Human capital composite index in Zambia
Zambia: Human capital composite index was -0.3561 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Human capital composite index in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in standard deviations from the yearly mean.
Analysis
The most recent figure for human capital composite index in Zambia is -0.3561 standard deviations from the yearly mean, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 41.5% on the previous year and down 172.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human capital composite index in Zambia peaked at 0.4944 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2014 and was at its lowest, -1.15 standard deviations from the yearly mean, in 2000.
Zambia ranks 155th of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Human capital composite index in Zambia, year by year
| Year | standard deviations from the yearly mean | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -0.0113 standard deviations from the yearly mean | — |
| 1971 | 0.3674 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -3354.2% |
| 1972 | -0.0681 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -118.5% |
| 1973 | 0.1522 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -323.7% |
| 1974 | 0.0399 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -73.8% |
| 1975 | 0.2327 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +483.1% |
| 1976 | 0.1594 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -31.5% |
| 1977 | 0.0682 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -57.2% |
| 1978 | -0.1304 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -291.2% |
| 1979 | -0.2703 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +107.3% |
| 1980 | -0.2577 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -4.7% |
| 1981 | -0.3283 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +27.4% |
| 1982 | -0.1149 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -65.0% |
| 1983 | 0.3019 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -362.8% |
| 1984 | 0.238 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -21.2% |
| 1985 | -0.2208 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -192.8% |
| 1986 | -0.4141 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +87.6% |
| 1987 | -0.5569 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +34.5% |
| 1988 | -0.3512 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -36.9% |
| 1990 | -0.3551 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +1.1% |
| 1991 | -0.4025 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +13.3% |
| 1994 | -1.04 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +159.6% |
| 1995 | -0.8595 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -17.7% |
| 1998 | -0.8708 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +1.3% |
| 1999 | -0.8474 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -2.7% |
| 2000 | -1.15 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +35.6% |
| 2002 | -0.672 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -41.5% |
| 2004 | -0.4448 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -33.8% |
| 2005 | -0.2098 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -52.8% |
| 2007 | -0.4217 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +101.0% |
| 2008 | -0.3891 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 0.0774 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -119.9% |
| 2011 | 0.101 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +30.4% |
| 2012 | 0.2339 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +131.5% |
| 2013 | -0.0289 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -112.3% |
| 2014 | 0.4944 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -1812.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1694 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -65.7% |
| 2016 | -0.2799 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -265.2% |
| 2017 | -0.2892 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +3.3% |
| 2018 | -0.1728 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -40.2% |
| 2020 | -0.2679 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +55.0% |
| 2021 | -0.3806 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +42.0% |
| 2022 | -0.2517 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -33.9% |
| 2024 | -0.3561 standard deviations from the yearly mean | +41.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's -0.3561 standard deviations from the yearly mean is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -0.2251 standard deviations from the yearly mean, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's -0.3561 standard deviations from the yearly mean is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.5172 standard deviations from the yearly mean, 69% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Human capital composite index 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +3354.2% | -0.0113 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.3674 standard deviations from the yearly mean |
| 2014 | +1812.6% | -0.0289 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.4944 standard deviations from the yearly mean |
| 1975 | +483.1% | 0.0399 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.2327 standard deviations from the yearly mean |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.054 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.2703 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.3674 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.1893 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.5569 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.3019 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 9 |
| 1990s | -0.73 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -1.04 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.3551 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 6 |
| 2000s | -0.5478 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -1.15 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.2098 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 6 |
| 2010s | 0.0339 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.2892 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 0.4944 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 9 |
| 2020s | -0.3141 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.3806 standard deviations from the yearly mean | -0.2517 standard deviations from the yearly mean | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 152 Philippines -0.3396 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 153 Ukraine -0.3467 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 154 Cameroon -0.3551 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 156 Iraq -0.3629 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 157 Democratic Republic of Congo -0.3781 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
- 158 Barbados -0.4317 standard deviations from the yearly mean compare
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 human capital composite index in Zambia?
- Human capital composite index in Zambia was -0.3561 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest human capital composite index recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4944 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2014.
- What is the lowest human capital composite index recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.15 standard deviations from the yearly mean in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for human capital composite index?
- Zambia ranks 155th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is human capital composite index rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 172.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Human capital composite index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
An equal-weighted index of 4 indicators: Literacy rate, adult total; School enrollment, primary; School enrollment, secondary; Government expenditure on education, total. Each is standardised against that year's spread across all reporting countries before averaging, so a score of 0 is the average country and +1 is one standard deviation above it.
Equal-weighted mean of the standardised inputs below.
Computed from
- Literacy rate, adult total Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- School enrollment, primary Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- School enrollment, secondary Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Government expenditure on education, total Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
An equal-weighted index of 4 indicators: Literacy rate, adult total; School enrollment, primary; School enrollment, secondary; Government expenditure on education, total. Each is standardised against that year's spread across all reporting countries before averaging, so a score of 0 is the average country and +1 is one standard deviation above it.