School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: School enrollment, primary (% gross) was 112.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, primary in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
In 2023, school enrollment, primary in Afghanistan stood at 112.2%. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Afghanistan peaked at 112.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 20.1%, in 1982.
That places Afghanistan 31st out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 31.7% | — |
| 1971 | 32.5% | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 33.0% | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 33.4% | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 34.0% | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 34.9% | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 35.7% | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 36.5% | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 37.7% | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 43.8% | +16.3% |
| 1981 | 49.5% | +12.9% |
| 1982 | 20.1% | -59.3% |
| 1984 | 24.6% | +22.4% |
| 1985 | 25.1% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 26.7% | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 34.1% | +27.7% |
| 1989 | 31.8% | -6.6% |
| 1990 | 31.0% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 31.6% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 34.0% | +7.4% |
| 1994 | 44.8% | +31.9% |
| 1995 | 47.7% | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 33.0% | -30.8% |
| 1999 | 26.3% | -20.3% |
| 2000 | 21.5% | -18.4% |
| 2001 | 22.1% | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 73.4% | +231.5% |
| 2003 | 95.3% | +29.9% |
| 2004 | 105.5% | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 99.5% | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 102.3% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 99.3% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 104.4% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 99.7% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 103.5% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 101.5% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 106.6% | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 107.9% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 109.8% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 106.8% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 106.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 106.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 107.7% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 109.1% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 112.2% | +2.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 112.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 96.8%, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 112.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97.6%, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School enrollment, primary (% gross) 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 | +231.5% | 22.1% | 73.4% |
| 1982 | -59.3% | 49.5% | 20.1% |
| 1998 | -30.8% | 47.7% | 33.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.4% | 31.7% | 37.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 32.0% | 20.1% | 49.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 35.5% | 26.3% | 47.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 82.3% | 21.5% | 105.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 106.6% | 101.5% | 109.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 112.2% | 112.2% | 112.2% | 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 school enrollment, primary in Afghanistan?
- School enrollment, primary in Afghanistan was 112.2% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 112.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.1% in 1982.
- How does Afghanistan rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Afghanistan ranks 31st out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. 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 School enrollment, primary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.