Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%) was 55.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
55.4%
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
153rd
of 165 countries
All-time high
55.4%
in 2025
All-time low
9.2%
in 1981
Years of data
45
1981–2025
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Afghanistan, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Afghanistan stood at 55.4%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Afghanistan peaked at 55.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 1981.
Afghanistan ranks 153rd of 165 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 9.2% | — |
| 1982 | 9.5% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 9.9% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 10.3% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 10.8% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 11.2% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 11.7% | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 12.2% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 12.8% | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 13.3% | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 13.8% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 14.4% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 16.0% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 16.4% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 16.8% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 17.8% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 18.6% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 20.7% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 22.2% | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 28.5% | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 30.9% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 33.4% | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 36.0% | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 38.7% | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 41.3% | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 43.5% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 45.3% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 47.6% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 48.3% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 49.4% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 49.9% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.6% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 51.5% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 52.3% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 53.4% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 54.4% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 55.4% | +1.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 55.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 57.7%, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 55.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 96.6%, 57% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.9% | 9.2% | 12.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 15.6% | 13.3% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.0% | 18.6% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.0% | 38.7% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.9% | 50.6% | 55.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 150 Burundi 60.5% compare
- 151 Pakistan 59.5% compare
- 152 Malawi 57.7% compare
- 154 Madagascar 54.0% compare
- 155 Mozambique 53.5% compare
- 156 Mauritania 51.8% compare
More education data for Afghanistan
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 15.63 (1993)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 31.23 (1993)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 88,020 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 343,942 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 13,837 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,383 (2003)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.51 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Afghanistan?
- Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) in Afghanistan was 55.4% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 55.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data)?
- Afghanistan ranks 153rd out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Completion rate, primary education, both sexes (modelled data) (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release