Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ was 21.0% in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)
21.0%
Change on year
up 37.9%
World rank
134th
of 136 countries
All-time high
24.3%
in 2017
All-time low
4.5%
in 1979
Years of data
8
1975–2022

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan, 1975–2022

5101520251975199820221975: 6.7 cumulative1979: 4.5 cumulative2014: 13.7 cumulative2015: 19.6 cumulative2017: 24.3 cumulative2020: 19 cumulative2021: 15.2 cumulative2022: 21 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

In 2022, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan stood at 21.0%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.9% on the previous year and up 53.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan peaked at 24.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 1979.

That places Afghanistan 134th out of 136 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, total (%) (cumulative) in Afghanistan, 1975 to 2022.
Year cumulative Change
1975 6.7%
1979 4.5% -33.1%
2014 13.7% +205.3%
2015 19.6% +43.2%
2017 24.3% +23.9%
2020 19.0% -21.6%
2021 15.2% -19.9%
2022 21.0% +37.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5.6% 4.5% 6.7% 2
2010s 19.2% 13.7% 24.3% 3
2020s 18.4% 15.2% 21.0% 3

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 131 Senegal 25.8% compare
  2. 132 Benin 22.6% compare
  3. 133 Burkina Faso 21.3% compare
  4. 135 Niger 17.5% compare
  5. 136 Mali 14.5% compare

See the full ranking of 136 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan?
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan was 21.0% in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 24.3% in 2017.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 1979.
How does Afghanistan rank for educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+?
Afghanistan ranks 134th out of 136 countries with data for 2022.
Is educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 53.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-primary-population-25-years-total-percent/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed primary, population 25+ years, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
136 places, 2,259 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed primary education.