Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Zambia
Zambia: Pupil-teacher ratio, primary was 42.06 in 2017. ▬ Flat
Latest (2017)
42.06
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
17th
of 199 countries
All-time high
57.01
in 2006
All-time low
38.19
in 1996
Years of data
40
1970–2017
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Zambia, 1970–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Zambia recorded 42.06 for pupil-teacher ratio, primary in 2017.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Zambia peaked at 57.01 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 38.19, in 1996.
Zambia ranks 17th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 46.77 | — |
| 1971 | 49.62 | +6.1% |
| 1972 | 47.17 | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 47.89 | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 47.99 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 48.21 | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 47.56 | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 48.19 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 48.54 | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 44.35 | -8.6% |
| 1980 | 48.56 | +9.5% |
| 1981 | 48.22 | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 47.87 | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 46.51 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 46.78 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 49.39 | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 45.63 | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 45.56 | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 44.09 | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 44.01 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 41.08 | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 39.1 | -4.8% |
| 1996 | 38.19 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 44.01 | +15.2% |
| 1999 | 51.23 | +16.4% |
| 2000 | 49.88 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 48.02 | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 48.09 | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 53.55 | +11.4% |
| 2005 | 56.48 | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 57.01 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 55.35 | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 54.18 | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 52.99 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 55.86 | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 49.22 | -11.9% |
| 2014 | 41.05 | -16.6% |
| 2015 | 42.74 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 43.32 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 42.06 | -2.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 42.06 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 30.05, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 42.06 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.98, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.63 | 44.35 | 49.62 | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.96 | 44.09 | 49.39 | 9 |
| 1990s | 42.94 | 38.19 | 51.23 | 6 |
| 2000s | 52.82 | 48.02 | 57.01 | 8 |
| 2010s | 46.75 | 41.05 | 55.86 | 7 |
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 pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Zambia?
- Pupil-teacher ratio, primary in Zambia was 42.06 in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.01 in 2006.
- What is the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, primary recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.19 in 1996.
- How does Zambia rank for pupil-teacher ratio, primary?
- Zambia ranks 17th out of 199 countries with data for 2017.
- Is pupil-teacher ratio, primary rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Pupil-teacher ratio, primary. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary school pupil-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher in primary school.