Zambia: Literacy rate

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Zambia

Literacy rate

 Latest value 87.50
 Year 2020
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1990 - 2020
 Average 72.30
 Min - Max 61.13 - 87.50
 Source UNESCO
The latest value from 2020 is 87.5 percent, an increase from 83.01 percent in 2010. In comparison, the world average is 87.55 percent, based on data from 27 countries. Historically, the average for Zambia from 1990 to 2020 is 72.3 percent. The minimum value, 61.13 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 87.5 percent was recorded in 2020. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
Zambia - Literacy rate - Recent values chart




Definition: Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Education spending, percent of GDP 3.58 2022 percent
 Education spending, percent of government spending 10.45 2022 percent
 Literacy rate 87.50 2020 percent
 Female literacy rate, ages 15-24 92.80 2020 percent
 Male literacy rate, ages 15-24 93.50 2020 percent
 Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24 93.20 2020 percent
 Student teacher ratio, primary school 42.06 2017 students per teacher
 Primary school completion rate 82.61 2013 percent
 School starting age, primary school 7 2022 years
 Female to male ratio, primary school pupils 1.02 2017 percent
 Female to male ratio, secondary school students 0.60 1988 percent
 Female to male ratio, students at tertiary level education 0.75 2012 percent
 Preprimary school enrollment 8.70 2017 percent
 Primary school enrollment 94.78 2020 percent
 Secondary school enrollment 20.58 1994 percent
 Tertiary school enrollment 3.98 2012 percent
 Trained teachers in primary education 98.75 2017 percent
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