School completion in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: School completion was 55.44 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
55.44
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
153rd
of 165 countries
All-time high
55.44
in 2025
All-time low
9.24
in 1981
Years of data
45
1981–2025
School completion in Afghanistan, 1981–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school completion in Afghanistan is 55.44, 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, school completion in Afghanistan peaked at 55.44 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9.24, 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.
School completion in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 9.24 | — |
| 1982 | 9.54 | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 9.95 | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 10.33 | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 10.78 | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 11.22 | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 11.71 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 12.23 | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 12.77 | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 13.26 | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 13.85 | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 14.39 | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 14.92 | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 15.47 | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 15.98 | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 16.4 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 16.8 | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 17.25 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 17.82 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 18.59 | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 19.48 | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 20.71 | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 22.19 | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 24.05 | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 26.21 | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 28.52 | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 30.93 | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 33.35 | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 35.95 | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 38.66 | +7.5% |
| 2011 | 41.26 | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 43.51 | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 45.34 | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 46.7 | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 47.64 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 48.34 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 48.84 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 49.36 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 49.88 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.56 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 51.46 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 52.33 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 53.35 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 54.39 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 55.44 | +1.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 55.44 is below the median for low income countries, which is 57.71, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 55.44 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 96.63, 57% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.86 | 9.24 | 12.77 | 9 |
| 1990s | 15.61 | 13.26 | 17.82 | 10 |
| 2000s | 26 | 18.59 | 35.95 | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.95 | 38.66 | 49.88 | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.92 | 50.56 | 55.44 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 150 Burundi 60.45 compare
- 151 Pakistan 59.46 compare
- 152 Malawi 57.71 compare
- 154 Madagascar 54.01 compare
- 155 Mozambique 53.52 compare
- 156 Mauritania 51.76 compare
More education data for Afghanistan
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 15.63 (1993)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 31.23 (1993)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school completion in Afghanistan?
- School completion in Afghanistan was 55.44 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest school completion recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 55.44 in 2025.
- What is the lowest school completion recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.24 in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for school completion?
- Afghanistan ranks 153rd out of 165 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school completion 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 Our World in Data, published as part of School completion. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).