Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male was 315,412 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
315,412
Change on year
up 12.9%
World rank
50th
of 195 countries
All-time high
315,412
in 2020
All-time low
6,597
in 1970
Years of data
18
1970–2020

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan, 1970–2020

0100.0k200.0k300.0k1970199520201970: 6.6k1972: 8.5k1973: 9.7k1974: 9.5k1975: 10.6k1976: 12.3k1977: 12.9k1978: 17.2k1979: 19.5k1986: 19.2k1990: 16.9k2003: 20.9k2004: 22.0k2009: 78.0k2011: 73.8k2014: 209.3k2018: 279.4k2020: 315.4k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan is 315,412, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is up 12.9% on the previous year and up 304.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan peaked at 315,412 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6,597, in 1970.

Afghanistan ranks 50th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) in Afghanistan, 1970 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1970 6,597
1972 8,507 +29.0%
1973 9,713 +14.2%
1974 9,461 -2.6%
1975 10,575 +11.8%
1976 12,263 +16.0%
1977 12,861 +4.9%
1978 17,199 +33.7%
1979 19,485 +13.3%
1986 19,182 -1.6%
1990 16,864 -12.1%
2003 20,867 +23.7%
2004 22,011 +5.5%
2009 78,022 +254.5%
2011 73,842 -5.4%
2014 209,261 +183.4%
2018 279,393 +33.5%
2020 315,412 +12.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 11,851 6,597 19,485 9
1980s 19,182 19,182 19,182 1
1990s 16,864 16,864 16,864 1
2000s 40,300 20,867 78,022 3
2010s 187,499 73,842 279,393 3
2020s 315,412 315,412 315,412 1

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 47 Kenya 338,073 compare
  2. 48 Syrian Arab Republic 335,992 compare
  3. 49 Sudan 327,599 compare
  4. 51 Nepal 274,913 compare
  5. 52 Iraq 271,197 compare
  6. 53 Romania 240,583 compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan was 315,412 in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 315,412 in 2020.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 6,597 in 1970.
How does Afghanistan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male?
Afghanistan ranks 50th out of 195 countries with data for 2020.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 304.3%. 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 tertiary education, all programmes, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-male-number-2/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
416 places, 17,221 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release