Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 10.11 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1998–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 10.11 million for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in 2025. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 10.11 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.17 million, in 1998.
That places Afghanistan 24th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3.17 million | — |
| 1999 | 3.33 million | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 3.49 million | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 3.49 million | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 3.63 million | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 3.97 million | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 4.20 million | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 4.34 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 4.56 million | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 4.75 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 6.74 million | +41.9% |
| 2009 | 7.05 million | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 7.27 million | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 7.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 7.77 million | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 7.99 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 8.19 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 8.43 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 8.54 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 8.68 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 8.85 million | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 9.03 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 9.24 million | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 9.49 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 9.58 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 9.66 million | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 9.88 million | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 10.11 million | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.25 million | 3.17 million | 3.33 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.62 million | 3.49 million | 7.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.22 million | 7.27 million | 9.03 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.66 million | 9.24 million | 10.11 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More education data for Afghanistan
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.51 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.56 % change on previous year (2019)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1811 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.20 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Afghanistan was 10.11 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 10.11 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.17 million in 1998.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 24th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. 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 Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release