Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes was 81.8% in 2013. ▲ Rising
Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1972–2013
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia is 81.8%, measured in 2013.
The figure is down 8.5% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 98.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 59.7%, in 2002.
That places Zambia 150th out of 198 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 66.4% | — |
| 1973 | 68.4% | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 72.5% | +6.0% |
| 1975 | 74.6% | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 75.3% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 77.1% | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 81.6% | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 80.5% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 81.1% | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 81.7% | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 83.6% | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 86.0% | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 91.0% | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 89.6% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 65.6% | -26.8% |
| 1999 | 62.9% | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 60.4% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 59.7% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 70.5% | +17.9% |
| 2005 | 81.8% | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 83.4% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 87.1% | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 91.1% | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 85.4% | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 98.7% | +15.6% |
| 2011 | 88.3% | -10.5% |
| 2012 | 89.4% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 81.8% | -8.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 81.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 85.6%, 96% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 81.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.7%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 74.6% | 66.4% | 81.6% | 8 |
| 1980s | 85.5% | 81.1% | 91.0% | 6 |
| 1990s | 64.3% | 62.9% | 65.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 77.4% | 59.7% | 91.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 89.6% | 81.8% | 98.7% | 4 |
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 intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 81.8% in 2013, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 98.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.7% in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 150th out of 198 countries with data for 2013.
- Is gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. 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 intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release