Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male was 15.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan, 1970–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan stood at 15.6%. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.5% on the previous year and up 146.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan peaked at 15.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1970.
Afghanistan ranks 139th of 189 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.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.3% | — |
| 1972 | 1.7% | +26.0% |
| 1973 | 1.8% | +11.6% |
| 1974 | 1.8% | -4.9% |
| 1975 | 1.9% | +8.7% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | +13.0% |
| 1977 | 2.2% | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | +30.6% |
| 1979 | 3.2% | +11.1% |
| 1986 | 3.8% | +18.7% |
| 1990 | 3.1% | -19.1% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | -30.3% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +191.6% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 13.1% | +139.3% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | +12.8% |
| 2020 | 15.6% | +5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.1% | 1.3% | 3.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.1% | 6.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 5.5% | 14.8% | 3 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More education data for Afghanistan
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male in Afghanistan was 15.6% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male?
- Afghanistan ranks 139th out of 189 countries with data for 2020.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, male rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 146.0%. 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, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release