Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 70.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
70.5%
Change on year
down 11.1%
World rank
66th
of 87 countries
All-time high
82.0%
in 2010
All-time low
68.2%
in 1990
Years of data
8
1990–2024
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia is 70.5%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 82.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 68.2%, in 1990.
Zambia ranks 66th of 87 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.2% | — |
| 1999 | 69.2% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 71.9% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 82.0% | +14.0% |
| 2018 | 69.6% | -15.1% |
| 2021 | 79.3% | +14.0% |
| 2022 | 79.3% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 70.5% | -11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.7% | 68.2% | 69.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 71.9% | 71.9% | 71.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 75.8% | 69.6% | 82.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 76.4% | 70.5% | 79.3% | 3 |
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 literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Zambia was 70.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.2% in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 66th out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. 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 Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release