Years of schooling in Zambia
Zambia: Years of schooling was 7.4 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
7.4
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
136th
of 192 countries
All-time high
7.4
in 2021
All-time low
4.48
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Years of schooling in Zambia, 1990–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, years of schooling in Zambia stood at 7.4. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, years of schooling in Zambia peaked at 7.4 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.48, in 1990.
That places Zambia 136th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Years of schooling in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.48 | — |
| 1991 | 4.57 | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 4.66 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 4.75 | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 4.84 | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 4.94 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 5.03 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 5.12 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 5.21 | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 5.3 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 5.39 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 5.48 | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 5.57 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 5.66 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.75 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.85 | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 5.94 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 6.03 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 6.12 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 6.21 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 6.3 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 6.39 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 6.48 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 6.57 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 6.67 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 6.76 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 6.85 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 6.94 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 7.03 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 7.16 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 7.28 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 7.4 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 7.4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7.4 | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 7.4 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.79, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 7.4 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.89 | 4.48 | 5.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.8 | 5.39 | 6.21 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.71 | 6.3 | 7.16 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.37 | 7.28 | 7.4 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 133 Honduras 7.51 compare
- 134 Algeria 7.42 compare
- 135 Maldives 7.41 compare
- 137 Democratic Republic of Congo 7.38 compare
- 138 Micronesia (country) 7.33 compare
- 139 El Salvador 7.3 compare
More education data for Zambia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 86.21 (2017)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.49 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is years of schooling in Zambia?
- Years of schooling in Zambia was 7.4 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest years of schooling recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4 in 2021.
- What is the lowest years of schooling recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.48 in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for years of schooling?
- Zambia ranks 136th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is years of schooling rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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