Adult literacy rate in Zambia
71.8% of adults in Zambia could read and write in 2024.
Zambia, 2024
71.8%
Change from 2022
−8.2percentage points
World, 2024
87.7%
Adult literacy rate in Zambia over time
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Zambia
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of people aged 15 and above. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Zambia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.8% | 87.7% |
| 2023 | – | 87.6% |
| 2022 | 80.0% | 87.4% |
| 2021 | 79.9% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 81.8% | 87.0% |
| 2019 | – | 86.8% |
| 2018 | 71.1% | 86.8% |
| 2017 | – | 86.5% |
| 2016 | – | 86.3% |
| 2015 | – | 86.0% |
| 2014 | – | 85.6% |
| 2013 | – | 85.2% |
| 2012 | – | 84.9% |
| 2011 | – | 84.7% |
| 2010 | 83.1% | 84.4% |
| 2009 | – | 83.8% |
| 2008 | – | 83.5% |
| 2007 | – | 83.1% |
| 2006 | – | 82.5% |
| 2005 | – | 82.6% |
| 2004 | – | 82.6% |
| 2003 | – | 82.2% |
| 2002 | 69.2% | 81.7% |
| 2001 | – | 81.4% |
| 2000 | – | 81.1% |
A dash means no value was published for that period.
In short
- The previous available figure was 80.0% in 2022, a change of −8.2 percentage points.
- Since 1990, when it was 65.0%, the figure has changed by +6.8 percentage points.
- The figure for the world in 2024 was 87.7%.
More for Zambia
All statistics for Zambia
Primary school enrolment (gross)
115.6%
2024 · World Bank
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
29.1%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Primary completion (UIS)
74.3%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Lower secondary completion
53.0%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Upper secondary completion
29.1%
2024 · UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school children
3.5%
2024 · UNESCO UIS