Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan
Pakistan: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years was 4.98 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan, 1972–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan is 4.98, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan peaked at 5.16 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1.64, in 1972.
That places Pakistan 114th out of 124 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1.64 | — |
| 1981 | 1.73 | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 2.72 | +57.6% |
| 2006 | 4.57 | +68.0% |
| 2008 | 4.53 | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 4.52 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 4.65 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 4.79 | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 4.88 | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 4.96 | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.16 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 5.12 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 4.77 | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 4.87 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 4.98 | +2.2% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 4.98 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.37, 68% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 4.98 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.28, 48% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +68.0% | 2.72 | 4.57 |
| 2005 | +57.6% | 1.73 | 2.72 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.64 | 1.64 | 1.64 | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.73 | 1.73 | 1.73 | 1 |
| 2000s | 4.08 | 2.72 | 4.57 | 4 |
| 2010s | 4.9 | 4.65 | 5.16 | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.98 | 4.98 | 4.98 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan?
- Mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Pakistan was 4.98 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.16 in 2014.
- What is the lowest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.64 in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years?
- Pakistan ranks 114th out of 124 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release