Which has higher average years of schooling, Ghana or Zambia?

Ghana, at 8.39 years against 8.37 years in Zambia as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for Ghana and Zambia?

31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.

Where does this data come from?

Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Average years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Ghana vs Zambia: Average years of schooling

Ghana

8.39 years

in 2020

Zambia

8.37 years

in 2020

Ghana rank

71st

Zambia rank

72nd

Average years of schooling over time

Ghana
Zambia

How they compare

Ghana currently reports 8.39 years against 8.37 years in Zambia, a difference of 0.02 years.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 31 shared years of data; in 1870 it was Zambia ahead.

Ghana ranks 71st and Zambia ranks 72nd of 111 countries.

Across the 16 decades both report, Ghana averaged higher in 10 and Zambia in 6.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Ghana	Zambia	Difference	Ahead
1870s	0.015 years	0.01 years	0.005 years	Ghana
1880s	0.02 years	0.01 years	0.01 years	Ghana
1890s	0.035 years	0.01 years	0.025 years	Ghana
1900s	0.075 years	0.01 years	0.065 years	Ghana
1910s	0.17 years	0.225 years	0.055 years	Zambia
1920s	0.295 years	0.435 years	0.14 years	Zambia
1930s	0.405 years	1.05 years	0.65 years	Zambia
1940s	0.535 years	1.44 years	0.905 years	Zambia
1950s	0.765 years	1.94 years	1.17 years	Zambia
1960s	1.56 years	2.52 years	0.955 years	Zambia
1970s	3.79 years	3.46 years	0.325 years	Ghana
1980s	5.28 years	4.56 years	0.715 years	Ghana
1990s	6.16 years	5.53 years	0.635 years	Ghana
2000s	6.97 years	6.47 years	0.505 years	Ghana
2010s	7.69 years	7.65 years	0.04 years	Ghana
2020s	8.39 years	8.37 years	0.02 years	Ghana

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average years of schooling, Ghana or Zambia?: Ghana, at 8.39 years against 8.37 years in Zambia as of 2020.
What is the difference in average years of schooling between Ghana and Zambia?: 0.02 years, with Ghana ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ghana and Zambia?: 31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Ghana and Zambia rank globally for average years of schooling?: Ghana ranks 71st and Zambia ranks 72nd of 111 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Average years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ghana vs Zambia: Average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/mean-years-of-schooling-long-run/ghana/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator: Average years of schooling
Unit: years
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.