Out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes was 1.40 million in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
1.40 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
12th
of 184 countries
All-time high
1.40 million
in 2017
All-time low
649,325
in 1974
Years of data
8
1974–2018
Out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1974–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 1.40 million for out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in 2018.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 1.40 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 649,325, in 1974.
Afghanistan ranks 12th of 184 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 649,325 | — |
| 2007 | 1.34 million | +106.4% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million | -16.6% |
| 2014 | 1.23 million | +9.9% |
| 2015 | 1.31 million | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 1.40 million | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 1.40 million | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.40 million | -0.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 1.40 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 988,451, 1.4× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 1.40 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 81,308, 17.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 649,325 | 649,325 | 649,325 | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.34 million | 1.34 million | 1.34 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.31 million | 1.12 million | 1.40 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 9 Niger 1.53 million compare
- 10 Viet Nam 1.44 million compare
- 11 Madagascar 1.43 million compare
- 13 Russian Federation 1.35 million compare
- 14 Yemen 1.33 million compare
- 15 Syrian Arab Republic 1.28 million compare
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 youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in Afghanistan was 1.40 million in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.40 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 649,325 in 1974.
- How does Afghanistan rank for out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 12th out of 184 countries with data for 2018.
- Is out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. 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, published as part of Out-of-school youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release