Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Zambia
Zambia: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) was 2 years in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
205th
of 221 countries
All-time high
3 years
in 1970
All-time low
2 years
in 1985
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Zambia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2025, theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Zambia stood at 2 years. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Zambia peaked at 3 years in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2 years, in 1985.
Zambia ranks 205th of 221 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3 years | — |
| 1971 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2 years | -33.3% |
| 1986 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2 years | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3 years, 67% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3 years, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5 years | 2 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 205 Aruba 2 years compare
- 205 Belgium 2 years compare
- 205 Bolivia 2 years compare
- 205 Brunei 2 years compare
- 205 Chile 2 years compare
- 205 Democratic Republic of Congo 2 years compare
- 205 Micronesia (country) 2 years compare
- 205 Kenya 2 years compare
- 205 Marshall Islands 2 years compare
- 205 Palau 2 years compare
- 205 Singapore 2 years compare
- 205 South Sudan 2 years compare
- 205 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 2 years compare
- 205 Samoa 2 years compare
- 205 South Africa 2 years compare
- 205 Zimbabwe 2 years compare
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 theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Zambia?
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Zambia was 2 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3 years in 1970.
- What is the lowest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 years in 1985.
- How does Zambia rank for theoretical duration of lower secondary education?
- Zambia ranks 205th out of 221 countries with data for 2025.
- Is theoretical duration of lower secondary education rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release