- In Zambia, women are less likely than men to have higher education at the secondary (39% vs. 49%) or post-secondary (6% vs. 12%) level. o Most Zambians (90%) say it is rare or unheard of for families to prioritise boys’ education over girls’, but 9% say this happens frequently. o One in five citizens (20%) say schoolgirls “often” or “always” face discrimination, harassment, and requests for sexual favours from their teachers.
- Among working-age adults, men are more likely than women to be employed full time or part time (30% vs. 17%). o According to both genders, the main barrier to women’s entry and advancement in the workplace is a lack of necessary education or skills, cited by about three in 10 respondents. o One in five citizens (20%) report that women are “often” or “always” prevented by their husbands or family members from taking on paid employment.
- Seven in 10 Zambians (71%) say women should have the same chance as men of being elected to public office. o This represents a decline of 5 percentage points in support for gender fairness in politics compared to 2022. o Support for gender fairness is somewhat stronger among women than men (73% vs. 68%) and far stronger among citizens with post-secondary education than among those without formal schooling (90% vs. 59%).
- One-fifth (19%) of adults say women “often” or “always” experience sexual harassment in public spaces such as in markets, on the street, or on public transport. o More than half (61%) say women and girls are likely to be believed if they complain of discrimination or harassment. o But about two-thirds (65%) say police and courts should do more to protect women and girls from such treatment.
Zambia has made important progress in pushing for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, including the enactment of the Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act (2011), the Gender Equity and Equality Act (2015), the Children’s Code Act (2022), and the Marriage Amendment Act (2023) barring all child marriages (Njekwa, 2025). The government’s legal, policy, and programme efforts to promote equal rights and opportunities are reflected in Zambia’s rise in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, from 92nd place to 79th (World Economic Council, 2025).
Yet despite these strides, Zambian women continue to face substantial disadvantages in many facets of life, from education and employment to politics and personal well-being (United Nations Population Fund, 2024; Republic of Zambia, 2023, 2024; Chibwili, 2023a; World Bank, 2023).
Unequal opportunities and lower pay continue to plague Zambian women in the labour force, as they are more likely than men to work in lower-paying sectors such as education and agriculture or to face outright discrimination from employers (Deka-Zulu, 2023). These disparities affect not only women’s personal financial stability but also their ability to contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Furthermore, sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV) are pervasive issues affecting women’s well-being and participation in education, employment, and politics (International Trade Union Confederation, 2016). Studies have shown that many girls perform worse academically or drop out of school due to early marriage, pregnancy, or GBV (Samakao & Manda, 2023; World Bank, 2023; Republic of Zambia, 2024). Although many Zambians consider tackling GBV a high priority, some still view domestic violence as a private matter (Chibwili, 2023b; Republic of Zambia, 2024). This cultural mind-set hinders efforts to address the issue and support survivors.
Women’s representation in politics is crucial for achieving gender equality. However, women remain underrepresented in decision-making positions: Only 15% of Zambian parliamentarians are women (World Economic Forum, 2025). Scholars have cited various obstacles to women’s political leadership, including patriarchal norms, institutional barriers, and financial constraints (Zambian Observer, 2024).
Afrobarometer offers a citizens’ perspective on the challenges women face and what should be done to empower women. This dispatch is based on a special Round 10 survey module on gender.
Findings reveal that Zambian women and girls continue to face discrimination and harassment in public places and that women trail men in various dimensions of life, both public and private.
Zambian women are less likely than men to have higher education and paying jobs. While most respondents say that families do not prioritise boys’ education over girls’, one-fifth report that husbands and relatives often prevent women from taking employment and that sexual harassment of women and girls in public spaces is common.
Six in 10 Zambians say women and girls are likely to be believed if they complain of discrimination or harassment, but about two-thirds think the police and courts need to do more to protect women and girls from such treatment.
And while a majority of citizens support women’s equal chance of being elected for public office, the share who champion this view has declined since Afrobarometer’s previous survey in 2022.
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