Share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia
Zambia: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 44.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia is 44.1%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia peaked at 44.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 1980.
That places Zambia 106th out of 135 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 13.2% | — |
| 1990 | 21.7% | +64.3% |
| 2015 | 40.3% | +85.6% |
| 2018 | 37.7% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 44.1% | +17.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.2% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 21.7% | 21.7% | 21.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.0% | 37.7% | 40.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 44.1% | 44.1% | 44.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 103 El Salvador 49.2% compare
- 104 Bangladesh 48.6% compare
- 105 Saint Lucia 46.8% compare
- 107 Myanmar 42.6% compare
- 108 Tunisia 42.1% compare
- 109 Pakistan 38.4% compare
More education data for Zambia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 7.67 % change on previous year (1988)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 116,859 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 5.61 % change on previous year (2017)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 723,878 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 663,308 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 651,791 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 56,680 (2012)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.65 % change on previous year (2012)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 69,123 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Zambia was 44.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 1980.
- How does Zambia rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Zambia ranks 106th out of 135 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.3%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.