School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) was 3.19 years in 2013. ◆ Volatile
School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Zimbabwe, 1970–2013
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Zimbabwe is 3.19 years, measured in 2013.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Zimbabwe peaked at 3.19 years in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.4225 years, in 1970.
That places Zimbabwe 182nd out of 214 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.4225 years | — |
| 1971 | 0.4421 years | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 0.4828 years | +9.2% |
| 1973 | 0.4998 years | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 0.5064 years | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 0.5264 years | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 0.5339 years | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 0.5427 years | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 0.5347 years | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 0.5074 years | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 0.5366 years | +5.8% |
| 1981 | 0.9116 years | +69.9% |
| 1982 | 1.33 years | +45.8% |
| 1983 | 1.76 years | +32.1% |
| 1984 | 2.22 years | +26.5% |
| 1985 | 2.47 years | +11.3% |
| 1986 | 2.66 years | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 2.78 years | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 2.86 years | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 2.87 years | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 2.71 years | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 2.79 years | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 2.47 years | -11.3% |
| 1993 | 2.32 years | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 2.33 years | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 2.41 years | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 2.43 years | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 2.49 years | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 2.42 years | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 2.41 years | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 2.51 years | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 2.48 years | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 2.36 years | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 2.83 years | +19.9% |
| 2012 | 3.19 years | +12.8% |
| 2013 | 3.19 years | -0.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 3.19 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.2 years, 76% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 3.19 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.05 years, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) in Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +69.9% | 0.5366 years | 0.9116 years |
| 1982 | +45.8% | 0.9116 years | 1.33 years |
| 1983 | +32.1% | 1.33 years | 1.76 years |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.4999 years | 0.4225 years | 0.5427 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.04 years | 0.5366 years | 2.87 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.49 years | 2.32 years | 2.79 years | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.52 years | 2.36 years | 2.83 years | 5 |
| 2010s | 3.19 years | 3.19 years | 3.19 years | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More education data for Zimbabwe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2013)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,514 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 328,055 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,698 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 957,461 (2013)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.4866 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1767 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Zimbabwe?
- School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Zimbabwe was 3.19 years in 2013, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 3.19 years in 2012.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4225 years in 1970.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes?
- Zimbabwe ranks 182nd out of 214 countries with data for 2013.
- Is school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release