023) | Published | +9.8% | −0.9% | +20.9% | +24.9% (plus the stated cost of the 2022 changes) | +15.5% | +4.2% | 10.8% |
| 2021 | K6,109 (set for 2022) | Ceiling ÷ 4 | +5.4% | −13.7% | +5.2% | +8.4% (plus the stated cost of the 2021 changes) | +6.5% | −12.7% | 22.0% |
| 2020 | K5,797 (set for 2021) | Ceiling ÷ 4 | +0.9% | −12.8% | +25.2% | +25.2% (no schedule change) | +10.0% | −4.9% | 15.7% |
| 2019 | K5,748 (set for 2020) | Ceiling ÷ 4 | +7.1% | −1.9% | +9.0% | +9.0% (no schedule change) | +7.8% | −1.2% | 9.1% |
| 2018 | K5,369 (set for 2019) | Ceiling ÷ 4 | +7.9% | +0.4% | — | — | — | — | 7.5% |
| 2017 | K4,975 (set for 2018) | Published | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6.7% |
Sources for average earnings
| Set for | Ceiling | Average earnings | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | K37,236 | K9,309 (ceiling ÷ 4) | Sage notice, effective 1 January 2026; M&J Consultants (16 April 2026) https://communityhub.sage.com/za/sage-vip-payroll-hr/f/announcements/261227/zambia-national-pension-scheme-authority-napsa-ceiling-for-2026 |
| 2025 | K34,164 | K8,541 | Sage notice, effective 1 January 2025 (ceiling); payroll guides (NAE K8,541) https://communityhub.sage.com/za/sage-300-people/f/announcements/240252/statutory-update-zambia-napsa-earnings-ceiling-increase-january-2025 |
| 2024 | K29,816 | K7,454 | PaySpace, 11 January 2024 https://www.payspace.com/blog/zambia-napsa-ceiling-increase |
| 2023 | K26,840 | K6,710 | PaySpace, 11 January 2024 (NAE "as determined by the Zambia Statistics Agency") https://www.payspace.com/blog/zambia-napsa-ceiling-increase |
| 2022 | K24,436 | K6,109 (ceiling ÷ 4) | Sage payroll notice for 2022; PaySpace (2023 rise from K24,436) https://communityhub.sage.com/za/sage-payroll-professional/f/announcements/179474/zambia---national-pension-scheme-napsa-ceiling-for-2022 |
| 2021 | K23,188 | K5,797 (ceiling ÷ 4) | Sage payroll notice, 2021 ceiling (search summary) https://www.sagecity.com/za/sage-vip-payroll-hr/tags/Zambia/NAPSA |
| 2020 | K22,992 | K5,748 (ceiling ÷ 4) | Sage payroll notice, 2020 ceiling (search summary) https://www.sagecity.com/za/sage-vip-payroll-hr/tags/Zambia/NAPSA |
| 2019 | K21,476 | K5,369 (ceiling ÷ 4) | Sage payroll notice, 2019 ceiling (search summary) https://www.sagecity.com/za/sage-vip-payroll-hr/tags/Zambia/NAPSA |
| 2018 | K19,900 | K4,975 | NAPSA public notice, February 2018 (NAE from the Central Statistical Office), as summarised by search; the notice is no longer online https://www.napsa.co.zm/?p=2626 |
NAPSA’s counters were read from its website on 2026-11-08; it counts a member as active with at least one contribution in the past 12 months.
How it is built. Average earnings: NAPSA’s contribution ceiling is 4 × the National Average Earnings, a Zambia Statistics Agency figure; where only the ceiling is published, earnings are the ceiling ÷ 4 (exact in every year both are published). NAPSA fixes the figure each January from earlier earnings, so KSJ reads the figure set for a year as the year before’s earnings, and compares it with that year’s inflation. PAYE: ZRA’s audited collections; in a year the PAYE schedule changed, the speech’s own estimate of what the change cost is added back (2021: K456m, 2022: K600m, 2023: K1.00bn). A year the schedule changed without a stated cost has no PAYE figure, and no tracker figure. PAYE still moves with employment and with fiscal drag, so it runs ahead of pay per worker. The weights are KSJ’s starting assumptions (50/30/20, with a public-sector salary award index still to be sourced), not estimates. Real growth is (1 + nominal) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1.
Source: NAPSA contribution-ceiling notices (via payroll notices: Sage, PaySpace); ZRA collections (Auditor-General reports); Budget Speeches; KSJ consumer price index
PAYE collected, before tax changes are taken out
Growth in PAYE collected each year against inflation, as ZRA reported it, back to 2008. Where ZRA's audited figure isn't out yet, the line shows the growth the budget projected.
Show the numbers
| Year | PAYE collected, growth on the year (ZRA actual) (%) | PAYE growth the budget projected (no audited figure yet) (%) | Inflation (annual average) (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | — | 12.7 | 7.0 |
| 2026 | — | 16.3 | 6.4 |
| 2025 | 26.0 | — | 13.9 |
| 2024 | 27.3 | — | 15.0 |
| 2023 | 7.8 | — | 10.8 |
| 2022 | 20.9 | — | 10.8 |
| 2021 | 5.2 | — | 22.0 |
| 2020 | 25.2 | — | 15.7 |
| 2019 | 9.0 | — | 9.1 |
| 2018 | — | — | 7.5 |
| 2017 | — | 23.7 | 6.7 |
| 2016 | 8.8 | — | 18.0 |
| 2015 | — | — | 10.1 |
| 2014 | — | 2.3 | 7.8 |
| 2013 | — | 19.0 | 7.2 |
| 2012 | 9.3 | — | 6.7 |
| 2011 | 17.2 | — | 6.4 |
| 2009 | — | 14.5 | — |
| 2008 | — | 12.6 | — |
PAYE collected, by year
| Year | PAYE | Basis | Growth | Inflation | Real growth | Threshold changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | K35.4bn | Budget estimate | 12.7% | 7.0% | 5.3% | |
| 2026 | K31.4bn | Budget estimate | 16.3% | 6.4% | 9.3% | |
| 2025 | K31.3bn | ZRA actual | 26.0% | 13.9% | 10.5% | |
| 2024 | K24.9bn | ZRA actual | 27.3% | 15.0% | 10.8% | yes |
| 2023 | K19.5bn | ZRA actual | 7.8% | 10.8% | -2.7% | yes |
| 2022 | K18.1bn | ZRA actual | 20.9% | 10.8% | 9.1% | yes |
| 2021 | K15.0bn | ZRA actual | 5.2% | 22.0% | -13.8% | yes |
| 2020 | K14.2bn | ZRA actual | 25.2% | 15.7% | 8.3% | |
| 2019 | K11.4bn | ZRA actual | 9.0% | 9.1% | -0.1% | |
| 2018 | K10.4bn | ZRA actual | — | 7.5% | — | |
| 2017 | K9.82bn | Budget estimate | 23.7% | 6.7% | 15.9% | yes |
| 2016 | K8.06bn | ZRA actual | 8.8% | 18.0% | -7.8% | |
| 2015 | K7.41bn | ZRA actual | — | 10.1% | — | |
| 2014 | K5.13bn | Budget estimate | 2.3% | 7.8% | -5.1% | yes |
| 2013 | K5.02bn | Budget estimate | 19.0% | 7.2% | 11.1% | yes |
| 2012 | K4.95bn | ZRA actual | 9.3% | 6.7% | 2.4% | yes |
| 2011 | K4.53bn | ZRA actual | 17.2% | 6.4% | 10.1% | yes |
| 2010 | K3.87bn | ZRA actual | — | — | — | yes |
| 2009 | K2.69bn | Budget estimate | 14.5% | — | — | yes |
| 2008 | K2.35bn | Budget estimate | 12.6% | — | — | yes |
| 2007 | K2.09bn | Budget estimate | — | — | — | yes |
PAYE also moves with the schedule itself (the threshold rose in most years, which lowers PAYE on the same pay), with formal employment and with compliance, so read it as a rough guide to pay, not a measure of it. Growth compares an audited year with the audited year before, or a budget estimate with the estimate before, never one with the other.
Source: Auditor-General reports (ZRA collections); Budget Speeches (estimates); KSJ consumer price index
Bracket creep: the same pay, taxed more
The share of a monthly salary taken in PAYE each year, for salaries worth the same in 2027 prices. A rising line means the bands didn’t keep up with inflation.
