Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia
Zambia: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female was 64.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia is 64.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 13.2% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia peaked at 78.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 57.4%, in 1990.
That places Zambia 69th out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.4% | — |
| 1999 | 59.8% | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 61.8% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 78.1% | +26.2% |
| 2018 | 62.2% | -20.4% |
| 2021 | 74.5% | +19.8% |
| 2022 | 74.2% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 64.4% | -13.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.6% | 57.4% | 59.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 61.8% | 61.8% | 61.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 70.1% | 62.2% | 78.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 71.0% | 64.4% | 74.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 169,961 (2013)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.49 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.55 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2106 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.49 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female in Zambia was 64.4% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 78.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.4% in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female?
- Zambia ranks 69th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release