Lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Lower secondary completion rate, total was 62.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
62.1%
World rank
138th
of 187 countries
All-time high
62.1%
in 2023
All-time low
7.0%
in 1977
Years of data
16
1973–2023

Lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan, 1973–2023

02040601973199820231973: 9.8 % of relevant age group1974: 8.6 % of relevant age group1977: 7 % of relevant age group1978: 9.4 % of relevant age group1980: 13.5 % of relevant age group1981: 16.8 % of relevant age group1982: 12.5 % of relevant age group1984: 14.1 % of relevant age group1985: 13.5 % of relevant age group1993: 20.2 % of relevant age group2005: 17.4 % of relevant age group2016: 52.3 % of relevant age group2017: 54.8 % of relevant age group2018: 57 % of relevant age group2019: 60.4 % of relevant age group2023: 62.1 % of relevant age group

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of relevant age group.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 62.1% for lower secondary completion rate, total in 2023. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

That represents a change of up 18.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan peaked at 62.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 1977.

Afghanistan ranks 138th of 187 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.

Lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) in Afghanistan, 1973 to 2023.
Year % of relevant age group Change
1973 9.8%
1974 8.6% -12.4%
1977 7.0% -17.8%
1978 9.4% +32.7%
1980 13.5% +43.9%
1981 16.8% +24.7%
1982 12.5% -25.7%
1984 14.1% +13.0%
1985 13.5% -3.9%
1993 20.2% +49.4%
2005 17.4% -14.3%
2016 52.3% +201.5%
2017 54.8% +4.7%
2018 57.0% +4.1%
2019 60.4% +6.0%
2023 62.1% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 8.7% 7.0% 9.8% 4
1980s 14.1% 12.5% 16.8% 5
1990s 20.2% 20.2% 20.2% 1
2000s 17.4% 17.4% 17.4% 1
2010s 56.1% 52.3% 60.4% 4
2020s 62.1% 62.1% 62.1% 1

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 135 Zimbabwe 65.6% compare
  2. 136 Nicaragua 64.7% compare
  3. 137 Vanuatu 64.6% compare
  4. 139 Cambodia 61.6% compare
  5. 140 Costa Rica 61.4% compare
  6. 141 Gambia 61.3% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan?
Lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan was 62.1% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest lower secondary completion rate, total recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 62.1% in 2023.
What is the lowest lower secondary completion rate, total recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 1977.
How does Afghanistan rank for lower secondary completion rate, total?
Afghanistan ranks 138th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
Is lower secondary completion rate, total rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Lower secondary completion rate, total in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/lower-secondary-completion-rate-total-percent-of-relevant-age-group/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Lower secondary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group)
Unit
% of relevant age group
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,918 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Lower secondary education completion rate is measured as the gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary education (general and pre-vocational). It is calculated as the number of new entrants in the last grade of lower secondary education, regardless of age, divided by the population at the entrance age for the last grade of lower secondary education.