Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Primary education, pupils was 39.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
39.0%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
202nd
of 203 countries
All-time high
40.7%
in 2012
All-time low
0.0%
in 2000
Years of data
42
1970–2018

Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan, 1970–2018

0102030401970199420181970: 14.1 % female1971: 13.7 % female1972: 14 % female1973: 14.5 % female1974: 14.4 % female1975: 15 % female1976: 15.4 % female1977: 16 % female1978: 16.5 % female1980: 18.1 % female1981: 18.5 % female1982: 32.4 % female1984: 31 % female1985: 31.4 % female1986: 33.9 % female1988: 32.1 % female1989: 33.3 % female1990: 34 % female1991: 33.8 % female1993: 24.5 % female1994: 31.7 % female1995: 32 % female1999: 7.3 % female2000: 0 % female2001: 0 % female2002: 30.2 % female2003: 34.8 % female2004: 29.1 % female2005: 35.7 % female2006: 37.2 % female2007: 36.9 % female2008: 37.8 % female2009: 38.6 % female2010: 39.3 % female2011: 40.5 % female2012: 40.7 % female2013: 40.1 % female2014: 40 % female2015: 39.4 % female2016: 39.4 % female2017: 39.3 % female2018: 39 % female

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Afghanistan is 39.0%, measured in 2018.

The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Afghanistan peaked at 40.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.

That places Afghanistan 202nd out of 203 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.

Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Primary education, pupils (% female) in Afghanistan, 1970 to 2018.
Year % female Change
1970 14.1%
1971 13.7% -2.4%
1972 14.0% +1.9%
1973 14.5% +3.9%
1974 14.4% -0.7%
1975 15.0% +4.0%
1976 15.4% +2.7%
1977 16.0% +4.0%
1978 16.5% +2.6%
1980 18.1% +9.8%
1981 18.5% +2.2%
1982 32.4% +75.3%
1984 31.0% -4.3%
1985 31.4% +1.4%
1986 33.9% +7.8%
1988 32.1% -5.1%
1989 33.3% +3.5%
1990 34.0% +2.2%
1991 33.8% -0.5%
1993 24.5% -27.5%
1994 31.7% +29.1%
1995 32.0% +1.1%
1999 7.3% -77.1%
2000 0.0% -100.0%
2001 0.0%
2002 30.2%
2003 34.8% +15.2%
2004 29.1% -16.2%
2005 35.7% +22.5%
2006 37.2% +4.3%
2007 36.9% -0.9%
2008 37.8% +2.4%
2009 38.6% +2.1%
2010 39.3% +2.0%
2011 40.5% +2.9%
2012 40.7% +0.6%
2013 40.1% -1.5%
2014 40.0% -0.4%
2015 39.4% -1.4%
2016 39.4% -0.1%
2017 39.3% -0.2%
2018 39.0% -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 14.9% 13.7% 16.5% 9
1980s 28.8% 18.1% 33.9% 8
1990s 27.2% 7.3% 34.0% 6
2000s 28.0% 0.0% 38.6% 10
2010s 39.7% 39.0% 40.7% 9

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 199 Pakistan 44.0% compare
  2. 200 Central African Republic 43.6% compare
  3. 201 Chad 43.4% compare
  4. 203 Somalia 35.5% compare

See the full ranking of 246 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary education, pupils in Afghanistan?
Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan was 39.0% in 2018, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 40.7% in 2012.
What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
How does Afghanistan rank for primary education, pupils?
Afghanistan ranks 202nd out of 203 countries with data for 2018.
Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/primary-education-pupils-percent-female/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary education, pupils (% female)
Unit
% female
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
246 places, 9,280 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Female pupils as a percentage of total pupils at primary level include enrollments in public and private schools.