Share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of children who have completed primary school was 55.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan, 1981–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan is 55.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan peaked at 55.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 1981.
That places Afghanistan 153rd out of 165 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 9.2% | — |
| 1982 | 9.5% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 9.9% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 10.3% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 10.8% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 11.2% | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 11.7% | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 12.2% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 12.8% | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 13.3% | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 13.8% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 14.4% | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 16.0% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 16.4% | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 16.8% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 17.8% | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 18.6% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 20.7% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 22.2% | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 28.5% | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 30.9% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 33.4% | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 36.0% | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 38.7% | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 41.3% | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 43.5% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 45.3% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 46.7% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 47.6% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 48.3% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 49.4% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 49.9% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.6% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 51.5% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 52.3% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 53.4% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 54.4% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 55.4% | +1.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 55.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 57.7%, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 55.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 96.6%, 57% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.9% | 9.2% | 12.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 15.6% | 13.3% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.0% | 18.6% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.0% | 38.7% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.9% | 50.6% | 55.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 150 Burundi 60.5% compare
- 151 Pakistan 59.5% compare
- 152 Malawi 57.7% compare
- 154 Madagascar 54.0% compare
- 155 Mozambique 53.5% compare
- 156 Mauritania 51.8% compare
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 share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan?
- Share of children who have completed primary school in Afghanistan was 55.4% in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children who have completed primary school recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 55.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of children who have completed primary school recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of children who have completed primary school?
- Afghanistan ranks 153rd out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of children who have completed primary school rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children who have completed primary school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children who are three to five years older than the official age for the last grade of primary education who have successfully completed it. This broader age band is used to include children who started school late or had to resit particular years.