Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general was 548,318 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
548,318
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
23rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
548,318
in 2025
All-time low
127,809
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025

Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan, 1970–2025

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k500.0k197019972025

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2025, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan stood at 548,318. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan peaked at 548,318 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 127,809, in 1970.

Afghanistan ranks 23rd of 220 countries on this measure, 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

Annual values for Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, male (number) in Afghanistan, 1970 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1970 127,809
1971 131,511 +2.9%
1972 135,305 +2.9%
1973 139,341 +3.0%
1974 143,547 +3.0%
1975 147,694 +2.9%
1976 151,867 +2.8%
1977 155,774 +2.6%
1978 159,754 +2.6%
1979 163,383 +2.3%
1980 162,511 -0.5%
1981 153,867 -5.3%
1982 134,974 -12.3%
1983 133,225 -1.3%
1984 134,983 +1.3%
1985 142,420 +5.5%
1986 143,933 +1.1%
1987 144,475 +0.4%
1988 144,863 +0.3%
1989 148,242 +2.3%
1990 152,929 +3.2%
1991 151,798 -0.7%
1992 155,958 +2.7%
1993 175,690 +12.7%
1994 195,939 +11.5%
1995 204,074 +4.2%
1996 209,791 +2.8%
1997 216,255 +3.1%
1998 224,129 +3.6%
1999 235,985 +5.3%
2000 248,675 +5.4%
2001 247,658 -0.4%
2002 257,415 +3.9%
2003 280,424 +8.9%
2004 297,140 +6.0%
2005 309,988 +4.3%
2006 330,509 +6.6%
2007 348,842 +5.5%
2008 353,991 +1.5%
2009 371,878 +5.1%
2010 386,086 +3.8%
2011 398,237 +3.1%
2012 416,856 +4.7%
2013 432,633 +3.8%
2014 446,000 +3.1%
2015 461,535 +3.5%
2016 469,433 +1.7%
2017 475,700 +1.3%
2018 483,093 +1.6%
2019 491,367 +1.7%
2020 499,419 +1.6%
2021 509,069 +1.9%
2022 517,049 +1.6%
2023 520,835 +0.7%
2024 533,798 +2.5%
2025 548,318 +2.7%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 548,318 is above the median for low income countries, which is 280,153, 2.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 548,318 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 102,748, 5.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 145,598 127,809 163,383 10
1980s 144,349 133,225 162,511 10
1990s 192,255 151,798 235,985 10
2000s 304,652 247,658 371,878 10
2010s 446,094 386,086 491,367 10
2020s 521,415 499,419 548,318 6

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 20 Uganda 651,130 compare
  2. 21 Sudan 607,997 compare
  3. 22 Iraq 599,012 compare
  4. 24 South Africa 541,925 compare
  5. 25 Japan 541,446 compare
  6. 26 Angola 495,210 compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

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 548,318 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 548,318 in 2025.
What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 127,809 in 1970.
How does Afghanistan rank for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
Afghanistan ranks 23rd 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 18.8%. 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, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/population-of-the-official-entrance-age-to-secondary-general-education-male-number-2/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general education, male (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
220 places, 10,166 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release