Show the numbers
| Year | PAYE on K5,000 a month in 2027 prices (%) | PAYE on K10,000 a month in 2027 prices (%) | PAYE on K20,000 a month in 2027 prices (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 25.1 |
| 2026 | 0.0 | 11.6 | 24.3 |
| 2025 | 0.0 | 10.3 | 23.5 |
| 2024 | 0.0 | 7.6 | 21.6 |
| 2023 | 0.0 | 5.7 | 20.3 |
| 2022 | 0.0 | 7.5 | 22.0 |
| 2021 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 21.4 |
| 2020 | 0.0 | 7.0 | 20.8 |
| 2019 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 18.2 |
| 2018 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 16.4 |
| 2017 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.8 |
| 2016 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 15.0 |
| 2015 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.1 |
| 2014 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.3 |
| 2013 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 14.2 |
| 2012 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 14.5 |
| 2011 | 0.0 | 12.6 | 21.3 |
| 2010 | 3.0 | 15.3 | 22.6 |
A salary worth K10,000 a month in 2027 prices paid 0.0% of it in PAYE in 2014 and pays 13.3% in 2027.
Source: Budget Speeches (PAYE schedules); KSJ consumer price index
What staples cost: 2025 against 2024
Change in the national average retail price, averaged over the year. Inflation averaged 14.0% in 2025, food inflation 16.5%.
Average price, by product
| Product | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion (1 kg) | K22 | K30 | +34.2% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | K13 | K17 | +25.9% |
| Charcoal (50 kg) | K112 | K140 | +24.2% |
| Beef, Mixed Cut (1 kg) | K76 | K93 | +22.3% |
| Buka Buka Fish (1 kg) | K94 | K108 | +15.7% |
| Sugar (2 kg) | K62 | K72 | +15.5% |
| Chicken, Live (1 kg) | K56 | K63 | +13.5% |
| Cement (50 kg) | K169 | K188 | +11.4% |
| Cabbage (1 kg) | K8 | K9 | +10.9% |
| Hammer Milling Charge | K11 | K12 | +10.2% |
| Petrol (1 L) | K33 | K32 | −4.4% |
| Breakfast Mealie Meal (25 kg) | K328 | K309 | −5.7% |
| Diesel (1 L) | K30 | K28 | −8.6% |
| Roller Mealie Meal (25 kg) | K282 | K253 | −10.1% |
| Maize Grain (20 L tin) | K175 | K151 | −13.5% |
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency, monthly bulletin (national average prices); KSJ economic database
The 2027 measures that reach households
9 of the speech’s revenue measures are on PAYE, VAT or excise. The full list is under What changed.
Introduce a selected goods surtax at 20 percent and increase customs duty to 25 percent from zero and 5 percent on selected imported aluminium bars, rods and profiles;
Increase the selected goods surtax to 30 percent from 20 percent on selected processed meat products, including meat and edible offal of bovine, sheep, goats, horses and mules;
20 percent 30 percent
Harmonise selected goods surtax at 30 percent on imports of cement packaging bags and woven bags; and
Increase excise duty on single use plastics to 200 percent from 100 percent;
100 percent 200 percent
Introduce a specific excise duty of 80 ngwee per bottle on plastic bottles; and
Increase excise duty to 30 percent from 15 percent on selected plastic articles.
15 percent 30 percent
Introduce excise duty on sugar at K1 per kilogram and at 20 percent on chocolate and sugar confectionery; and
Adjust the Value Added Tax rate to 16.5 percent from 16 percent.
16 percent 16.5 percent
Introduce a top marginal rate of 39.5 percent PAYE tax for individuals earning above K37,000 per month. In simple terms, those earning K37,000 per month and below will continue to be taxed under the current regime and will therefore, not be affected by this measure. Only the additional income above
Each measure is filed by tax automatically from the speech’s wording, so check the speech before relying on a label.
Source: 2027 Budget Speech, revenue measures
Social protection
What the 2027 Budget allocates to social protection, against 2026, with the programmes the speech lists under it (current kwacha).
Show the numbers
| Line | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social protection, total | K15.7bn | K16.2bn | +3.2% |
| of which Social Cash Transfer | K7.65bn | K10.4bn | +35.5% |
| of which Public Service Pension Fund | K4.92bn | K5.25bn | +6.5% |
Source: 2026 and 2027 Budget Speeches, expenditure by function
Household tax rates since 2006
Each rate holds until a Budget Speech changes it; dots mark the years it changed. The PAYE threshold is also shown at today’s prices.
as set in 2027 prices
Show the numbers
| Year | VAT, standard rate | PAYE, top marginal rate | PAYE, tax-free threshold (monthly) | Property transfer tax, land & shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 16.5% | 39.5% | K5,100 | 7.5% |
| 2026 | 16% | 37% | K5,100 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 16% | 37% | K5,100 | 7.5% |
| 2024 | 16% | 37% | K5,100 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 16% | 37.5% | K4,800 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 16% | 37.5% | K4,500 | 5% |
| 2021 | 16% | 37.5% | K4,000 | 5% |
| 2020 | 16% | 37.5% | K3,300 | 5% |
| 2019 | 16% | 37.5% | K3,300 | 5% |
| 2018 | 16% | 37.5% | K3,300 | 5% |
| 2017 | 16% | 37.5% | K3,300 | 5% |
| 2016 | 16% | 35% | K3,000 | 5% |
| 2015 | 16% | 35% | K3,000 | 10% |
| 2014 | 16% | 35% | K3,000 | 10% |
| 2013 | 16% | 35% | K2,200 | 10% |
| 2012 | 16% | 35% | K2,000 | 10% |
| 2011 | 16% | 35% | K1,000 | 5% |
| 2010 | 16% | 35% | K800 | 3% |
| 2009 | 16% | 35% | K700 | 3% |
| 2008 | 16% | 35% | K600 | 3% |
| 2007 | 17.5% | 35% | K500 | 3% |
| 2006 | 17.5% | 37.5% | K320 | 3% |
Source: Budget Speeches; tax_rates in the KSJ budget dataset
Business
Corporate tax rates for 2027; effective rates modelled from 2011; company tax collected to 2025; bank credit to 2026-08. The 2027 Budget changes 5 corporate tax rates: copper cathode value addition 20% → 25%; farming 10% → 15%; agro-processing 10% → 15%; fertiliser manufacturing 15% → 20%; non-traditional exports 20% → 25%. The standard rate is 30%. For a typical company at the standard rate, KSJ’s model puts the effective rate at 31.3%, or 16.1% for one that borrows 35% of its investment at the 27.9% average lending rate.
Corporate income tax by sector since 2006
The statutory rate on the next kwacha of profit (the marginal rate) for each sector or kind of income with a rate of its own. Grey cells pay the standard rate.
Show the numbers
| Sector | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most companies (standard rate) | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Manufacturing | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Mining (base metals) | 25% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 0% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Mineral processing and tolling | 25% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Copper cathode value addition | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 20% | 20% | 25% |
| Farming | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 15% |
| Agro-processing | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 15% |
| Fertiliser manufacturing | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 20% |
| Non-traditional exports | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 20% | 20% | 25% |
| Electricity generation | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Hotels and lodges | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 15% | 15% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Lapidary and jewellery | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 30% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Banks | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
| Telecoms | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% |
Rates come from the Budget Speeches where a speech sets them; the rest from published tax guides and studies, listed in the table below. The speeches record changes, not every year’s rate, so a rate holds until a speech or source shows it changed.
Source: Budget Speeches; CUTS Lusaka (2018); PwC and Deloitte tax summaries (2026); JCTR (2014); IDOS (2025)
One column of bars per sector, one row per year, 2027 at the front. The pale glass bar is the statutory rate (grey glass where the sector pays the standard rate rather than a rate of its own); the coloured bar inside it is the modelled effective rate, for an investment paid for from profits. The EATR is the share of a profitable investment’s return that goes in tax: what decides where a company invests. Solid bars start in 2011, the first year of KSJ’s price index; a bar below the ground is a negative rate, an investment the tax system subsidises.
Most companies (standard rate): statutory and effective rates
The statutory rate against KSJ’s modelled effective rates, paid for from profits. Inflation pushes the effective rates up, because allowances on what assets cost years ago are worth less and the inflation gain on stock is taxed.
Show the numbers
| Year | Most companies (standard rate): statutory rate (marginal) (%) | Effective rate (EATR) (%) | Marginal effective rate (METR) (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 30.0 | 31.3 | 33.5 |
| 2026 | 30.0 | 31.0 | 32.8 |
| 2025 | 30.0 | 34.0 | 39.7 |
| 2024 | 30.0 | 34.4 | 40.4 |
| 2023 | 30.0 | 32.9 | 37.2 |
| 2022 | 30.0 | 32.9 | 37.3 |
| 2021 | 35.0 | 42.7 | 50.3 |
| 2020 | 35.0 | 40.4 | 46.5 |
| 2019 | 35.0 | 37.6 | 41.0 |
| 2018 | 35.0 | 36.8 | 39.4 |
| 2017 | 35.0 | 36.4 | 38.4 |
| 2016 | 35.0 | 41.3 | 48.0 |
| 2015 | 35.0 | 38.0 | 42.0 |
| 2014 | 35.0 | 36.9 | 39.7 |
| 2013 | 35.0 | 36.6 | 39.0 |
| 2012 | 35.0 | 36.4 | 38.5 |
| 2011 | 35.0 | 36.3 | 38.1 |
| 2010 | 35.0 | — | — |
| 2009 | 35.0 | — | — |
| 2008 | 35.0 | — | — |
| 2007 | 35.0 | — | — |
| 2006 | 35.0 | — | — |
Source: KSJ model (Devereux–Griffith, as in the OECD Corporate Tax Statistics); asset mixes from CUTS Lusaka (2018)
Corporate tax by sector, 2027
Statutory rate and KSJ’s modelled effective rates, paid for from profits and with borrowing.
