Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Zambia
Zambia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 56,680 in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Zambia, 1970–2012
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 56,680 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2012. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 144.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 56,680 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1,433, in 1970.
That places Zambia 132nd out of 200 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,433 | — |
| 1974 | 4,681 | +226.7% |
| 1975 | 8,403 | +79.5% |
| 1976 | 8,783 | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 7,053 | -19.7% |
| 1978 | 7,308 | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 7,340 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 7,541 | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 8,062 | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 8,781 | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 8,768 | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 14,492 | +65.3% |
| 1987 | 13,066 | -9.8% |
| 1988 | 14,861 | +13.7% |
| 1989 | 14,465 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 15,343 | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 22,701 | +48.0% |
| 1999 | 23,155 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 55,759 | +140.8% |
| 2012 | 56,680 | +1.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 56,680 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 252,098, 22% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 56,680 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,195, 68% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +226.7% | 1,433 | 4,681 |
| 2011 | +140.8% | 23,155 | 55,759 |
| 1975 | +79.5% | 4,681 | 8,403 |
| 1986 | +65.3% | 8,768 | 14,492 |
| 1998 | +48.0% | 15,343 | 22,701 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,429 | 1,433 | 8,783 | 7 |
| 1980s | 11,254 | 7,541 | 14,861 | 8 |
| 1990s | 20,400 | 15,343 | 23,155 | 3 |
| 2010s | 56,220 | 55,759 | 56,680 | 2 |
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 enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Zambia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Zambia was 56,680 in 2012, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 56,680 in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,433 in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 132nd out of 200 countries with data for 2012.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 144.8%. 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release