Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia
Zambia: Literacy rates vs average years of schooling was 79.98 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
79.98
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
90th
of 128 countries
All-time high
83.14
in 2010
All-time low
22.5
in 1950
Years of data
9
1950–2022
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia, 1950–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia is 79.98, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia peaked at 83.14 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 22.5, in 1950.
Zambia ranks 90th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 22.5 | — |
| 1990 | 65 | +188.9% |
| 1999 | 68 | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 69.15 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 83.14 | +20.2% |
| 2018 | 71.13 | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 81.75 | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 79.95 | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 79.98 | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 79.98 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 79.98 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.74, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22.5 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 1 |
| 1990s | 66.5 | 65 | 68 | 2 |
| 2000s | 69.15 | 69.15 | 69.15 | 1 |
| 2010s | 77.13 | 71.13 | 83.14 | 2 |
| 2020s | 80.56 | 79.95 | 81.75 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More education data for Zambia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 86.21 (2017)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.49 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia?
- Literacy rates vs average years of schooling in Zambia was 79.98 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 83.14 in 2010.
- What is the lowest literacy rates vs average years of schooling recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.5 in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for literacy rates vs average years of schooling?
- Zambia ranks 90th out of 128 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rates vs average years of schooling rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates vs average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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