Rates by sector
| Sector | Statutory | METR | EATR | METR, borrowing | EATR, borrowing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most companies (standard rate) | 30% | 33.5% | 31.3% | 3.3% | 16.1% | carried forward (2022 Budget Speech para 200) |
| Manufacturing | 30% | 29.4% | 29.8% | -2.3% | 14.1% | carried forward (2022 Budget Speech para 200) |
| Mining (base metals) | 30% † | 31.5% | 30.5% | -0.9% | 14.6% | carried forward (UNU-WIDER TN 2025/4 (2016 Act: single 30% rate); CUTS Lusaka (2018) Sector-Level METRs in Zambia, Appendix II p39 (2017-18: 30%) (https://cuts-lusaka.org/pdf/Report-Sector-Level_Marginal_Effective_Tax_Rates_in_Zambia.pdf)) |
| Mineral processing and tolling | 30% † | 29.4% | 29.8% | -2.3% | 14.1% | carried forward (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Zambia corporate taxes on corporate income (reviewed 24 Jul 2026; https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/zambia/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income)) |
| Copper cathode value addition | 25% | 24.5% | 24.8% | -2.7% | 11.4% | 2027 Budget Speech para 117 (+5 percentage points on all income taxed at 20 percent and below) |
| Farming | 15% | 16.1% | 15.3% | 0.3% | 7.6% | 2027 Budget Speech para 117 (+5 percentage points on all income taxed at 20 percent and below) |
| Agro-processing | 15% | 13.1% | 14.4% | -3.7% | 5.9% | 2027 Budget Speech para 117 (+5 percentage points on all income taxed at 20 percent and below) |
| Fertiliser manufacturing | 20% | 19.5% | 19.9% | -2.7% | 8.9% | 2027 Budget Speech para 117 (+5 percentage points on all income taxed at 20 percent and below) |
| Non-traditional exports | 25% | 24.5% | 24.8% | -2.7% | 11.4% | 2027 Budget Speech para 117 (+5 percentage points on all income taxed at 20 percent and below) |
| Electricity generation | 30% | 29.4% | 29.8% | -2.3% | 14.1% | carried forward (2022 Budget Speech para 200) |
| Hotels and lodges | 30% † | 23.2% | 27.8% | -9.4% | 11.9% | carried forward (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Zambia corporate taxes on corporate income (reviewed 24 Jul 2026; https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/zambia/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income)) |
| Lapidary and jewellery | 25% | 24.5% | 24.8% | -2.7% | 11.4% | carried forward (2023 Budget Speech para 226(d)) |
| Banks | 30% † | 32.4% | 30.9% | 1.9% | 15.6% | carried forward (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Zambia corporate taxes on corporate income (reviewed 24 Jul 2026; https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/zambia/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income); Deloitte International Tax, Zambia Highlights 2026 (Apr 2026; https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/services/tax/2026/dttl-tax-zambiahighlights-2026.pdf)) |
| Telecoms | 35% | 37.6% | 36.0% | 3.5% | 18.5% | carried forward (2023 Budget Speech para 226(b)) |
Reliefs in 2027 (not in the model)
| Relief | Value | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing on LuSE: first-year discount | 2 points † | carried forward (CUTS Lusaka (2018) Sector-Level METRs in Zambia, Appendix II p39 (https://cuts-lusaka.org/pdf/Report-Sector-Level_Marginal_Effective_Tax_Rates_in_Zambia.pdf); Deloitte International Tax, Zambia Highlights 2026 (Apr 2026; https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/services/tax/2026/dttl-tax-zambiahighlights-2026.pdf)) | |
| Listing on LuSE: one-third Zambian ownership | 5 points † | carried forward (CUTS Lusaka (2018) Sector-Level METRs in Zambia, Appendix II p39 (https://cuts-lusaka.org/pdf/Report-Sector-Level_Marginal_Effective_Tax_Rates_in_Zambia.pdf); Deloitte International Tax, Zambia Highlights 2026 (Apr 2026; https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/services/tax/2026/dttl-tax-zambiahighlights-2026.pdf)) | |
| MFEZ and industrial parks: years at 0% | 10 years † | carried forward (Wikipedia, Taxation in Zambia, oldid 1347323638 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Zambia)) | |
| Rural enterprises: share of tax relieved | 20% | carried forward (2024 Budget Speech para 222) |
How KSJ models the effective rate: one kwacha invested in the sector’s mix of land, buildings, machinery, vehicles and stock (CUTS Lusaka’s estimates from ZRA data), with investors wanting a 5% real return. The EATR is the share of a project earning 20% that goes in corporate tax; the METR is the tax wedge on a project that only just breaks even. Both take in the statutory rate, capital allowances and that year’s inflation (7.0% in 2027, projected). With borrowing, 35% of the investment is a loan at that year’s average lending rate (27.9%, 2027 at the latest year’s average), with the interest deductible and the no-tax benchmark borrowing on the same terms. Left out: mineral royalties, the 2008–2015 variable profit tax, tax holidays and reliefs, indirect taxes on capital and losses carried forward. Telecoms and banks are modelled at their top rate. † A rate from a published guide or study, not yet checked against the Income Tax Act.
Source: KSJ model (Devereux–Griffith, as in the OECD Corporate Tax Statistics); asset mixes from CUTS Lusaka (2018); rates as listed
Other business taxes since 2006
Each rate holds until a Budget Speech changes it; dots mark the years it changed. The turnover-tax limit is also shown at today’s prices.
as set in 2027 prices
Show the numbers
| Year | Company tax, standard rate | Turnover tax | Turnover tax, upper limit (annual turnover) | Advance income tax on imports | Skills development levy (on payroll) | Property transfer tax, mining rights | Withholding tax, mining dividends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 30% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 15% |
| 2026 | 30% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 7.5% | 0% |
| 2025 | 30% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 7.5% | — |
| 2024 | 30% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 7.5% | — |
| 2023 | 30% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 7.5% | — |
| 2022 | 30% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 10% | — |
| 2021 | 35% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 10% | — |
| 2020 | 35% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 10% | — |
| 2019 | 35% | 4% | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 10% | — |
| 2018 | 35% | — | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 10% | — |
| 2017 | 35% | — | K800,000 | 15% | 0.5% | 10% | — |
| 2016 | 35% | — | K800,000 | 6% | — | 10% | — |
| 2015 | 35% | — | K800,000 | 6% | — | 10% | — |
| 2014 | 35% | — | K800,000 | 6% | — | 10% | — |
| 2013 | 35% | — | K800,000 | 6% | — | 10% | — |
| 2012 | 35% | — | K200,000 | 6% | — | — | — |
| 2011 | 35% | — | — | 6% | — | — | — |
| 2010 | 35% | — | — | 6% | — | — | — |
| 2009 | 35% | — | — | 6% | — | — | — |
| 2008 | 35% | — | — | 3% | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 35% | — | — | 3% | — | — | — |
| 2006 | 35% | — | — | 3% | — | — | — |
Source: Budget Speeches; tax_rates in the KSJ budget dataset
The 2027 measures that reach business
12 of the speech’s revenue measures are on company and mining tax, customs, withholding, turnover tax, royalties and levies. The full list is under What changed.
Increase customs duty on ceramic tiles to 40 percent from 25 percent to promote the local ceramic industry;
25 percent 40 percent
Introduce customs duty at 15 percent and a selected goods surtax at 10 percent on crude soya bean oil and sunflower oil;
Provide for 100 percent customs duty suspension and Value Added Tax exemption on imported raw materials used in the local manufacturing of sanitary products.
Suspend customs duty on safari vehicles, hospitality equipment and communications infrastructure. This is to support the attainment of the five million international tourist arrivals under the Grow Zambia Agenda.
Reduce mineral royalty for artisanal and small- scale miners who sell their gold to aggregators approved by Government, to three percent from six percent.
Exclude second-hand clothing and handbags from customs duty relief granted to approved Public Benefit Organisations;
Discontinue the exemption of customs duty and Value Added Tax zero- rating on energy saving appliances;
Introduce an export duty at 5 percent on zinc concentrates;
Increase mobile money levy across all bands.
Increase Corporate Income Tax rates by 5 percentage points on all income currently taxed at 20 percent and below. This measure will ensure neutrality, fairness and alignment of the tax system.
Increase withholding tax on dividends paid by mining companies to 15 percent from zero percent. This will align with tax treatment of dividends distributed by companies in other sectors.
