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 41.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia, 2015–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia is 41.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia peaked at 41.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34.9%, in 2017.
Zambia ranks 93rd of 110 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 38.2% | — |
| 2017 | 34.9% | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 35.7% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 36.5% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 36.9% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 37.2% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 40.8% | +9.8% |
| 2023 | 41.5% | +1.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 41.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 45.6%, 91% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 41.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.9%, 99% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 36.3% | 34.9% | 38.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 39.1% | 36.9% | 41.5% | 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 41.5% 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 41.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.9% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Zambia ranks 93rd 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 up 8.5%. 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, published as part of Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release