Average years of schooling in Zambia
Zambia: Average years of schooling was 7.19 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Zambia, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2020, average years of schooling in Zambia stood at 7.19 years. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Zambia peaked at 7.19 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
Zambia ranks 112th of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Zambia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.3343 years | +234.3% |
| 1925 | 0.8021 years | +139.9% |
| 1929 | 1.12 years | +39.4% |
| 1933 | 1.39 years | +24.7% |
| 1938 | 1.6 years | +14.8% |
| 1950 | 2.55 years | +59.4% |
| 1955 | 2.67 years | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 2.93 years | +9.9% |
| 1965 | 3.26 years | +11.4% |
| 1970 | 3.73 years | +14.1% |
| 1975 | 4.35 years | +16.8% |
| 1980 | 4.8 years | +10.3% |
| 1985 | 5.07 years | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 5.17 years | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 6.04 years | +17.0% |
| 2000 | 5.94 years | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 6.02 years | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 6.7 years | +11.3% |
| 2015 | 6.9 years | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 7.19 years | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.3343 years | 0.3343 years | 0.3343 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.9601 years | 0.8021 years | 1.12 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.5 years | 1.39 years | 1.6 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.61 years | 2.55 years | 2.67 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.1 years | 2.93 years | 3.26 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.04 years | 3.73 years | 4.35 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.94 years | 4.8 years | 5.07 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.61 years | 5.17 years | 6.04 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.98 years | 5.94 years | 6.02 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.8 years | 6.7 years | 6.9 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 7.19 years | 7.19 years | 7.19 years | 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 average years of schooling in Zambia?
- Average years of schooling in Zambia was 7.19 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.19 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Zambia rank for average years of schooling?
- Zambia ranks 112th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.