Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Zambia
Zambia: Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) was 116,859 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for teachers in primary education, both sexes in Zambia is 116,859, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 49.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, teachers in primary education, both sexes in Zambia peaked at 116,859 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14,708, in 1971.
That places Zambia 52nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14,852 | — |
| 1971 | 14,708 | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 16,491 | +12.1% |
| 1973 | 16,920 | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 17,881 | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 18,096 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 19,089 | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 19,441 | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 19,868 | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 22,470 | +13.1% |
| 1980 | 21,455 | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 22,258 | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 23,431 | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 25,697 | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 27,080 | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 27,302 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 30,189 | +10.6% |
| 1987 | 30,534 | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 32,348 | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 33,200 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 36,697 | +10.5% |
| 1995 | 38,528 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 39,716 | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 35,386 | -10.9% |
| 1999 | 30,369 | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 31,870 | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 33,850 | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 36,008 | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 42,043 | +16.8% |
| 2005 | 45,554 | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 46,988 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 50,409 | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 53,703 | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 54,716 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 54,243 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 63,697 | +17.4% |
| 2013 | 64,139 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 78,395 | +22.2% |
| 2015 | 75,236 | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 73,949 | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 78,099 | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 116,859 | +49.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 116,859 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 46,016, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 116,859 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 50,688, 2.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number) in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +49.6% | 78,099 | 116,859 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17,982 | 14,708 | 22,470 | 10 |
| 1980s | 26,699 | 21,455 | 32,348 | 9 |
| 1990s | 35,649 | 30,369 | 39,716 | 6 |
| 2000s | 42,553 | 31,870 | 53,703 | 8 |
| 2010s | 67,809 | 54,243 | 78,395 | 8 |
| 2020s | 116,859 | 116,859 | 116,859 | 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 teachers in primary education, both sexes in Zambia?
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes in Zambia was 116,859 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 116,859 in 2024.
- What is the lowest teachers in primary education, both sexes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,708 in 1971.
- How does Zambia rank for teachers in primary education, both sexes?
- Zambia ranks 52nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is teachers in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release