School enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: School enrollment, secondary was 59.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
59.6%
World rank
160th
of 203 countries
All-time high
59.6%
in 2023
All-time low
8.4%
in 1970
Years of data
40
1970–2023

School enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan, 1970–2023

02040601970199620231970: 8.4 % gross1971: 9.4 % gross1972: 10.4 % gross1973: 10.9 % gross1974: 11.1 % gross1975: 11.6 % gross1976: 12.5 % gross1977: 13.3 % gross1978: 13.8 % gross1980: 16.7 % gross1981: 20.1 % gross1982: 12.3 % gross1984: 13.6 % gross1985: 13.5 % gross1986: 12.1 % gross1988: 13.2 % gross1989: 12.7 % gross1990: 11 % gross1991: 17.2 % gross1993: 17.4 % gross1994: 23.5 % gross1995: 23.1 % gross2001: 14 % gross2003: 14 % gross2004: 19.2 % gross2005: 20.3 % gross2006: 29.5 % gross2007: 28.8 % gross2008: 38.9 % gross2009: 44.3 % gross2010: 50.4 % gross2011: 52.4 % gross2012: 54.4 % gross2013: 54.9 % gross2014: 54.3 % gross2015: 53.2 % gross2016: 53.4 % gross2017: 55.5 % gross2018: 57.4 % gross2023: 59.6 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 59.6% for school enrollment, secondary in 2023. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

The figure is up 8.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan peaked at 59.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.4%, in 1970.

Afghanistan ranks 160th of 203 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

School enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, secondary (% gross) in Afghanistan, 1970 to 2023.
Year % gross Change
1970 8.4%
1971 9.4% +12.1%
1972 10.4% +11.0%
1973 10.9% +5.0%
1974 11.1% +1.5%
1975 11.6% +4.5%
1976 12.5% +7.4%
1977 13.3% +6.4%
1978 13.8% +4.2%
1980 16.7% +21.1%
1981 20.1% +20.1%
1982 12.3% -38.8%
1984 13.6% +11.0%
1985 13.5% -1.1%
1986 12.1% -10.1%
1988 13.2% +8.9%
1989 12.7% -4.0%
1990 11.0% -12.9%
1991 17.2% +55.7%
1993 17.4% +1.4%
1994 23.5% +34.7%
1995 23.1% -1.8%
2001 14.0% -39.1%
2003 14.0% -0.6%
2004 19.2% +37.6%
2005 20.3% +5.5%
2006 29.5% +45.6%
2007 28.8% -2.4%
2008 38.9% +35.1%
2009 44.3% +13.8%
2010 50.4% +13.9%
2011 52.4% +4.0%
2012 54.4% +3.7%
2013 54.9% +0.9%
2014 54.3% -1.1%
2015 53.2% -2.1%
2016 53.4% +0.5%
2017 55.5% +3.9%
2018 57.4% +3.3%
2023 59.6% +3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 11.3% 8.4% 13.8% 9
1980s 14.3% 12.1% 20.1% 8
1990s 18.4% 11.0% 23.5% 5
2000s 26.1% 14.0% 44.3% 8
2010s 54.0% 50.4% 57.4% 9
2020s 59.6% 59.6% 59.6% 1

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 157 Togo 63.4% compare
  2. 158 El Salvador 62.1% compare
  3. 159 San Marino 60.4% compare
  4. 161 Lesotho 59.4% compare
  5. 162 Cambodia 58.8% compare
  6. 163 Zambia 56.8% compare

See the full ranking of 248 places →

More education data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan?
School enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan was 59.6% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, secondary recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 59.6% in 2023.
What is the lowest school enrollment, secondary recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 8.4% in 1970.
How does Afghanistan rank for school enrollment, secondary?
Afghanistan ranks 160th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
Is school enrollment, secondary rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. 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, secondary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, secondary in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-secondary-percent-gross/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, secondary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
248 places, 8,293 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.