Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes was 74.5% in 2012. ▲ Rising
Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1971–2012
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia is 74.5%, measured in 2012.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 92.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 71.0%, in 2008.
That places Zambia 132nd out of 165 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 73.3% | — |
| 1972 | 73.5% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 77.9% | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 72.1% | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 79.1% | +9.7% |
| 1976 | 80.2% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 80.1% | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 81.9% | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 84.6% | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 84.3% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 86.0% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 78.2% | -9.1% |
| 1999 | 80.6% | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 92.9% | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 87.6% | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 88.5% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 89.1% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 71.0% | -20.3% |
| 2009 | 79.7% | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 74.5% | -6.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 74.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 81.8%, 91% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 74.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 74.6%, 100% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 78.1% | 72.1% | 84.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 85.2% | 84.3% | 86.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.4% | 78.2% | 80.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 84.8% | 71.0% | 92.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 74.5% | 74.5% | 74.5% | 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 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 74.5% in 2012, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 92.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.0% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 132nd out of 165 countries with data for 2012.
- Is survival rate to grade 5 of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. 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 Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release