Average years of schooling among adults in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Average years of schooling among adults was 8.93 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Zimbabwe, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 8.93 years for average years of schooling among adults in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Zimbabwe peaked at 8.93 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.03 years, in 1990.
That places Zimbabwe 114th 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.
Average years of schooling among adults in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.03 years | — |
| 1991 | 5.17 years | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 5.32 years | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 5.47 years | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 5.63 years | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 5.78 years | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 5.93 years | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 6.08 years | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 6.24 years | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 6.39 years | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 6.54 years | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 6.7 years | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 6.85 years | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 6.95 years | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 7.05 years | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 7.16 years | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 7.26 years | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 7.36 years | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 7.46 years | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 7.56 years | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 7.67 years | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 7.77 years | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 7.87 years | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 7.99 years | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 8.11 years | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 8.39 years | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 8.42 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 8.46 years | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 8.57 years | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 8.69 years | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 8.81 years | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 8.93 years | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 8.93 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.93 years | +0.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 8.93 years is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.79 years, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 8.93 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.7 years | 5.03 years | 6.39 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.09 years | 6.54 years | 7.56 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.19 years | 7.67 years | 8.69 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.9 years | 8.81 years | 8.93 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More education data for Zimbabwe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2013)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,514 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 328,055 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,698 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 957,461 (2013)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.4866 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1767 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Zimbabwe?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Zimbabwe was 8.93 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 8.93 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.03 years in 1990.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Zimbabwe ranks 114th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.