Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Pakistan
Pakistan: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 9.6% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Pakistan, 2005–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 9.6% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2021.
That represents a change of down 22.5% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Pakistan peaked at 12.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 2006.
That places Pakistan 104th out of 110 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.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9.1% | — |
| 2006 | 9.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 9.6% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 10.5% | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 11.1% | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 11.0% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 10.7% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | +10.6% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | -17.0% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | +17.2% |
| 2019 | 12.4% | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | -22.5% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 9.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.9%, 60% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 9.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.8%, 57% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.9% | 9.0% | 11.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 10.1% | 12.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 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 participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Pakistan?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Pakistan was 9.6% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 2006.
- How does Pakistan rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Pakistan ranks 104th out of 110 countries with data for 2021.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. 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 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-64 years old, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release