School enrollment, primary in Zambia
Zambia: School enrollment, primary was 115.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
School enrollment, primary in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary in Zambia is 115.6%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Zambia peaked at 117.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 80.2%, in 2001.
That places Zambia 21st out of 205 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
School enrollment, primary in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 85.7% | — |
| 1971 | 87.0% | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 89.6% | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 90.1% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 92.3% | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 90.6% | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 91.1% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 90.7% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 90.1% | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 89.7% | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 90.4% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 89.8% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 90.5% | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 93.0% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 95.3% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 98.3% | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 97.6% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 96.0% | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 96.1% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 95.3% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 94.3% | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 95.3% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 88.7% | -7.0% |
| 1995 | 86.3% | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 84.7% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 82.7% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 80.6% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 80.4% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 80.2% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 83.2% | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 102.3% | +23.0% |
| 2005 | 113.6% | +11.1% |
| 2006 | 114.7% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 115.8% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 117.1% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 110.9% | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 109.9% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 111.4% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 111.6% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 105.9% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 107.1% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 103.4% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 99.6% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 98.8% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 115.6% | +17.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 115.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 102.7%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 115.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 100.4%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 89.7% | 85.7% | 92.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 94.2% | 89.8% | 98.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 87.5% | 80.6% | 95.3% | 7 |
| 2000s | 102.0% | 80.2% | 117.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 106.0% | 98.8% | 111.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 115.6% | 115.6% | 115.6% | 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 school enrollment, primary in Zambia?
- School enrollment, primary in Zambia was 115.6% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 117.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.2% in 2001.
- How does Zambia rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Zambia ranks 21st out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.