Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia
Zambia: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 17.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
17.9%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
33rd
of 110 countries
All-time high
19.2%
in 2015
All-time low
16.5%
in 2018
Years of data
8
2015–2023
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia, 2015–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia stood at 17.9%.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia peaked at 19.2% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 16.5%, in 2018.
That places Zambia 33rd out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 19.2% | — |
| 2017 | 17.5% | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 17.5% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 16.9% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 18.3% | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 17.9% | -1.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 17.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.9%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 17.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.7% | 16.5% | 19.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 16.9% | 18.3% | 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 participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia was 17.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.2% in 2015.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.5% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Zambia ranks 33rd out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-64 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release