Reform the minimum alternative tax regime. Under this proposal, minimum alternative tax will only apply where a business has recorded losses for three consecutive years. This will ensure that only businesses with a persistent pattern of loss declaration are brought into the alternative tax net while
Each measure is filed by tax automatically from the speech’s wording, so check the speech before relying on a label.
Source: 2027 Budget Speech, revenue measures
Company tax and mineral royalty: budgeted and collected
What each speech budgeted against what ZRA collected (audited to 2025), current kwacha.
Show the numbers
| Year | Company tax, budgeted (ZMW bn) | Company tax, collected (ZRA) (ZMW bn) | Mineral royalty, budgeted (ZMW bn) | Mineral royalty, collected (ZRA) (ZMW bn) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 42.7 | — | 22.0 | — |
| 2026 | 30.1 | — | 18.2 | — |
| 2025 | 23.0 | 34.1 | 17.4 | 16.0 |
| 2024 | 25.7 | 20.0 | 10.0 | 11.5 |
| 2023 | 21.2 | 14.9 | 9.0 | 7.7 |
| 2022 | 16.4 | 21.0 | 12.8 | 10.5 |
| 2021 | 9.1 | 19.5 | 5.7 | 12.4 |
| 2020 | 7.9 | 9.5 | 4.8 | 5.4 |
| 2019 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 4.9 | 4.0 |
| 2018 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 3.5 | — |
| 2017 | 4.9 | — | 1.9 | — |
| 2016 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
| 2015 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 4.1 |
| 2014 | 4.1 | — | 2.2 | — |
| 2013 | 4.8 | — | 1.9 | — |
| 2012 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 1.9 | — |
| 2011 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.9 | — |
| 2010 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| 2009 | 1.1 | — | 0.2 | — |
| 2008 | 1.4 | — | 0.1 | — |
| 2007 | 0.9 | — | 0.1 | — |
Source: Budget Speeches (resource envelope); Auditor-General reports (ZRA collections)
What credit costs, and who gets it
The Bank of Zambia’s policy rate and banks’ average lending rate, as annual averages, and bank lending by sector at 2026-08 against a year earlier.
Show the numbers
| Year | Policy Rate (annual average) (%) | Average Lending Rate (annual average) (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13.4 | 27.9 |
| 2025 | 14.4 | 28.7 |
| 2024 | 13.1 | 28.1 |
| 2023 | 9.8 | 25.8 |
| 2022 | 9.0 | 25.2 |
| 2021 | 8.5 | 25.7 |
| 2020 | 9.5 | 26.7 |
| 2019 | 10.3 | 25.6 |
| 2018 | 9.8 | 23.9 |
| 2017 | 12.4 | 27.0 |
| 2016 | 15.5 | 28.1 |
| 2015 | 13.0 | 21.0 |
| 2014 | 11.6 | 18.7 |
| 2013 | 9.5 | 16.3 |
| 2012 | — | 19.1 |
| 2011 | — | 25.8 |
Bank lending by sector
| Lending | Outstanding (K bn) | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Credit to the Private Sector | 106 | +9.7% |
| Bank Loans to Agriculture | 13.5 | +35.9% |
| Bank Loans to Mining | 6.4 | +5.8% |
| Bank Loans to Manufacturing | 23.2 | −2.9% |
| Bank Loans to Energy | 13.7 | +40.5% |
| Bank Loans to Trade | 8.2 | −18.5% |
Source: Bank of Zambia; KSJ economic database
Budget against actual
Auditor-General reports to FY2025. A budget is a plan. Here is how past plans compared with what was collected and spent, as the Auditor-General records it. Over and under are both misses: a budget that collects or spends far more than planned is no more credible than one that falls short. (The 2027 Budget itself has no actuals yet.)
Tax collected against budget
ZRA collections as a share of the budgeted amount, 2010–2025. The letter is that year’s PEFA-style grade.
Show the numbers
| Year | Budget | Actual | Actual as % of budget | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | K159.0bn | K160.7bn | 101.0% | A |
| 2024 | K125.3bn | K131.0bn | 104.5% | A |
| 2023 | K103.2bn | K100.6bn | 97.5% | A |
| 2022 | K91.0bn | K90.4bn | 99.3% | A |
| 2021 | K59.4bn | K84.0bn | 141.4% | D |
| 2020 | K59.0bn | K57.7bn | 97.8% | A |
| 2019 | K51.8bn | K53.0bn | 102.2% | A |
| 2018 | K45.9bn | K48.5bn | 105.6% | A |
| 2016 | K31.8bn | K31.2bn | 98.2% | A |
| 2015 | K29.0bn | K29.9bn | 102.9% | A |
| 2014 | K29.0bn | K29.9bn | 103.4% | A |
| 2013 | K25.7bn | K24.9bn | 97.1% | A |
| 2012 | K20.2bn | K20.8bn | 103.1% | A |
| 2011 | K8.64bn | K9.07bn | 105.0% | A |
| 2010 | K12.5bn | K13.1bn | 104.9% | A |
No ZRA table was extracted for 2017.
Source: Auditor-General reports, Zambia Revenue Authority chapter
Which taxes came in as planned
Collections as a share of budget, by group of tax lines. Blue: more than budgeted; orange: less.
Show the numbers
| Tax group | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral royalty | 119% | — | 92% | — | — | 126% | 99% | 104% | 81% | 111% | 218% | 81% | 86% | 115% | 92% |
| Export duties | 51% | — | 670% | — | — | 432% | 84% | 95% | 217% | 73% | 56% | 77% | 99% | 137% | 109% |
| VAT | 101% | — | 101% | 120% | 157% | 101% | 92% | 112% | 116% | 77% | 112% | 90% | 113% | 113% | 77% |
| Income taxes | 109% | 105% | 105% | 96% | 88% | 101% | 102% | 104% | 101% | 115% | 158% | 114% | 90% | 96% | 125% |
| Customs & excise | 97% | — | 103% | 93% | 101% | 95% | 96% | 98% | 91% | 90% | 105% | 86% | 101% | 106% | 90% |
| Other revenue | 107% | 106% | 130% | 61% | 70% | 117% | 112% | 97% | 105% | 72% | 95% | 121% | 98% | 142% | 118% |
| of which PAYE | 104% | 101% | 106% | — | — | 100% | 100% | 103% | 101% | 115% | 116% | 105% | 101% | 105% | 116% |
| of which company tax | 128% | 111% | 105% | — | — | 99% | 104% | 106% | 105% | 120% | 214% | 128% | 70% | 78% | 145% |
ZRA’s line names change from report to report; KSJ files them into these groups (the rules are in lib/budget.js). 2013 and 2014 print only totals for income tax, VAT and customs & excise, so PAYE and company tax are missing those years.
Source: Auditor-General reports, Zambia Revenue Authority chapter
What Parliament approved, and what was spent
Total payments in Statement B of the Auditor-General’s report, FY2022–FY2025.
Show the numbers
| Year | Original | Adjustments | Final | Actual | Actual / final | Actual / original |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | K217.1bn | K33.6bn | K250.7bn | K216.3bn | 86.3% | 99.6% |
| FY2024 | K177.9bn | K53.7bn | K231.6bn | K189.3bn | 81.8% | 106.4% |
| FY2023 | K167.3bn | K11.1bn | K178.4bn | K156.5bn | 87.7% | 93.6% |
| FY2022 | K173.0bn | K2.26bn | K175.2bn | K133.8bn | 76.3% | 77.3% |
In FY2022 the statement’s lines don’t add exactly to its printed total; the printed totals are shown.
Source: Auditor-General reports, Statement B (Statement of Receipts and Payments)
Spending by type: share of the original budget actually paid out
Capital projects are the usual casualty when cash runs short; wages almost never are.
Show the numbers
| Type of spending | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wages (personal emoluments) | 99% | 95% | 102% | 99% |
| Goods & services | 140% | 88% | 108% | 132% |
| Interest & principal | 41% | 91% | 153% | 105% |
| Grants & transfers | 81% | 136% | 79% | 83% |
| Social benefits | >999% | 78% | 195% | 128% |
| Capital (construction & assets) | 40% | 75% | 46% | 72% |
| Financial assets | — | — | 92% | 66% |
| Other payments | — | — | — | — |
A line budgeted at almost nothing and then topped up during the year shows as “>999%”. PI-2 by year: FY2022 46.5% (D), FY2023 9.6% (B), FY2024 24.6% (D), FY2025 13.4% (C).
Source: Auditor-General reports, Statement B
How FY2025 was paid for: planned against actual
Receipts in Statement B, current kwacha. The light ring is the original budget, the solid dot what came in.
