Zambia Primary Enrollment
School enrollment, primary (% gross) SE.PRM.ENRR
Zambia's primary enrollment was 114.37% in 2025, ranked 21st globally. This represents a 1.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Zambia's primary enrollment stood at 114.37% in 2025, a decline of +1.19pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 114.37% by 2025. Zambia ranked 21st globally.
Zambia’s primary school enrollment rate has risen markedly since the earliest World Bank observation in 1970, when 85.70 % of children of official primary‑age were enrolled, to 114.37 % in 2025, placing the country 21st globally. The upward trajectory accelerated after the early‑2000s trough of 80.17 % in 2001, reaching an all‑time peak of 117.09 % in 2008, a level that remains above the current figure despite modest recent declines. Relative to its peers, Zambia’s 2025 enrollment is slightly below Peru’s 117.58 % and Cameroon’s 116.94 %, yet it exceeds Bhutan’s 114.23 % and Togo’s 113.87 %, underscoring a competitive position within the sub‑Saharan and broader developing‑country context. The sustained high enrollment reflects expanded universal primary education policies and increased public investment, although the slight dip from the 2008 peak suggests emerging constraints such as resource allocation and demographic pressures. Continued fiscal commitment and targeted interventions to improve school‑age population coverage could restore the upward momentum and push the rate beyond the 2025 level.
Data & projection
| Year | Primary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 116.80% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 115.58% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 114.37% | - | - |
| 2025 | 114.37% | −1.19pp | #21 |
| 2024 | 115.55% | +16.76pp | #11 |
| 2017 | 98.80% | −0.78pp | #106 |
| 2016 | 99.57% | −3.84pp | #105 |
| 2015 | 103.41% | −3.66pp | #67 |
| 2014 | 107.07% | +1.18pp | #49 |
| 2013 | 105.89% | −5.73pp | #57 |
| 2012 | 111.62% | +0.22pp | #35 |
| 2011 | 111.40% | +1.53pp | #35 |
| 2010 | 109.87% | −1.06pp | #48 |
| 2009 | 110.93% | −6.15pp | #46 |
| 2008 | 117.09% | +1.25pp | #20 |
| 2007 | 115.84% | +1.12pp | #23 |
| 2006 | 114.72% | +1.17pp | #18 |
| 2005 | 113.56% | +11.30pp | #27 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw primary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zambia's primary enrollment was 114.37% in 2025. Ranked 21st globally. This represents a 1.0% decrease from the previous year.
Zambia's primary enrollment peaked at 117.09% in 2008.
The lowest primary enrollment in Zambia was 80.17% in 2001.
Zambia ranks 21st globally in primary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.PRM.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zambia's primary enrollment is projected to reach 114.37% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The primary enrollment of Zambia in 2025 was 114.37%. This ranks 21st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zambia_primary-enrollment,
title = {Zambia Primary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/primary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}