Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Zambia
Zambia: Expected years of schooling, males vs. females was 10.91 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Zambia, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 10.91 years for expected years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Zambia peaked at 11.92 years in 2007 and was at its lowest, 8.25 years, in 1990.
That places Zambia 165th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Zambia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.25 years | — |
| 1991 | 8.35 years | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 8.45 years | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 8.56 years | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 8.66 years | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 8.77 years | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 8.88 years | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 8.99 years | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 9.11 years | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 9.22 years | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 9.33 years | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 9.45 years | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 9.56 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 10.03 years | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 10.5 years | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 10.98 years | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 11.45 years | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 11.92 years | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 11.85 years | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 11.77 years | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 11.7 years | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 11.63 years | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 11.55 years | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 11.48 years | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 11.41 years | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 11.34 years | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 11.26 years | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 11.19 years | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 11.12 years | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 11.05 years | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 10.98 years | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 10.91 years | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 10.91 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 10.91 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.73 years | 8.25 years | 9.22 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.68 years | 9.33 years | 11.92 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.37 years | 11.05 years | 11.7 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.93 years | 10.91 years | 10.98 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.55 % change on previous year (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Zambia?
- Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Zambia was 10.91 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.92 years in 2007.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.25 years in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for expected years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Zambia ranks 165th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Expected years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of years a boy of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.