Show the numbers
| Line | Budgeted | Actual | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax revenue | K152.9bn | K157.2bn | +2.8% |
| Borrowing | K34.7bn | K30.6bn | −11.8% |
| Non-tax revenue | K21.3bn | K23.3bn | +9.1% |
| Grants | K8.17bn | K7.30bn | −10.7% |
Source: Auditor-General report, Statement B
- PEFA (Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability) is the international framework for scoring public financial management. The grades here apply its thresholds to the published figures; they are not an official PEFA assessment.
- Statement B covers central government receipts and payments as audited; it is extracted for FY2022 onwards only.
What the Auditor-General found
Auditor-General reports, FY2008–FY2023. The amounts the audit flagged each year, by type of finding. A flagged amount is not necessarily money lost: it is spending the audit could not verify, or that broke the rules.
Amounts flagged by the audit, by type of finding
FY2008–FY2023, current kwacha. Uncollected tax arrears are excluded.
Show the numbers
| Year | Accountability | Payments | Budget discipline | Procurement & assets | Revenue (excl. tax arrears) | Theft & misappropriation | Other (farming inputs) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | K51.1m | K841m | K8.20bn | K3.8m | K5.35bn | K10.3m | K20.4m | K14.5bn |
| 2022 | K32.6m | K311m | K5.08bn | K14.1m | K201m | K1.3m | K20.6m | K5.66bn |
| 2021 | K3.08bn | K1.87bn | K21.0bn | K13.5bn | K3.90bn | K609m | K11.5m | K43.9bn |
| 2020 | K56.8m | K1.53bn | K531,047 | K238m | K971,488 | K0 | — | K1.82bn |
| 2019 | K58.9m | K13.8m | K7.5m | K24m | K528,431 | K0 | — | K105m |
| 2018 | K136m | K29m | K62.4m | K10.1m | K143,179 | K61,354 | — | K238m |
| 2017 | K85.2m | K38m | K61.7m | K2.5m | K873,649 | K5m | — | K193m |
| 2016 | K244m | K7.9m | K162m | K117m | K3.7m | K3.6m | — | K538m |
| 2015 | K382m | K184m | K28.2m | K287m | K558,449 | K0 | — | K882m |
| 2014 | K431m | K39.2m | K73.6m | K3.2m | K3.3m | K4,767 | — | K550m |
| 2013 | K154m | K17.9m | K65.2m | K28.4m | K1.2m | K44,500 | — | K267m |
| 2012 | K733m | K10m | K38.7m | K123m | K1.9m | K463,632 | — | K907m |
| 2011 | K164m | K10.3m | K480m | K6.8m | K534m | K1.1m | — | K1.20bn |
| 2010 | K203m | K27.9m | K1.04bn | K3.2m | K15.3m | K1.1m | — | K1.29bn |
| 2009 | K161m | K28.9m | K196m | K1.5m | K14.1m | K7.8m | — | K409m |
| 2008 | K107m | K34.7m | K263m | K3.5m | K3.1m | K70,036 | — | K411m |
From FY2021 the report lists many more categories of finding, so the totals before and after the line are not like for like.
Source: Auditor-General reports, executive summaries
Flagged amounts for every K100 of approved spending
Scaling by the size of the budget takes out inflation and the budget’s growth.
Show the numbers
| Year | Flagged per K100 of budget (K) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.65 |
| 2022 | 3.27 |
| 2021 | 36.71 |
| 2020 | 1.72 |
| 2019 | 0.12 |
| 2018 | 0.33 |
| 2017 | 0.30 |
| 2016 | 1.01 |
| 2015 | 1.89 |
| 2014 | 1.29 |
| 2013 | 0.83 |
| 2012 | 3.27 |
| 2011 | 5.83 |
| 2010 | 7.72 |
| 2009 | 2.68 |
| 2008 | 2.98 |
Source: Auditor-General reports; Budget Speeches (approved total spending)
Tax arrears: reported separately
“Failure to Collect Tax Arrears” in the Auditor-General’s summary. This is tax that is owed and not yet collected, a running total, not a loss in the year.
Source: Auditor-General reports, executive summaries
The findings that keep coming back
Amount flagged per finding and year, largest findings first (top 16 of 41). Darker is more money.
Show the numbers
| Finding | FY2008 | FY2009 | FY2010 | FY2011 | FY2012 | FY2013 | FY2014 | FY2015 | FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over-Commitment | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K16.9bn | K236,237 | K0 |
| Failure to Settle Outstanding Bills | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K3.90bn | K4.94bn | K5.23bn |
| Uncompetitive Procurement | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K12.8bn | K23,300 | K227,843 |
| Unvouched Expenditure | K28.3m | K89.3m | K74.8m | K77m | K553m | K67.1m | K390m | K349m | K171m | K14.1m | K1m | K1.5m | K28.3m | K2.95bn | K16.3m | K15.4m |
| Failure to Attain Revenue Target | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K1.56bn | K0 | K2.62bn |
| Failure to Collect Taxes | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K1.24bn | K68.9m | K2.44bn |
| Failure to Utilise Funds | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K108m | K133m | K2.69bn |
| Wasteful Expenditure | K569,524 | K10m | K7.4m | K2.6m | K1.2m | K354,939 | K8.4m | K39.9m | K3.6m | K7.9m | K222,534 | K3.7m | K1.42bn | K660m | K10.5m | K15.1m |
| Excess Expenditure | K250m | K87.3m | K814m | K456m | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Failure to Collect Revenue | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | K1.09bn | K52m | K211m |
| Non-Recovery of Loans and Advances | K5.3m | K14.8m | K10.1m | K3.5m | K7.2m | K2.7m | K2.9m | K2.4m | K1.7m | K901,507 | K201,572 | K0 | K84.2m | K1.09bn | K37.4m | K6.4m |
| Irregular Payments | K27.1m | K3.9m | K10.3m | K4.2m | K1.4m | K14.5m | K26.4m | K115m | K1.6m | K21.8m | K12.8m | K9m | K20m | K44.3m | K152m | K746m |
| Misapplication of Funds | K7.9m | K95.2m | K221m | K23.7m | K38.7m | K65.2m | K73.6m | K28.2m | K162m | K61.7m | K62.4m | K7.5m | K531,047 | K95.8m | K0 | K4.7m |
| Failure to Follow Procurement Procedures | K2.6m | K1.2m | K2.5m | K4.7m | K121m | K8.4m | K2.7m | K35.7m | K509,535 | K1.1m | K879,000 | K504,500 | K234m | K488m | K660,817 | K2.8m |
| Unaccounted for Revenue | K1.1m | K1.4m | K1.8m | K532m | K1.9m | K1.2m | K3.3m | K558,449 | K3.7m | K873,649 | K143,179 | K528,431 | K971,488 | K1.5m | K53.8m | K638,000 |
| Unaccounted for Stores | K20.8m | K32.7m | K43.9m | K22.1m | K43.1m | K72.4m | K26.4m | K13.5m | K14.4m | K6.4m | K134m | K56.2m | K4.2m | K36.9m | K14.3m | K3.5m |
Source: Auditor-General reports, executive summaries
Spending above what Parliament authorised
Expenditure in excess of the Appropriation Act, FY2008–FY2013 (reported for these years only).
Show the numbers
| Year | Excess expenditure (K m) |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 501 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2011 | 456 |
| 2010 | 814 |
| 2009 | 87 |
| 2008 | 550 |
Source: Auditor-General reports
- FY2008, FY2009, FY2021, FY2022: figures come from a later report that restated the year (that year’s own report gave no table).
- FY2024 onwards: not yet tabled, or no findings table in the report.
The long view
Budget Speeches 2007–2027. Every budget in the dataset, as approved. Shares take inflation out; the size of the budget is shown both ways.
What the budget is spent on
Share of approved spending by function, 2007–2027. Debt service is split out of General Public Services.
