Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Zambia
Zambia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 56,680 number in 2012. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Zambia, 1970–2012
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Zambia is 56,680 number, measured 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 number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1,433 number, in 1970.
That places Zambia 128th out of 193 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 | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1,433 number | — |
| 1974 | 4,681 number | +226.7% |
| 1975 | 8,403 number | +79.5% |
| 1976 | 8,783 number | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 7,053 number | -19.7% |
| 1978 | 7,308 number | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 7,340 number | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 7,541 number | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 8,062 number | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 8,781 number | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 8,768 number | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 14,492 number | +65.3% |
| 1987 | 13,066 number | -9.8% |
| 1988 | 14,861 number | +13.7% |
| 1989 | 14,465 number | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 15,343 number | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 22,701 number | +48.0% |
| 1999 | 23,155 number | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 55,759 number | +140.8% |
| 2012 | 56,680 number | +1.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 56,680 number is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 217,880 number, 26% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 56,680 number is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 72,128 number, 79% 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 number | 4,681 number |
| 2011 | +140.8% | 23,155 number | 55,759 number |
| 1975 | +79.5% | 4,681 number | 8,403 number |
| 1986 | +65.3% | 8,768 number | 14,492 number |
| 1998 | +48.0% | 15,343 number | 22,701 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,429 number | 1,433 number | 8,783 number | 7 |
| 1980s | 11,254 number | 7,541 number | 14,861 number | 8 |
| 1990s | 20,400 number | 15,343 number | 23,155 number | 3 |
| 2010s | 56,220 number | 55,759 number | 56,680 number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 86.21 (2017)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.49 (2024)
- 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)
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 number 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 number in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,433 number in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 128th out of 193 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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About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.