Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia
Zambia: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 136,539 children in 2024. ▼ Falling
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia, 1986–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 2024, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia stood at 136,539 children. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 49.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia peaked at 653,063 children in 2001 and was at its lowest, 136,539 children, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 47th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 250,895 children | — |
| 1988 | 280,407 children | +11.8% |
| 1994 | 424,207 children | +51.3% |
| 1995 | 472,672 children | +11.4% |
| 1998 | 569,412 children | +20.5% |
| 1999 | 612,379 children | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 631,488 children | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 653,063 children | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 608,632 children | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 359,221 children | -41.0% |
| 2005 | 177,787 children | -50.5% |
| 2006 | 226,714 children | +27.5% |
| 2007 | 171,316 children | -24.4% |
| 2008 | 158,908 children | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 234,997 children | +47.9% |
| 2010 | 308,248 children | +31.2% |
| 2011 | 208,858 children | -32.2% |
| 2012 | 173,742 children | -16.8% |
| 2013 | 271,401 children | +56.2% |
| 2017 | 493,015 children | +81.7% |
| 2024 | 136,539 children | -72.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 136,539 children is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 79,507 children, 1.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 136,539 children is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 235,313 children, 58% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 265,651 children | 250,895 children | 280,407 children | 2 |
| 1990s | 519,668 children | 424,207 children | 612,379 children | 4 |
| 2000s | 358,014 children | 158,908 children | 653,063 children | 9 |
| 2010s | 291,053 children | 173,742 children | 493,015 children | 5 |
| 2020s | 136,539 children | 136,539 children | 136,539 children | 1 |
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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Zambia was 136,539 children in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 653,063 children in 2001.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 136,539 children in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Zambia ranks 47th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.