Primary education, pupils in Zambia
Zambia: Primary education, pupils was 4.49 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Zambia recorded 4.49 million for primary education, pupils in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Zambia peaked at 4.49 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 694,670, in 1970.
Zambia ranks 38th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 694,670 | — |
| 1971 | 729,801 | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 777,873 | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 810,234 | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 858,191 | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 872,392 | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 907,867 | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 936,817 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 964,475 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 996,597 | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 1.04 million | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 1.07 million | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.12 million | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 1.20 million | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 1.27 million | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 1.35 million | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 1.38 million | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 1.39 million | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 1.43 million | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 1.45 million | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 1.46 million | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 1.51 million | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 1.51 million | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 1.51 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.52 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 1.56 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 1.56 million | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 1.59 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 1.63 million | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 1.73 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 2.25 million | +30.0% |
| 2005 | 2.57 million | +14.3% |
| 2006 | 2.68 million | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 2.79 million | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 2.91 million | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 2.84 million | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 2.90 million | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 3.03 million | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 3.14 million | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 3.08 million | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 3.22 million | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 3.22 million | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 3.20 million | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 3.28 million | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 4.49 million | +36.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.49 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 2.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.49 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +36.7% | 3.28 million | 4.49 million |
| 2004 | +30.0% | 1.73 million | 2.25 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 854,892 | 694,670 | 996,597 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.27 million | 1.04 million | 1.45 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 million | 1.46 million | 1.56 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 2.33 million | 1.59 million | 2.91 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.13 million | 2.90 million | 3.28 million | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.49 million | 4.49 million | 4.49 million | 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 education, pupils in Zambia?
- Primary education, pupils in Zambia was 4.49 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.49 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 694,670 in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for primary education, pupils?
- Zambia ranks 38th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.