Show the numbers
| Year | Debt service | Economic affairs | Education | Health | Social protection | Defence & public order | Everything else | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | K67.6bn (23.7%) | K75.9bn (26.7%) | K38.2bn (13.4%) | K30.3bn (10.6%) | K16.2bn (5.7%) | K26.0bn (9.1%) | K30.6bn (10.7%) | K284.8bn |
| 2026 | K73.7bn (29.1%) | K58.6bn (23.2%) | K33.0bn (13.1%) | K26.2bn (10.3%) | K15.7bn (6.2%) | K21.5bn (8.5%) | K24.4bn (9.6%) | K253.1bn |
| 2025 | K54.0bn (24.9%) | K48.7bn (22.4%) | K31.5bn (14.5%) | K23.2bn (10.7%) | K16.2bn (7.4%) | K18.7bn (8.6%) | K24.8bn (11.4%) | K217.1bn |
| 2024 | K38.9bn (21.9%) | K39.8bn (22.3%) | K27.4bn (15.4%) | K20.9bn (11.8%) | K9.67bn (5.4%) | K16.7bn (9.4%) | K24.6bn (13.8%) | K177.9bn |
| 2023 | K48.3bn (28.9%) | K35.0bn (20.9%) | K23.2bn (13.9%) | K17.4bn (10.4%) | K8.13bn (4.9%) | K13.3bn (8.0%) | K22.0bn (13.1%) | K167.3bn |
| 2022 | K78.7bn (45.5%) | K33.7bn (19.5%) | K18.1bn (10.4%) | K13.9bn (8.0%) | K6.29bn (3.6%) | K11.1bn (6.4%) | K11.2bn (6.5%) | K173.0bn |
| 2021 | K46.1bn (38.5%) | K21.5bn (18.0%) | K13.8bn (11.5%) | K9.65bn (8.1%) | K4.82bn (4.0%) | K8.72bn (7.3%) | K15.1bn (12.6%) | K119.6bn |
| 2020 | K33.7bn (31.8%) | K21.8bn (20.6%) | K13.1bn (12.4%) | K9.37bn (8.8%) | K2.58bn (2.4%) | K10.6bn (10.0%) | K14.8bn (14.0%) | K106.0bn |
| 2019 | K23.6bn (26.8%) | K20.7bn (23.5%) | K13.3bn (15.1%) | K8.07bn (9.2%) | K2.19bn (2.5%) | K8.94bn (10.2%) | K11.1bn (12.7%) | K87.8bn |
| 2018 | K14.2bn (19.9%) | K17.3bn (24.1%) | K11.6bn (16.1%) | K6.78bn (9.5%) | K2.30bn (3.2%) | K5.64bn (7.9%) | K13.9bn (19.4%) | K71.7bn |
| 2017 | K11.5bn (17.8%) | K20.1bn (31.2%) | K10.6bn (16.5%) | K5.76bn (8.9%) | K2.69bn (4.2%) | K5.55bn (8.6%) | K8.27bn (12.8%) | K64.5bn |
| 2016 | K7.16bn (13.5%) | K13.2bn (24.9%) | K9.14bn (17.2%) | K4.43bn (8.3%) | K1.27bn (2.4%) | K4.99bn (9.4%) | K12.9bn (24.3%) | K53.1bn |
| 2015 | K5.29bn (11.3%) | K12.7bn (27.3%) | K9.43bn (20.2%) | K4.46bn (9.6%) | K1.26bn (2.7%) | K5.43bn (11.6%) | K8.05bn (17.2%) | K46.7bn |
| 2014 | K4.67bn (11.0%) | K11.8bn (27.8%) | K8.61bn (20.2%) | K4.23bn (9.9%) | K1.18bn (2.8%) | K4.87bn (11.4%) | K7.18bn (16.9%) | K42.6bn |
| 2013 | K2.55bn (7.9%) | K8.90bn (27.6%) | K5.63bn (17.5%) | K3.64bn (11.3%) | K892m (2.8%) | K3.38bn (10.5%) | K7.20bn (22.4%) | K32.2bn |
| 2012 | K3.07bn (11.1%) | K8.12bn (29.3%) | K4.85bn (17.5%) | K2.58bn (9.3%) | K656m (2.4%) | K2.67bn (9.6%) | K5.76bn (20.8%) | K27.7bn |
| 2011 | K1.67bn (8.1%) | K5.25bn (25.5%) | K3.83bn (18.6%) | K1.77bn (8.6%) | K575m (2.8%) | K2.40bn (11.7%) | K5.07bn (24.6%) | K20.6bn |
| 2010 | K1.58bn (9.4%) | K3.22bn (19.2%) | K3.33bn (19.9%) | K1.36bn (8.1%) | K445m (2.7%) | K2.10bn (12.5%) | K4.69bn (28.1%) | K16.7bn |
| 2009 | K1.35bn (8.8%) | K3.02bn (19.8%) | K2.63bn (17.2%) | K1.82bn (11.9%) | K374m (2.4%) | K1.68bn (11.0%) | K4.40bn (28.8%) | K15.3bn |
| 2008 | K821m (6.0%) | K2.30bn (16.7%) | K2.12bn (15.4%) | K1.59bn (11.5%) | K578m (4.2%) | K1.56bn (11.4%) | K4.79bn (34.8%) | K13.8bn |
| 2007 | K779m (6.6%) | K2.33bn (19.7%) | K1.81bn (15.3%) | K1.29bn (10.9%) | K344m (2.9%) | K1.25bn (10.6%) | K4.03bn (34.1%) | K11.8bn |
Source: Budget Speeches, expenditure annexes
How the budget is paid for
Share of the resource envelope by source, 2007–2027. Mineral royalty sits with non-tax revenue throughout, although some speeches count it as tax.
Show the numbers
| Year | Income taxes | VAT | Customs, excise & other tax | Mineral royalty & non-tax | Grants | Borrowing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | K104.3bn (36.6%) | K44.3bn (15.6%) | K29.5bn (10.4%) | K55.6bn (19.5%) | K9.23bn (3.2%) | K41.9bn (14.7%) | K284.8bn |
| 2026 | K82.5bn (32.6%) | K54.4bn (21.5%) | K28.9bn (11.4%) | K40.7bn (16.1%) | K12.1bn (4.8%) | K34.5bn (13.6%) | K253.1bn |
| 2025 | K65.8bn (30.3%) | K48.3bn (22.3%) | K23.3bn (10.7%) | K36.8bn (16.9%) | K8.17bn (3.8%) | K34.7bn (16.0%) | K217.1bn |
| 2024 | K61.3bn (34.5%) | K36.4bn (20.4%) | K16.9bn (9.5%) | K26.5bn (14.9%) | K3.44bn (1.9%) | K33.3bn (18.7%) | K177.9bn |
| 2023 | K50.4bn (30.1%) | K29.2bn (17.5%) | K13.9bn (8.3%) | K18.1bn (10.8%) | K1.71bn (1.0%) | K54.0bn (32.3%) | K167.3bn |
| 2022 | K42.3bn (24.2%) | K22.9bn (13.1%) | K12.7bn (7.3%) | K20.7bn (11.8%) | K1.82bn (1.0%) | K74.1bn (42.5%) | K174.5bn |
| 2021 | K27.1bn (22.3%) | K16.9bn (13.9%) | K9.27bn (7.6%) | K12.7bn (10.5%) | K1.99bn (1.6%) | K53.6bn (44.1%) | K121.6bn |
| 2020 | K25.6bn (23.5%) | K18.9bn (17.4%) | K9.21bn (8.5%) | K17.7bn (16.2%) | K3.46bn (3.2%) | K34.1bn (31.3%) | K109.0bn |
| 2019 | K23.3bn (26.8%) | K14.9bn (17.1%) | K8.80bn (10.1%) | K9.13bn (10.5%) | K1.92bn (2.2%) | K28.8bn (33.2%) | K86.8bn |
| 2018 | K20.3bn (28.4%) | K12.4bn (17.3%) | K8.43bn (11.8%) | K7.95bn (11.1%) | K0 (0.0%) | K22.6bn (31.5%) | K71.7bn |
| 2017 | K17.8bn (27.5%) | K9.46bn (14.7%) | K10.4bn (16.1%) | K5.32bn (8.2%) | K0 (0.0%) | K21.6bn (33.4%) | K64.5bn |
| 2016 | K14.3bn (27.0%) | K9.89bn (18.6%) | K6.13bn (11.6%) | K11.7bn (22.0%) | K546m (1.0%) | K10.5bn (19.7%) | K53.1bn |
| 2015 | K11.8bn (25.3%) | K6.57bn (14.1%) | K6.97bn (14.9%) | K9.76bn (20.9%) | K3.63bn (7.8%) | K7.93bn (17.0%) | K46.7bn |
| 2014 | K10.8bn (25.3%) | K8.10bn (19.0%) | K5.58bn (13.1%) | K5.08bn (11.9%) | K2.63bn (6.2%) | K10.5bn (24.6%) | K42.7bn |
| 2013 | K10.9bn (33.8%) | K6.02bn (18.7%) | K4.71bn (14.6%) | K3.13bn (9.7%) | K1.53bn (4.7%) | K5.94bn (18.4%) | K32.2bn |
| 2012 | K8.39bn (30.3%) | K4.72bn (17.1%) | K4.27bn (15.4%) | K2.59bn (9.3%) | K1.89bn (6.8%) | K5.83bn (21.0%) | K27.7bn |
| 2011 | K5.94bn (28.9%) | K4.00bn (19.5%) | K3.43bn (16.7%) | K2.40bn (11.7%) | K1.59bn (7.7%) | K3.18bn (15.5%) | K20.5bn |
| 2010 | K5.49bn (32.8%) | K2.94bn (17.6%) | K2.70bn (16.2%) | K966m (5.8%) | K2.43bn (14.5%) | K2.18bn (13.1%) | K16.7bn |
| 2009 | K4.38bn (28.6%) | K2.55bn (16.7%) | K3.11bn (20.4%) | K609m (4.0%) | K2.77bn (18.1%) | K1.86bn (12.2%) | K15.3bn |
| 2008 | K4.08bn (29.7%) | K2.64bn (19.2%) | K2.34bn (17.0%) | K767m (5.6%) | K2.28bn (16.6%) | K1.65bn (12.0%) | K13.8bn |
| 2007 | K3.36bn (27.9%) | K2.43bn (20.2%) | K1.93bn (16.1%) | K395m (3.3%) | K2.26bn (18.7%) | K1.66bn (13.8%) | K12.0bn |
Source: Budget Speeches, resource envelopes
Debt and borrowing
Debt service as a share of approved spending, and borrowing as a share of the resource envelope. Debt service peaked at 45.5% in 2022; it is 23.7% in 2027.
