6 answers, 1 from Zambia's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
71.8% of adults in Zambia could read and write in 2024, according to the World Bank, based on UNESCO data for people aged 15 and over.
Literacy rates are usually estimated from household surveys or censuses that ask whether people can read and write, rather than testing them. For secondary schooling, the World Bank gives a gross enrolment rate of 56.8% in 2024, which compares all secondary pupils with the population of official secondary-school age.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 83.2%. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 85.4%, and Zambia placed 17th highest of 28. World rank, highest first: 114th of 134.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Zambia was 56.8% in 2024. It is 7th highest of 11 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 65.3%. Of 100 countries with 2024 data, 91st highest.
71.8%: that is the adult literacy rate in Zambia for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2010 was 2010, at 83.1%; its low point was 2018, at 71.1%. It is 5th highest of 7 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 77.0%.
4.1% of GDP: that is government spending on education in Zambia for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.1% of GDP (2008) to 5.2% of GDP (2014). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 3.3% of GDP, and Zambia placed 15th highest of 35. Worldwide: 49th of 112.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 42. Since 2005 it has ranged from 41 (2014) to 57 (2006). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 39, and Zambia placed 9th highest of 27. Of 130 countries with 2017 data, 11th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error