Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general was 522,541 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
522,541
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
24th
of 220 countries
All-time high
522,541
in 2025
All-time low
124,425
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan stood at 522,541. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan peaked at 522,541 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 124,425, in 1970.
That places Afghanistan 24th out of 220 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 124,425 | — |
| 1971 | 127,940 | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 131,565 | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 135,454 | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 139,476 | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 143,416 | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 147,379 | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 151,145 | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 154,951 | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 158,440 | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 157,564 | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 149,087 | -5.4% |
| 1982 | 130,688 | -12.3% |
| 1983 | 129,003 | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 130,628 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 137,824 | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 139,155 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 139,479 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 139,691 | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 142,759 | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 147,076 | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 145,809 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 149,745 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 168,608 | +12.6% |
| 1994 | 187,965 | +11.5% |
| 1995 | 195,788 | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 201,433 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 207,819 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 215,563 | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 226,775 | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 238,606 | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 237,571 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 246,783 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 268,780 | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 284,712 | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 296,814 | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 316,279 | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 333,623 | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 338,422 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 355,544 | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 368,449 | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 379,411 | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 396,655 | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 410,664 | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 423,321 | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 437,911 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 445,138 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 451,318 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 458,736 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 466,659 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 474,492 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 483,711 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 491,241 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 495,271 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 508,040 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 522,541 | +2.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 522,541 is above the median for low income countries, which is 269,507, 1.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 522,541 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97,268, 5.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 141,419 | 124,425 | 158,440 | 10 |
| 1980s | 139,588 | 129,003 | 157,564 | 10 |
| 1990s | 184,658 | 145,809 | 226,775 | 10 |
| 2000s | 291,713 | 237,571 | 355,544 | 10 |
| 2010s | 423,826 | 368,449 | 466,659 | 10 |
| 2020s | 495,883 | 474,492 | 522,541 | 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 population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan?
- Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan was 522,541 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 522,541 in 2025.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 124,425 in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
- Afghanistan ranks 24th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to secondary general rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release