Enrolment in primary education, male (number) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Enrolment in primary education, male (number) was 4.31 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in primary education, male in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, male in Afghanistan stood at 4.31 million. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, male in Afghanistan peaked at 4.31 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 247,110, in 1982.
Afghanistan ranks 18th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in primary education, male (number) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 464,542 | — |
| 1971 | 494,192 | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 513,830 | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 533,548 | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 559,698 | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 588,323 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 617,080 | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 641,555 | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 677,229 | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 786,223 | +16.1% |
| 1981 | 835,463 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 247,110 | -70.4% |
| 1984 | 308,768 | +25.0% |
| 1985 | 328,708 | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 339,170 | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 442,181 | +30.4% |
| 1989 | 415,203 | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 410,846 | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 415,400 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 593,612 | +42.9% |
| 1994 | 793,578 | +33.7% |
| 1995 | 891,927 | +12.4% |
| 1999 | 811,494 | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 749,360 | -7.7% |
| 2001 | 773,623 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 1.86 million | +140.8% |
| 2003 | 2.47 million | +32.4% |
| 2004 | 3.14 million | +27.3% |
| 2005 | 2.78 million | -11.5% |
| 2006 | 2.93 million | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 2.98 million | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 3.10 million | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 3.04 million | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 3.20 million | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 3.15 million | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 3.42 million | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 3.59 million | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 3.73 million | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 3.76 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 3.80 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 3.86 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 4.00 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 4.13 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 4.31 million | +4.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 4.31 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.56 million, 2.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 4.31 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 571,163, 7.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in primary education, male (number) in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +140.8% | 773,623 | 1.86 million |
| 1982 | -70.4% | 835,463 | 247,110 |
| 1993 | +42.9% | 415,400 | 593,612 |
| 1994 | +33.7% | 593,612 | 793,578 |
| 2003 | +32.4% | 1.86 million | 2.47 million |
| 1988 | +30.4% | 339,170 | 442,181 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 565,555 | 464,542 | 677,229 | 9 |
| 1980s | 462,853 | 247,110 | 835,463 | 8 |
| 1990s | 652,810 | 410,846 | 891,927 | 6 |
| 2000s | 2.38 million | 749,360 | 3.14 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.66 million | 3.15 million | 4.13 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.31 million | 4.31 million | 4.31 million | 1 |
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 enrolment in primary education, male in Afghanistan?
- Enrolment in primary education, male in Afghanistan was 4.31 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.31 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 247,110 in 1982.
- How does Afghanistan rank for enrolment in primary education, male?
- Afghanistan ranks 18th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, male rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.2%. 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 Enrolment in primary education, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 44 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release