Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 16.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1979–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan is 16.5%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 23.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1979.
That places Afghanistan 81st out of 85 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 6.9% | — |
| 2011 | 14.2% | +105.2% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | +66.6% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -31.8% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 18.9% | 14.2% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More education data for Afghanistan
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1811 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Afghanistan was 16.5% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1979.
- How does Afghanistan rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 81st out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release