Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes was 81.3% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
81.3%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
157th
of 197 countries
All-time high
81.5%
in 2014
All-time low
14.3%
in 1982
Years of data
39
1970–2018

Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1970–2018

204060801970199420181970: 21 %1971: 21.9 %1972: 22.5 %1973: 22.9 %1974: 23.2 %1975: 24 %1976: 25 %1977: 25.9 %1978: 27 %1980: 31.9 %1981: 35.1 %1982: 14.3 %1984: 17.8 %1985: 19.2 %1986: 19.8 %1988: 24.1 %1989: 22.6 %1990: 21 %1991: 22.2 %1993: 23 %1994: 31.8 %1995: 33 %2001: 17.1 %2003: 57.4 %2004: 66 %2005: 62.9 %2006: 69.6 %2007: 68.5 %2008: 73.8 %2009: 74.3 %2010: 78.6 %2011: 77.4 %2012: 81.2 %2013: 81.4 %2014: 81.5 %2015: 79.6 %2016: 78.9 %2017: 79.6 %2018: 81.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan is 81.3%, measured in 2018.

The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 81.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 1982.

Afghanistan ranks 157th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes (%) in Afghanistan, 1970 to 2018.
Year % Change
1970 21.0%
1971 21.9% +4.4%
1972 22.5% +2.7%
1973 22.9% +1.8%
1974 23.2% +1.5%
1975 24.0% +3.3%
1976 25.0% +4.1%
1977 25.9% +3.5%
1978 27.0% +4.5%
1980 31.9% +18.1%
1981 35.1% +9.9%
1982 14.3% -59.2%
1984 17.8% +23.9%
1985 19.2% +7.9%
1986 19.8% +3.5%
1988 24.1% +21.6%
1989 22.6% -6.4%
1990 21.0% -6.7%
1991 22.2% +5.5%
1993 23.0% +3.8%
1994 31.8% +37.8%
1995 33.0% +3.9%
2001 17.1% -48.2%
2003 57.4% +235.9%
2004 66.0% +14.9%
2005 62.9% -4.7%
2006 69.6% +10.7%
2007 68.5% -1.6%
2008 73.8% +7.8%
2009 74.3% +0.6%
2010 78.6% +5.8%
2011 77.4% -1.5%
2012 81.2% +4.9%
2013 81.4% +0.3%
2014 81.5% +0.1%
2015 79.6% -2.4%
2016 78.9% -0.8%
2017 79.6% +0.8%
2018 81.3% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 23.7% 21.0% 27.0% 9
1980s 23.1% 14.3% 35.1% 8
1990s 26.2% 21.0% 33.0% 5
2000s 61.2% 17.1% 74.3% 8
2010s 80.0% 77.4% 81.5% 9

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 154 Cayman Islands 82.6% compare
  2. 155 San Marino 82.2% compare
  3. 156 Uganda 82.1% compare
  4. 158 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 80.8% compare
  5. 159 Solomon Islands 80.6% compare
  6. 160 Lao People's Democratic Republic 80.6% compare

See the full ranking of 242 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan?
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan was 81.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 81.5% in 2014.
What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 1982.
How does Afghanistan rank for gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes?
Afghanistan ranks 157th out of 197 countries with data for 2018.
Is gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. 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, primary and secondary, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-enrolment-ratio-primary-and-secondary-both-sexes-percent/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross enrolment ratio, primary and secondary, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
242 places, 8,565 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

Total enrollment in primary and secondary education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the total population of official primary and secondary education age. GER can exceed 100% due to the inclusion of over-aged and under-aged students because of early or late school entrance and grade repetition.