Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Pakistan

Pakistan: Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population was 71.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
71.1%
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
93rd
of 100 countries
All-time high
71.9%
in 2011
All-time low
40.5%
in 1981
Years of data
16
1981–2021

Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Pakistan, 1981–2021

0204060801981200120211981: 40.5 %2005: 58.2 %2006: 65.3 %2007: 61.4 %2008: 64.1 %2009: 64.4 %2010: 64.6 %2011: 71.9 %2012: 67.3 %2013: 67.9 %2014: 68.3 %2015: 68.4 %2016: 67.3 %2017: 69.6 %2019: 66.9 %2021: 71.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Pakistan recorded 71.1% for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in 2021.

The figure is up 6.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Pakistan peaked at 71.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 40.5%, in 1981.

That places Pakistan 93rd out of 100 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%) in Pakistan, 1981 to 2021.
Year % Change
1981 40.5%
2005 58.2% +43.7%
2006 65.3% +12.3%
2007 61.4% -6.1%
2008 64.1% +4.4%
2009 64.4% +0.5%
2010 64.6% +0.3%
2011 71.9% +11.3%
2012 67.3% -6.5%
2013 67.9% +0.9%
2014 68.3% +0.6%
2015 68.4% +0.2%
2016 67.3% -1.5%
2017 69.6% +3.4%
2019 66.9% -3.9%
2021 71.1% +6.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 40.5% 40.5% 40.5% 1
2000s 62.7% 58.2% 65.3% 5
2010s 68.0% 64.6% 71.9% 9
2020s 71.1% 71.1% 71.1% 1

Countries ranked near Pakistan

  1. 90 Bangladesh 80.7% compare
  2. 91 Togo 79.8% compare
  3. 92 Ethiopia 76.0% compare
  4. 94 Bhutan 66.7% compare
  5. 95 Nepal 63.5% compare
  6. 96 Burkina Faso 58.7% compare

See the full ranking of 100 places →

More education data for Pakistan

All data for Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Pakistan?
Educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population in Pakistan was 71.1% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 71.9% in 2011.
What is the lowest educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population recorded in Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 40.5% in 1981.
How does Pakistan rank for educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population?
Pakistan ranks 93rd out of 100 countries with data for 2021.
Is educational attainment: at least some primary (isced 1), population rising or falling in Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Pakistan data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population in Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-some-primary-isced-1-population-25-years-urban-both-sexes/pakistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment: at least some primary (ISCED 1), population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
100 places, 1,270 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release