Zambia Literacy Rate
Adult literacy rate SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
Zambia's literacy rate was 86.88% in 2025, ranked 39th globally. This represents a 5.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Zambia's literacy rate stood at 86.88% in 2025, a rise of +4.84pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 86.88% by 2025. Zambia ranked 39th globally.
Zambia’s adult literacy rate has risen markedly from 65.00 % in 1990 to 86.88 % in 2025, the highest level recorded in the series and placing the country 39th worldwide. The 21.88‑percentage‑point increase reflects sustained expansion of primary education, government‑led literacy campaigns, and greater access to secondary schooling during the past three decades. By contrast, neighbouring Namibia records a slightly higher rate of 88.96 %, while Tunisia’s 86.71 % and Honduras’s 87.97 % illustrate that Zambia now competes with nations that have benefited from longer histories of universal primary enrollment. The 1990 trough coincided with economic hardships and limited school infrastructure, whereas the 2025 peak aligns with intensified public‑private partnerships and the integration of digital learning tools. Continued investment in teacher training, rural school construction, and adult‑education programmes will be crucial to maintain upward momentum, as any slowdown in funding could stall or reverse the gains achieved since the early 1990s.
Data & projection
| Year | Literacy Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 88.77% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 86.88% | - | - |
| 2025 | 86.88% | +4.84pp | #39 |
| 2023 | 82.04% | +2.07pp | #26 |
| 2022 | 79.98% | +0.03pp | #30 |
| 2021 | 79.95% | −1.81pp | #29 |
| 2020 | 81.76% | +10.63pp | #33 |
| 2018 | 71.13% | −12.01pp | #40 |
| 2010 | 83.14% | +13.99pp | #34 |
| 2002 | 69.15% | +1.15pp | #14 |
| 1999 | 68.00% | +3.00pp | #9 |
| 1990 | 65.00% | – | #14 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw literacy rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zambia's literacy rate was 86.88% in 2025. Ranked 39th globally. This represents a 5.9% increase from the previous year.
Zambia's literacy rate peaked at 86.88% in 2025.
The lowest literacy rate in Zambia was 65.00% in 1990.
Zambia ranks 39th globally in literacy rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zambia's literacy rate is projected to reach 86.88% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The literacy rate of Zambia in 2025 was 86.88%. This ranks 39th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zambia_literacy-rate,
title = {Zambia Literacy Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/literacy-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}