Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia
Zambia: Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes was 55.5% in 2012. ▼ Falling
Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1972–2012
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia is 55.5%, measured in 2012.
That represents a change of down 20.6% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 82.6% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 53.1%, in 2008.
Zambia ranks 164th of 180 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 67.1% | — |
| 1974 | 66.7% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 74.7% | +12.1% |
| 1977 | 74.2% | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 78.7% | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 80.0% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 63.6% | -20.5% |
| 1999 | 66.3% | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 82.6% | +24.5% |
| 2005 | 75.0% | -9.2% |
| 2006 | 74.2% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 77.7% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 53.1% | -31.6% |
| 2009 | 69.9% | +31.6% |
| 2012 | 55.5% | -20.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 55.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 76.0%, 73% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 55.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 65.9%, 84% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 70.7% | 66.7% | 74.7% | 4 |
| 1980s | 79.4% | 78.7% | 80.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 65.0% | 63.6% | 66.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 72.1% | 53.1% | 82.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 55.5% | 55.5% | 55.5% | 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 the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 55.5% in 2012, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 82.6% in 2001.
- What is the lowest survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.1% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 164th out of 180 countries with data for 2012.
- Is survival rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. 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 the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release