Budget
ZAMBIA 2026 BUDGET KEY FIGURES
| Total 2026 Budget | General Public Services | Economic Affairs | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| K253.1 billion | 36.6% | 23.2% | 13.0% |
Zambia’s 2026 Budget totals K253.1 billion, with General Public Services, dominated by domestic and external debt servicing, accounting for the largest single functional share at 36.6%, followed by Economic Affairs at 23.2% and Education at 13.0%.
Within Economic Affairs, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock receives the largest sector allocation at K15.5 billion, including K9.15 billion for the Farmer Input Support Programme, followed by Road Infrastructure at K14.5 billion, Health at K26.2 billion, and Social Protection at K15.7 billion.
Budget by Function
Zambia’s 2026 Budget totals K253.1 billion[1]. General Public Services accounts for the largest functional share at 36.6%, or K92.6 billion, dominated by K52.0 billion in domestic debt interest and K21.7 billion in external debt interest and principal, alongside K1.2 billion for the 2026 General Elections and K1.4 billion for the Local Government Equalization Fund[1]. Economic Affairs follows at 23.2%, or K58.6 billion, within which Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock receives K15.5 billion, including K9.15 billion for the Farmer Input Support Programme, and Road Infrastructure receives K14.5 billion[1]. Education receives 13.0% of the Budget, or K33.0 billion, and Health 10.3%, or K26.2 billion, while Social Protection receives K15.7 billion, including K7.65 billion for the Social Cash Transfer[1].
Sector Allocations
Within Economic Affairs, Tourism receives K1.54 billion, Mining K1.20 billion, including K541.5 million for Aerial Geological and Geophysical Mapping and K449.5 million for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, and the newly created Electricity Fund receives K500.0 million alongside K1.05 billion for Provincial Airports Infrastructure[1]. Housing and Community Amenities receives K3.20 billion, including K1.83 billion for Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure[1]. Defence receives K11.9 billion and Public Order and Safety K9.6 billion[1].
Debt Servicing Burden
The Minister of Finance and National Planning noted that domestic debt servicing, at K52.0 billion, now exceeds external debt servicing, at K21.7 billion, a reversal driven by the sharp increase in domestic borrowing through Treasury bills and Government bonds issued between 2015 and 2021, instruments now reaching maturity[1].
Investment Opportunities
The specific K-denominated allocations to Agriculture, Mining, Tourism, the Electricity Fund, Provincial Airports Infrastructure and Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure give a concrete, government-committed spending baseline for each of those sectors, distinct from the broader private investment activity covered on each sector’s own dedicated category page[1].
Last Update: September 2026
