School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes was 539,283 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
539,283
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
53rd
of 222 countries
All-time high
539,283
in 2025
All-time low
102,835
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia is 539,283, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 539,283 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 102,835, in 1970.
Zambia ranks 53rd of 222 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 102,835 | — |
| 1971 | 106,296 | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 110,033 | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 114,044 | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 118,230 | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 122,369 | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 126,572 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 131,244 | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 135,595 | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 140,414 | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 145,285 | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 150,567 | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 156,479 | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 162,280 | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 169,147 | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 175,111 | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 181,470 | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 187,814 | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 193,774 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 201,131 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 205,604 | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 210,496 | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 214,311 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 218,047 | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 221,062 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 226,349 | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 232,650 | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 239,406 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 245,844 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 253,161 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 259,778 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 266,144 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 272,444 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 279,955 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 286,992 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 294,489 | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 301,337 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 311,042 | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 321,605 | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 332,214 | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 342,167 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 352,166 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 364,033 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 375,614 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 387,016 | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 397,306 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 409,917 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 423,598 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 441,435 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 459,402 | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 476,950 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 491,161 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 504,775 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 517,562 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 529,343 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 539,283 | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 120,763 | 102,835 | 140,414 | 10 |
| 1980s | 172,306 | 145,285 | 201,131 | 10 |
| 1990s | 226,693 | 205,604 | 253,161 | 10 |
| 2000s | 292,600 | 259,778 | 332,214 | 10 |
| 2010s | 395,265 | 342,167 | 459,402 | 10 |
| 2020s | 509,846 | 476,950 | 539,283 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 50 Peru 554,340 compare
- 51 Saudi Arabia 548,525 compare
- 52 Chad 546,625 compare
- 54 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 536,888 compare
- 55 Italy 517,826 compare
- 56 Syrian Arab Republic 513,208 compare
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 school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 539,283 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 539,283 in 2025.
- What is the lowest school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 102,835 in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 53rd out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.7%. 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 School age population, last grade of primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release