Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 10.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1970–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan is 10.9%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.6% on the previous year and up 175.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 10.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1970.
That places Afghanistan 156th out of 194 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.8% | — |
| 1971 | 0.9% | +20.6% |
| 1972 | 1.0% | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | +15.1% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -6.6% |
| 1975 | 1.1% | +8.8% |
| 1976 | 1.3% | +13.0% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | +11.0% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | +27.7% |
| 1979 | 1.9% | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 2.0% | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 2.2% | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | -21.7% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | +29.2% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | -38.0% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | +183.2% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | +127.8% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +19.0% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | +8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 3 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.4% | 3.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 3.7% | 10.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 10.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 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 gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Afghanistan was 10.9% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 10.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 156th out of 194 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 175.6%. 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 Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release