Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 4.0% in 2012. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1970–2012
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia is 4.0%, measured in 2012.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 66.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 4.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1970.
That places Zambia 186th out of 194 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4% | — |
| 1974 | 1.1% | +185.9% |
| 1975 | 2.0% | +74.5% |
| 1976 | 2.0% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 1.5% | -22.3% |
| 1978 | 1.5% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 1.5% | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | -4.8% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 2.2% | +53.9% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -13.0% |
| 1988 | 2.2% | +10.1% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | +15.1% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | +67.5% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.4% | 2.0% | 7 |
| 1980s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 8 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 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 gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Zambia was 4.0% in 2012, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 186th out of 194 countries with data for 2012.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release