Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Primary education, pupils was 7.51 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Afghanistan is 7.51 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Afghanistan peaked at 7.51 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 365,458, in 1982.
Afghanistan ranks 22nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 540,685 | — |
| 1971 | 572,933 | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 597,509 | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 624,374 | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 654,209 | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 692,342 | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 729,667 | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 764,175 | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 810,657 | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 959,583 | +18.4% |
| 1981 | 1.02 million | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 365,458 | -64.3% |
| 1984 | 447,351 | +22.4% |
| 1985 | 479,150 | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 512,809 | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 651,622 | +27.1% |
| 1989 | 622,135 | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 622,513 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 627,888 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 786,532 | +25.3% |
| 1994 | 1.16 million | +47.7% |
| 1995 | 1.31 million | +13.0% |
| 1998 | 1.05 million | -20.3% |
| 1999 | 875,605 | -16.3% |
| 2000 | 749,360 | -14.4% |
| 2001 | 773,623 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 2.67 million | +244.8% |
| 2003 | 3.78 million | +41.7% |
| 2004 | 4.43 million | +17.2% |
| 2005 | 4.32 million | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 4.67 million | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 4.72 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 4.97 million | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 4.95 million | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 5.28 million | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 5.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 5.77 million | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 5.99 million | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 6.22 million | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 6.20 million | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 6.27 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 6.35 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 6.54 million | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 6.78 million | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 7.51 million | +10.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 7.51 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.01 million, 2.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 7.51 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.12 million, 6.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +244.8% | 773,623 | 2.67 million |
| 1982 | -64.3% | 1.02 million | 365,458 |
| 1994 | +47.7% | 786,532 | 1.16 million |
| 2003 | +41.7% | 2.67 million | 3.78 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 665,172 | 540,685 | 810,657 | 9 |
| 1980s | 632,856 | 365,458 | 1.02 million | 8 |
| 1990s | 918,931 | 622,513 | 1.31 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 3.60 million | 749,360 | 4.97 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.07 million | 5.28 million | 6.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.51 million | 7.51 million | 7.51 million | 1 |
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 primary education, pupils in Afghanistan?
- Primary education, pupils in Afghanistan was 7.51 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.51 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 365,458 in 1982.
- How does Afghanistan rank for primary education, pupils?
- Afghanistan ranks 22nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.