Literacy rate, youth female in Zambia
Zambia: Literacy rate, youth female was 76.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, youth female in Zambia, 1990–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of females ages 15-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, youth female in Zambia is 76.0%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, youth female in Zambia peaked at 86.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 65.5%, in 1990.
That places Zambia 89th out of 105 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rate, youth female in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of females ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65.5% | — |
| 1999 | 66.2% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 66.3% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 86.5% | +30.5% |
| 2018 | 72.9% | -15.7% |
| 2020 | 83.8% | +15.0% |
| 2021 | 83.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 82.2% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 76.0% | -7.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 76.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 93.8%, 81% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 76.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 80.1%, 95% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.9% | 65.5% | 66.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 66.3% | 66.3% | 66.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 79.7% | 72.9% | 86.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 81.2% | 76.0% | 83.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 86 Malawi 80.1% compare
- 87 Guinea-Bissau 78.3% compare
- 88 Cameroon 76.4% compare
- 90 Democratic Republic of Congo 68.3% compare
- 91 Benin 67.9% compare
- 92 Sierra Leone 67.9% 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 literacy rate, youth female in Zambia?
- Literacy rate, youth female in Zambia was 76.0% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest literacy rate, youth female recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 86.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, youth female recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.5% in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for literacy rate, youth female?
- Zambia ranks 89th out of 105 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rate, youth female rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.