Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 2.94 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zimbabwe, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zimbabwe stood at 2.94 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zimbabwe peaked at 2.95 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 696,130, in 1971.
That places Zimbabwe 55th out of 218 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 735,782 | — |
| 1971 | 696,130 | -5.4% |
| 1972 | 755,937 | +8.6% |
| 1973 | 790,592 | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 835,028 | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 862,736 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 882,375 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 890,460 | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 826,857 | -7.1% |
| 1979 | 831,879 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 1.24 million | +48.5% |
| 1981 | 1.71 million | +38.8% |
| 1982 | 1.91 million | +11.2% |
| 1983 | 2.04 million | +7.3% |
| 1984 | 2.13 million | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 2.21 million | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 2.26 million | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 2.25 million | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 2.21 million | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 2.23 million | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 2.12 million | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 2.29 million | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 2.30 million | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 2.43 million | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 2.48 million | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 2.49 million | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 2.51 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 2.48 million | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 2.46 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 2.46 million | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.53 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 2.40 million | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 2.36 million | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 2.67 million | +12.9% |
| 2013 | 2.66 million | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 2.66 million | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.66 million | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.66 million | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 2.68 million | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 2.73 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 2.79 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 2.87 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 2.90 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 2.94 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 2.95 million | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 2.94 million | -0.5% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 2.94 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 2.94 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Zimbabwe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +48.5% | 831,879 | 1.24 million |
| 1981 | +38.8% | 1.24 million | 1.71 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 810,778 | 696,130 | 890,460 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.02 million | 1.24 million | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.40 million | 2.12 million | 2.51 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.44 million | 2.36 million | 2.53 million | 4 |
| 2010s | 2.69 million | 2.66 million | 2.79 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 2.92 million | 2.87 million | 2.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More education data for Zimbabwe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2013)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,514 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 328,055 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,698 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 957,461 (2013)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.4866 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1767 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zimbabwe?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Zimbabwe was 2.94 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 2.95 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 696,130 in 1971.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Zimbabwe ranks 55th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release