School life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: School life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes was 10.32 years in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
10.32 years
World rank
161st
of 213 countries
All-time high
10.32 years
in 2023
All-time low
1.95 years
in 1982
Years of data
40
1970–2023
School life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan stood at 10.32 years. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 10.32 years in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.95 years, in 1982.
That places Afghanistan 161st out of 213 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.4 years | — |
| 1971 | 2.52 years | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 2.6 years | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 2.66 years | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 2.8 years | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 2.79 years | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 2.89 years | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 2.98 years | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 3.09 years | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 3.63 years | +17.6% |
| 1981 | 4.17 years | +14.9% |
| 1982 | 1.95 years | -53.4% |
| 1984 | 2.3 years | +18.1% |
| 1985 | 2.32 years | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 2.33 years | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 2.84 years | +21.8% |
| 1989 | 2.67 years | -5.9% |
| 1990 | 2.52 years | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 2.93 years | +16.1% |
| 1993 | 3.11 years | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 4.1 years | +31.5% |
| 1995 | 4.24 years | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 2.17 years | -48.8% |
| 2003 | 6.56 years | +202.1% |
| 2004 | 7.48 years | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 7.19 years | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 7.91 years | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 7.85 years | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 8.6 years | +9.6% |
| 2009 | 8.64 years | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 9.24 years | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 9.24 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9.66 years | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 9.85 years | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 9.9 years | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 9.63 years | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 9.63 years | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 9.74 years | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 9.91 years | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 10.32 years | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.75 years | 2.4 years | 3.09 years | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.78 years | 1.95 years | 4.17 years | 8 |
| 1990s | 3.38 years | 2.52 years | 4.24 years | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.05 years | 2.17 years | 8.64 years | 8 |
| 2010s | 9.64 years | 9.24 years | 9.91 years | 9 |
| 2020s | 10.32 years | 10.32 years | 10.32 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 158 Panama 10.34 years compare
- 159 Kyrgyzstan 10.33 years compare
- 160 Russian Federation 10.32 years compare
- 162 Zimbabwe 10.23 years compare
- 163 Malaysia 10.21 years compare
- 164 Puerto Rico 10.21 years compare
More education data for Afghanistan
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 5.67 % change on previous year (2018)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 163,167 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2019)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.27 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 5.94 % change on previous year (2018)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 5.53 % change on previous year (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 24,220 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 5.89 % change on previous year (1986)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- School life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes in Afghanistan was 10.32 years in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 10.32 years in 2023.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.95 years in 1982.
- How does Afghanistan rank for school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 161st out of 213 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. 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, published as part of School life expectancy, primary and secondary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release