School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes (number) in Pakistan
Pakistan: School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes (number) was 23.28 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
23.28 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
3rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
23.28 million
in 2025
All-time low
5.02 million
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Pakistan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Pakistan is 23.28 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 23.28 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.02 million, in 1970.
That places Pakistan 3rd out of 220 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes (number) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5.02 million | — |
| 1971 | 5.25 million | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 5.47 million | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 5.70 million | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 5.94 million | +4.1% |
| 1975 | 6.18 million | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 6.41 million | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 6.64 million | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 6.87 million | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 7.09 million | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 7.32 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 7.57 million | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 7.78 million | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 7.98 million | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 8.17 million | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 8.38 million | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 8.63 million | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 8.91 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 9.20 million | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 9.50 million | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 9.81 million | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 10.15 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 10.50 million | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 10.85 million | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 11.28 million | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 11.78 million | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 12.34 million | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 12.91 million | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 13.46 million | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 13.93 million | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 14.39 million | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 14.88 million | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 15.36 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 15.82 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 16.29 million | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 16.74 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 17.16 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 17.52 million | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 17.89 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 18.16 million | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 18.41 million | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 18.64 million | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 18.84 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 19.09 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 19.35 million | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 19.60 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 19.81 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 19.95 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 20.02 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.14 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 20.43 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 20.85 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 21.48 million | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 22.15 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 22.76 million | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 23.28 million | +2.3% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 23.28 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 938,414, 24.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 23.28 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 601,861, 38.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.06 million | 5.02 million | 7.09 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.34 million | 7.32 million | 9.50 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.70 million | 9.81 million | 13.93 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.42 million | 14.39 million | 18.16 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.39 million | 18.41 million | 20.14 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.83 million | 20.43 million | 23.28 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Pakistan?
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in Pakistan was 23.28 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 23.28 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.02 million in 1970.
- How does Pakistan rank for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes?
- Pakistan ranks 3rd out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release