Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes was 82.3% in 2012. ▼ Falling
Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1971–2012
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 82.3% for survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in 2012.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 97.2% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 78.8%, in 2008.
Zambia ranks 145th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 95.2% | — |
| 1972 | 94.5% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 95.8% | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 90.4% | -5.7% |
| 1975 | 96.1% | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 96.9% | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 96.5% | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 97.2% | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 97.0% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 96.4% | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 94.8% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 85.9% | -9.4% |
| 1999 | 88.4% | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 95.8% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 90.4% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 90.8% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 91.9% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 78.8% | -14.2% |
| 2009 | 85.0% | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 82.3% | -3.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 82.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 87.6%, 94% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 82.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.3%, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 95.5% | 90.4% | 97.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 95.6% | 94.8% | 96.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 87.1% | 85.9% | 88.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 88.8% | 78.8% | 95.8% | 6 |
| 2010s | 82.3% | 82.3% | 82.3% | 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 survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 82.3% in 2012, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 97.2% in 1978.
- What is the lowest survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.8% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 145th out of 187 countries with data for 2012.
- Is survival rate to grade 4 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release