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

Zambia, at 8.37 years against 8.32 years in Zimbabwe as of 2020.

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

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.

Zambia vs Zimbabwe: Average years of schooling

Zambia

8.37 years

in 2020

Zimbabwe

8.32 years

in 2020

Zambia rank

72nd

Zimbabwe rank

73rd

Average years of schooling over time

Zambia
Zimbabwe

How they compare

Zambia currently reports 8.37 years against 8.32 years in Zimbabwe, a difference of 0.05 years.

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

Zambia ranks 72nd and Zimbabwe ranks 73rd of 111 countries.

Across the 16 decades both report, Zambia averaged higher in 8 and Zimbabwe in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Zambia	Zimbabwe	Difference	Ahead
1870s	0.01 years	0.01 years	0 years	—
1880s	0.01 years	0.01 years	0 years	—
1890s	0.01 years	0.01 years	0 years	—
1900s	0.01 years	0.015 years	0.005 years	Zimbabwe
1910s	0.225 years	0.09 years	0.135 years	Zambia
1920s	0.435 years	0.265 years	0.17 years	Zambia
1930s	1.05 years	0.715 years	0.34 years	Zambia
1940s	1.44 years	1.22 years	0.22 years	Zambia
1950s	1.94 years	1.82 years	0.11 years	Zambia
1960s	2.52 years	2.53 years	0.01 years	Zimbabwe
1970s	3.46 years	3.38 years	0.085 years	Zambia
1980s	4.56 years	4.44 years	0.13 years	Zambia
1990s	5.53 years	6.41 years	0.885 years	Zimbabwe
2000s	6.47 years	7.46 years	0.985 years	Zimbabwe
2010s	7.65 years	7.95 years	0.295 years	Zimbabwe
2020s	8.37 years	8.32 years	0.05 years	Zambia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average years of schooling, Zambia or Zimbabwe?: Zambia, at 8.37 years against 8.32 years in Zimbabwe as of 2020.
What is the difference in average years of schooling between Zambia and Zimbabwe?: 0.05 years, with Zambia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Zambia and Zimbabwe?: 31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Zambia and Zimbabwe rank globally for average years of schooling?: Zambia ranks 72nd and Zimbabwe ranks 73rd 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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Zambia vs Zimbabwe: Average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/mean-years-of-schooling-long-run/zambia/zimbabwe/

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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.