Cross country literacy rates in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Cross country literacy rates was 37.27 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
37.27
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
125th
of 128 countries
All-time high
37.27
in 2021
All-time low
3
in 1950
Years of data
6
1950–2021
Cross country literacy rates in Afghanistan, 1950–2021
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 37.27 for cross country literacy rates in 2021. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cross country literacy rates in Afghanistan peaked at 37.27 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3, in 1950.
Afghanistan ranks 125th of 128 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Cross country literacy rates in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3 | — |
| 1979 | 18.16 | +505.3% |
| 2011 | 31.45 | +73.2% |
| 2015 | 33.75 | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 36.02 | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 37.27 | +3.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 37.27 is below the median for low income countries, which is 61.06, 61% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 37.27 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 93.31, 40% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1970s | 18.16 | 18.16 | 18.16 | 1 |
| 2010s | 32.6 | 31.45 | 33.75 | 2 |
| 2020s | 36.64 | 36.02 | 37.27 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
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 cross country literacy rates in Afghanistan?
- Cross country literacy rates in Afghanistan was 37.27 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cross country literacy rates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 37.27 in 2021.
- What is the lowest cross country literacy rates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for cross country literacy rates?
- Afghanistan ranks 125th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
- Is cross country literacy rates rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cross country literacy rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).