Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 3.94 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia, 1998–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia is 3.94 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 3.94 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.88 million, in 1998.
Zambia ranks 59th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1.88 million | — |
| 1999 | 1.93 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 1.98 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 2.03 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 2.08 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 2.14 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 2.20 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 2.27 million | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.33 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 2.41 million | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 2.48 million | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 2.56 million | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 2.64 million | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 2.72 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 2.81 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 2.90 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 3.01 million | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 3.11 million | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 3.22 million | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 3.32 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 3.43 million | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 3.53 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 3.62 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 3.69 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 3.76 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 3.83 million | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 3.88 million | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 3.94 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.91 million | 1.88 million | 1.93 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.25 million | 1.98 million | 2.56 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.07 million | 2.64 million | 3.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.79 million | 3.62 million | 3.94 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 56 Syria 4.26 million compare
- 57 Madagascar 4.07 million compare
- 58 North Korea 3.96 million compare
- 60 South Korea 3.87 million compare
- 61 Sri Lanka 3.81 million compare
- 62 Australia 3.64 million compare
More education data for Zambia
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.1079 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 2.41 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.1027 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 7.67 % change on previous year (1988)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 116,859 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 5.61 % change on previous year (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Zambia was 3.94 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.94 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.88 million in 1998.
- How does Zambia rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 59th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. 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, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release