Share of children out of school — all countries

Share of children out of school — Zambia

Share of children out of school in Zambia in 2024 — 3.51%. Ranked 58 in the world out of 120. Since 1972, the indicator has fallen by 19.43 pp.

2024 3.51% −11.31 pp vs 2017
World rank 58of 120
Period maximum 32.21%2001
Period minimum 3.51%2024

Trend over time

1972–2024 · % of primary school-age children

Share of children out of school — Zambia, 1972–202401020304019721978198419901996200220082014202020241972: 22.95%1976: 20.78%1977: 20.97%1978: 22.15%1979: 22.62%1980: 22.61%1981: 22.41%1982: 22.3%1983: 20.62%1984: 19.44%1986: 17.77%1988: 18.89%1994: 24.95%1995: 27.08%1998: 30.23%1999: 31.71%2000: 31.93%2001: 32.21%2002: 29.23%2004: 16.32%2005: 7.85%2006: 9.71%2007: 7.11%2008: 6.4%2009: 9.18%2010: 11.68%2011: 7.68%2012: 6.19%2013: 9.35%2017: 14.83%2024: 3.51%
Change over the period: −19.43 pp Annual average: -0.37 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Zambia

Zambia 3.51%
Share of children out of school — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 3.51 —
2017 14.83 —
2013 9.35 +3.16 pp
2012 6.19 −1.49 pp
2011 7.68 −4 pp
2010 11.68 +2.5 pp
2009 9.18 +2.78 pp
2008 6.4 −0.72 pp
2007 7.11 −2.6 pp
2006 9.71 +1.86 pp
2005 7.85 −8.47 pp
2004 16.32 —
2002 29.23 −2.98 pp
2001 32.21 +0.28 pp
2000 31.93 +0.22 pp
1999 31.71 +1.48 pp
1998 30.23 —
1995 27.08 +2.14 pp
1994 24.95 —
1988 18.89 —
1986 17.77 —
1984 19.44 −1.17 pp
1983 20.62 −1.68 pp
1982 22.3 −0.11 pp
1981 22.41 −0.2 pp
1980 22.61 −0.02 pp
1979 22.62 +0.47 pp
1978 22.15 +1.18 pp
1977 20.97 +0.2 pp
1976 20.78 —
1972 22.95 —

About the indicator

The share of children of primary school age not attending school. Unlike the absolute count, the indicator speaks to the state of the education system in a country, and it shows that the task does not reduce to poverty: at comparable income the shares differ severalfold, and the highest values come from countries where schooling is obstructed by conflict or by a nomadic way of life.

Important: The aggregate is weighted by the number of children aged 0–14: total population is the wrong weight here — the share of children differs fourfold across countries.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.