Show the numbers
| Year | Debt service, share of spending (%) | Borrowing, share of the resource envelope (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 23.7 | 14.7 |
| 2026 | 29.1 | 13.6 |
| 2025 | 24.9 | 16.0 |
| 2024 | 21.9 | 18.7 |
| 2023 | 28.9 | 32.3 |
| 2022 | 45.5 | 42.9 |
| 2021 | 38.5 | 44.8 |
| 2020 | 31.8 | 32.1 |
| 2019 | 27.2 | 33.2 |
| 2018 | 19.9 | 31.5 |
| 2017 | 17.8 | 33.4 |
| 2016 | 13.5 | 19.7 |
| 2015 | 11.3 | 17.0 |
| 2014 | 10.9 | 24.6 |
| 2013 | 7.9 | 18.4 |
| 2012 | 11.1 | 21.0 |
| 2011 | 8.1 | 15.5 |
| 2010 | 9.5 | 13.1 |
| 2009 | 8.8 | 12.2 |
| 2008 | 6.0 | 12.0 |
| 2007 | 6.5 | 13.8 |
Debt service here is the two debt lines the speech lists under General Public Services (domestic debt, and external interest and principal).
Source: Budget Speeches
The size of the budget
Total resource envelope, 2007–2027, in current kwacha and in 2027 prices.
Show the numbers
| Year | Current kwacha (K bn) | 2027 prices (K bn) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 284.8 | 284.8 |
| 2026 | 253.1 | 270.8 |
| 2025 | 217.1 | 247.1 |
| 2024 | 177.9 | 230.7 |
| 2023 | 167.3 | 249.4 |
| 2022 | 173.0 | 285.7 |
| 2021 | 119.6 | 219.0 |
| 2020 | 106.0 | 236.8 |
| 2019 | 86.8 | 224.3 |
| 2018 | 71.7 | 202.0 |
| 2017 | 64.5 | 195.5 |
| 2016 | 53.1 | 171.8 |
| 2015 | 46.7 | 178.1 |
| 2014 | 42.7 | 179.3 |
| 2013 | 32.2 | 145.9 |
| 2012 | 27.7 | 134.4 |
| 2011 | 20.5 | 106.3 |
| 2010 | 16.7 | 92.1 |
| 2009 | 15.3 | — |
| 2008 | 13.8 | — |
| 2007 | 12.0 | — |
Deflated with the annual average consumer price index; years before 2010 have no index.
Source: Budget Speeches; Zambia Statistics Agency (CPI)
Promise and delivery
Each year’s macroeconomic targets in its own Budget Speech, against what later speeches report.
Show the numbers
| Indicator | Year | Target | Outturn | Estimate | Reference period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal deficit | 2021 | — | 9.0 | — | Annual |
| Fiscal deficit | 2024 | 4.8 | 3.5 | — | Annual |
| Fiscal deficit | 2025 | 3.1 | — | 4.6 | Annual (projected Sep 2025) |
| Fiscal deficit | 2026 | 2.1 | — | 5.9 | Annual (projected Nov 2026) |
| Fiscal deficit | 2027 | 3.0 | — | — | |
| Real GDP growth | 2024 | — | 3.8 | — | Annual |
| Real GDP growth | 2025 | 6.6 | — | 5.8 | Annual (projected Sep 2025) |
| Real GDP growth | 2026 | 6.4 | 7.4 | — | H1 2026 average |
| Real GDP growth | 2027 | 4.9 | — | — | |
| Inflation | 2024 | — | 16.7 | — | End-Dec 2024 |
| Inflation | 2025 | 6.0–8.0 | 11.2 | — | End-Dec 2025 |
| Inflation | 2026 | 6.0–8.0 | 6.3 | — | Oct 2026 |
| Inflation | 2027 | 6.0–8.0 | — | — | |
| Domestic revenue | 2025 | 21.3 | — | — | |
| Domestic revenue | 2026 | 22.3 | — | — | |
| Domestic revenue | 2027 | 23.3 | — | — | |
| Net domestic borrowing | 2025 | 1.9 | — | — | |
| Net domestic borrowing | 2026 | 2.3 | — | — | |
| Net domestic borrowing | 2027 | 2.9 | — | — |
Later speeches quote outturns for different reference periods (end-December, a partial-year average, a projection); the table gives each one.
Source: Budget Speeches, macroeconomic sections
Who gets what: ministries and agencies in the 2027 Yellow Book
68 heads, K284.8bn, grouped by sector. Area is the allocation; colour is the change on 2026.
Show the numbers
| Head | Sector | 2027 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Constitutional and Statutory Expenditure | Debt & Statutory | K67.6bn | K73.7bn | −8.3% |
| 21 Loans and Investments - Ministry of Finance | Debt & Statutory | K37.1bn | K27.7bn | not comparable |
| 80 Ministry of Education | Education | K30.9bn | K30.6bn | +1.0% |
| 46 Ministry of Health | Health | K28.1bn | K24.7bn | not comparable |
| 89 Ministry of Agriculture | Agriculture | K20.7bn | K13.2bn | not comparable |
| 37 Ministry of Finance and National Planning | Finance & Planning | K14.5bn | K12.3bn | +18.4% |
| 77 Ministry of Defence | Defence & Security | K14.3bn | K11.6bn | +23.2% |
| 20 Intergovernmental Transfers - Local Government and Rural Development | Local Government & Housing | K12.1bn | — | not comparable |
| 45 Ministry of Community Development and Social Services | Social Protection & Community | K10.7bn | K9.70bn | not comparable |
| 49 Ministry of Skills and Higher Education | Education | K5.38bn | — | not comparable |
| 11 Zambia Police Service | Public Order & Safety | K4.62bn | K3.77bn | +22.7% |
| 52 Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation | Water & Environment | K3.03bn | K2.69bn | +12.6% |
| 78 Zambia Security Intelligence Service | Defence & Security | K2.94bn | K2.23bn | +31.6% |
| 17 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | Foreign Affairs | K2.26bn | K2.71bn | −16.5% |
| 41 Ministry of Electricity | Mining & Energy | K2.25bn | — | not comparable |
| 86 Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock | Agriculture | K1.98bn | K1.85bn | +6.8% |
| 53 Ministry of Green Economy and Environment | Water & Environment | K1.76bn | K1.16bn | not comparable |
| 03 National Assembly | Legislature & Oversight | K1.72bn | K1.58bn | +8.7% |
| 31 Ministry of Justice | Justice | K1.66bn | K1.46bn | +13.9% |
| 30 Zambia Correctional Service | Public Order & Safety | K1.53bn | K1.34bn | +14.4% |
| 39 Smart Zambia Institute | ICT & Science | K1.48bn | K1.45bn | +2.6% |
| 68 Ministry of Tourism | Tourism & Natural Resources | K1.36bn | K1.54bn | not comparable |
| 18 Judiciary | Justice | K1.23bn | K1.07bn | +14.4% |
| 14 Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development | Mining & Energy | K1.21bn | K1.20bn | +1.0% |
| 08 Cabinet Office | Executive & Governance | K1.09bn | K914m | +19.1% |
| 29 Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development | Local Government & Housing | K1.04bn | K10.4bn | not comparable |
| 40 Ministry of Industry | Commerce & Industry | K1.03bn | — | not comparable |
| 42 Ministry of Petroleum | Mining & Energy | K897m | — | not comparable |
| 35 Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development | Commerce & Industry | K740m | K659m | +12.3% |
| 66 Ministry of Technology and Science | ICT & Science | K684m | K1.37bn | not comparable |
| 15 Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security | Public Order & Safety | K681m | K757m | not comparable |
| 51 Ministry of Transport and Logistics | Transport & Infrastructure | K641m | K620m | +3.5% |
| 54 Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development | Transport & Infrastructure | K621m | — | not comparable |
| 05 Electoral Commission of Zambia | Executive & Governance | K538m | K1.29bn | −58.3% |
| 23 Department of Immigration (Home Affairs and Internal Security) | Public Order & Safety | K489m | K389m | +25.6% |
| 22 Zambia Cyber Security Agency | ICT & Science | K388m | — | — |
| 47 Ministry of Housing | Local Government & Housing | K363m | — | not comparable |
| 24 Ministry of Trade and Exports | Commerce & Industry | K346m | — | not comparable |
| 16 Drug Enforcement Commission | Public Order & Safety | K337m | K288m | +16.8% |
| 76 Ministry of Youth and Sport | Youth & Sport | K331m | — | not comparable |
| 19 Disaster Risk Management Division | Social Protection & Community | K317m | — | — |
| 26 Ministry of Information and Media | Information & Media | K250m | K234m | +6.9% |
| 85 Ministry of Lands | Tourism & Natural Resources | K249m | — | not comparable |
| 07 Office of the Auditor General | Legislature & Oversight | K245m | K248m | −1.4% |
| 55 Ministry of Culture and Arts | Tourism & Natural Resources | K235m | — | not comparable |
| 87 Anti-Corruption Commission | Legislature & Oversight | K235m | K200m | +17.7% |
| 94 Western Province | Provinces | K195m | K167m | +16.5% |
| 95 Eastern Province | Provinces | K187m | K168m | +11.3% |
| 98 Southern Province | Provinces | K185m | K169m | +9.5% |
| 92 Central Province | Provinces | K176m | K157m | +12.3% |
| 02 Office of the Vice President | Executive & Governance | K172m | K153m | +12.2% |
| 97 North-Western Province | Provinces | K169m | K146m | +15.4% |
| 96 Luapula Province | Provinces | K167m | K153m | +9.5% |
| 90 Lusaka Province | Provinces | K166m | K184m | −10.0% |
| 91 Copperbelt Province | Provinces | K163m | K165m | −1.5% |
| 93 Northern Province | Provinces | K161m | K150m | +7.6% |
| 01 State House | Executive & Governance | K148m | K163m | −9.7% |
| 88 Muchinga Province | Provinces | K137m | K118m | +15.8% |
| 27 Public Service Management Division | Public Service Management | K116m | K105m | +10.2% |
