Literacy rates among adults in Zambia
Zambia: Literacy rates among adults was 71.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Zambia, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Zambia is 71.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 10.3% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Zambia peaked at 83.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 65.0%, in 1990.
That places Zambia 69th out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65.0% | — |
| 1999 | 68.0% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 69.2% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 83.1% | +20.2% |
| 2018 | 71.1% | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 81.8% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 79.9% | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 71.8% | -10.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 71.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 92% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 71.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.9%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.5% | 65.0% | 68.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 69.2% | 69.2% | 69.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 77.1% | 71.1% | 83.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 78.4% | 71.8% | 81.8% | 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 literacy rates among adults in Zambia?
- Literacy rates among adults in Zambia was 71.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 83.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.0% in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Zambia ranks 69th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.