Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes was 54.5% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
54.5%
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
29th
of 184 countries
All-time high
88.1%
in 1974
All-time low
51.3%
in 2013
Years of data
8
1974–2018
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1974–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan stood at 54.5%.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 88.1% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 51.3%, in 2013.
Afghanistan ranks 29th of 184 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 88.1% | — |
| 2007 | 81.1% | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 51.3% | -36.8% |
| 2014 | 54.2% | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 57.7% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 56.2% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 54.5% | -3.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 54.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 68.7%, 79% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 54.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.5%, 2.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 88.1% | 88.1% | 88.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 81.1% | 81.1% | 81.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 54.9% | 51.3% | 57.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More education data for Afghanistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 88,020 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan was 54.5% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 88.1% in 1974.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.3% in 2013.
- How does Afghanistan rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 29th out of 184 countries with data for 2018.
- Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release