| 44 Ministry of Labour and Social Security | Labour & Social Security | K110m | K97.9m | +12.0% |
| 28 Emoluments Commission | Public Service Management | K97.3m | K103m | −5.3% |
| 34 Human Rights Commission | Justice | K67.8m | K56.5m | +20.1% |
| 12 Office of the Public Protector | Legislature & Oversight | K39.6m | K39.4m | +0.7% |
| 25 Local Government Service Commission | Public Service Management | K25.8m | K25.3m | +1.9% |
| 09 Teaching Service Commission | Public Service Management | K23.5m | K22.9m | +2.7% |
| 10 Zambia Police Service Commission | Public Order & Safety | K21.5m | K26.7m | −19.7% |
| 06 Civil Service Commission | Public Service Management | K21.1m | K21.1m | 0% |
| 36 Zambia Correctional Service Commission | Public Order & Safety | K17.2m | K16.2m | +6.4% |
Head codes are reused across years, so a head is matched to its prior-year line by code and name together. Hatched heads are new, renamed, or had functions moved in 2027 (see Data notes), so their change on 2026 isn’t like for like.
Source: 2027 Yellow Book / Output-Based Budget
Data notes
The documents change their labels, merge ministries, drop lines and occasionally disagree with each other. This is the dataset’s log of those changes for 2027, plus the hand-checked notes from earlier years, so a jump in a chart can be traced to its cause. Each year’s page carries that year’s log.
- The 2027 Yellow Book's 2026 Approved column differs from the 2026 OBB on three heads: 06 Civil Service Commission (K21,197,851 against K21,118,851), 15 Home Affairs and Internal Security (K757,160,909 against K757,160,908) and 68 Tourism (K1,545,615,025 against K1,535,615,025), K10,079,001 in all. The 2026 OBB's own figures are preferred: they reconcile to its programme totals, its Grand Total and the 2026 speech.
- The 2027 Yellow Book's 2025 Approved column differs from the 2025 book on four heads: 16 Drug Enforcement Commission (K229,556,420 against K229,286,420), 86 Fisheries and Livestock (K1,842,908,195 against K1,842,928,195), 89 Agriculture (K13,499,516,824 against K13,561,831,810) and 96 Luapula Province (K136,640,494 against K136,610,494). The 2026 OBB prints the same restated Head 16 figure. The 2025 book's own figures are preferred.
- The 2027 speech body and its annex disagree on the threshold of the new 39.5% PAYE band; the dataset uses the speech body (K37000).
- Food Security Pack, Strategic Food Reserve and Cash for Work are not listed in the 2027 function table.
- Tourism Levy is not listed in the 2027 resource envelope.
- 2027Budget presentation restatementcheckedThe 2027 Yellow Book's 2026 Approved column differs from the 2026 OBB on three heads: 06 Civil Service Commission (K21,197,851 against K21,118,851), 15 Home Affairs and Internal Security (K757,160,909 against K757,160,908) and 68 Tourism (K1,545,615,025 against K1,535,615,025), K10,079,001 in all. The 2026 OBB's own figures are preferred: they reconcile to its programme totals, its Grand Total and the 2026 speech.
- 2027Budget presentation restatementcheckedThe 2027 Yellow Book's 2025 Approved column differs from the 2025 book on four heads: 16 Drug Enforcement Commission (K229,556,420 against K229,286,420), 86 Fisheries and Livestock (K1,842,908,195 against K1,842,928,195), 89 Agriculture (K13,499,516,824 against K13,561,831,810) and 96 Luapula Province (K136,640,494 against K136,610,494). The 2026 OBB prints the same restated Head 16 figure. The 2025 book's own figures are preferred.
- 2027Data quality discrepancycheckedThe 2027 speech body and its annex disagree on the threshold of the new 39.5% PAYE band; the dataset uses the speech body (K37000).
- 2027Expenditure classification omissioncheckedFood Security Pack, Strategic Food Reserve and Cash for Work are not listed in the 2027 function table.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedThe 2027 Yellow Book reorganises ministries under Government Gazette Notice No. 1629 of 2026: two ministries are dissolved and split, nine heads are new and several programmes move between heads. A head that gained or lost functions is not like for like with its 2026 total.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedHead 33 is dissolved and its functions re-aligned into Head 24 (Ministry of Trade and Exports) and Head 40 (Ministry of Industry). Head 33 has no 2027 estimate.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedHead 62 is dissolved and its functions realigned into Head 41 (Ministry of Electricity) and Head 42 (Ministry of Petroleum). Head 62 has no 2027 estimate.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedNew Head 20 (K12.1 bn) holds the transfers to local authorities. From Head 29 it takes the Constituency Development Fund, the Local Government Equalisation Fund, Grants in Lieu of Rates and the local authority road transfers; from Head 45 devolved functions such as Care of Older Persons and the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme; from Head 46 the transfers to District Health Offices; from Head 89 district agriculture administration. Head 29 falls from K10.4 bn (2026) to K1.0 bn as a result.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedNew Head 49 takes the Skills Development programme from Head 66 (Ministry of Technology and Science) and the University Health Training sub-programme (Levy Mwanawasa Medical University) from Head 46 (Ministry of Health).
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedNew Head 47 takes housing, including the allocation for the National Housing Authority, from Head 54, which is renamed the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedNew Head 55 takes the culture programme from Head 68 (Ministry of Tourism) and the arts programme from Head 76, which is renamed the Ministry of Youth and Sport.
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedHead 85 is renamed the Ministry of Lands; its natural resources programme moves to Head 53 (Ministry of Green Economy and Environment).
- 2027Ministry/Head realignedcheckedThe allocation for the Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS) moves from Head 15 (Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security) to Head 21 (Loans and Investments).
- 2027Revenue classification omissioncheckedTourism Levy is not listed in the 2027 resource envelope.
- 2027Revenue classification renamedcheckedThe 2027 resource envelope labels programme loans 'Programme Loans (IMF)'.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Development Finance Institution (DFI)' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Digitalisation of Government Services' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'District & Mini Hospitals Infrastructure' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Grid Resilience Project' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Home Grown School Feeding Programme' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Housing Development' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Land Administration System' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Mines Standards and Mineral Regulation' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'PPP Viability Gap Financing Fund' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
- 2027Expenditure line introduced'Support to NHIMA' first listed in the 2027 speech table.
About this data
The figures come from three kinds of document. The Budget Speech gives the resource envelope, spending by function, tax measures and macroeconomic targets. The Yellow Book (since 2015, the Output-Based Budget) gives what each ministry and agency is allocated. The Auditor-General’s annual report gives what was actually collected and spent, and what the audit found. Speech and Yellow Book figures are approved estimates; actual figures come only from the Auditor-General.
Money is in kwacha as rebased in 2013 (K1,000 old = K1 new); earlier figures are divided by 1,000. Where a later document restates a year, KSJ uses the year’s own document and says so where it doesn’t exist. A missing figure means it wasn’t reported, never zero. The PEFA-style grades are KSJ’s calculation using the thresholds of the PEFA 2016 framework, not an official PEFA assessment.
The dataset is rebuilt each year from the published documents. Renamed ministries, relabelled lines and places where two documents disagree are listed under Data notes.