Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Literacy rates of older vs. younger population was 16.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan, 1979–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan stood at 16.5%.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan peaked at 23.6% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 1979.
Afghanistan ranks 81st of 85 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 6.9% | — |
| 2011 | 14.2% | +105.2% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | +66.6% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -31.8% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 18.9% | 14.2% | 23.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 16.1% | 16.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More education data for Afghanistan
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.67 % change on previous year (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 163,167 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2019)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.27 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 5.94 % change on previous year (2018)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.53 % change on previous year (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 24,220 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 5.89 % change on previous year (1986)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan?
- Literacy rates of older vs. younger population in Afghanistan was 16.5% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rates of older vs. younger population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 1979.
- How does Afghanistan rank for literacy rates of older vs. younger population?
- Afghanistan ranks 81st out of 85 countries with data for 2021.
- Is literacy rates of older vs. younger population rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates of older vs. younger population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 65 years and older who can read and write.