Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes was 4.49 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.49 million
World rank
38th
of 218 countries
All-time high
4.49 million
in 2024
All-time low
694,670
in 1970
Years of data
45
1970–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 4.49 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 4.49 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 694,670, in 1970.
Zambia ranks 38th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 694,670 | — |
| 1971 | 729,801 | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 777,873 | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 810,234 | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 858,191 | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 872,392 | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 907,867 | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 936,817 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 964,475 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 996,597 | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 1.04 million | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 1.07 million | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.12 million | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 1.20 million | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 1.27 million | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 1.35 million | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 1.38 million | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 1.39 million | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 1.43 million | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 1.45 million | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 1.46 million | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 1.51 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 1.51 million | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 1.51 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.52 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 1.56 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 1.56 million | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 1.59 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 1.63 million | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 1.73 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.25 million | +30.0% |
| 2005 | 2.57 million | +14.3% |
| 2006 | 2.68 million | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 2.79 million | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 2.91 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 2.84 million | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 2.90 million | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 3.03 million | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 3.14 million | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 3.08 million | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 3.22 million | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 3.22 million | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 3.20 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 3.28 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 4.49 million | +36.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 854,892 | 694,670 | 996,597 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.27 million | 1.04 million | 1.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 million | 1.46 million | 1.56 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 2.33 million | 1.59 million | 2.91 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.13 million | 2.90 million | 3.28 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.49 million | 4.49 million | 4.49 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 7.67 % change on previous year (1988)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 116,859 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 5.61 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 723,878 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 663,308 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 651,791 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 56,680 (2012)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.65 % change on previous year (2012)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 69,123 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 4.49 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.49 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 694,670 in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 38th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release