Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled was 3.43 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan is 3.43 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 35.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan peaked at 3.43 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 116,174, in 1970.
That places Afghanistan 34th out of 206 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.
Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 116,174 | — |
| 1971 | 134,069 | +15.4% |
| 1972 | 153,060 | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 165,346 | +8.0% |
| 1974 | 172,797 | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 185,723 | +7.5% |
| 1976 | 204,889 | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 223,379 | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 238,674 | +6.8% |
| 1979 | 265,991 | +11.4% |
| 1980 | 293,308 | +10.3% |
| 1981 | 332,935 | +13.5% |
| 1982 | 178,423 | -46.4% |
| 1983 | 188,380 | +5.6% |
| 1984 | 198,337 | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 206,381 | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 187,745 | -9.0% |
| 1987 | 196,568 | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 205,392 | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 202,572 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 182,340 | -10.0% |
| 1991 | 281,928 | +54.6% |
| 1992 | 307,049 | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 332,170 | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 497,762 | +49.9% |
| 1995 | 512,851 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 362,415 | -29.3% |
| 2002 | 384,655 | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 406,895 | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 594,306 | +46.1% |
| 2005 | 651,453 | +9.6% |
| 2006 | 1.01 million | +54.6% |
| 2007 | 1.04 million | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 1.43 million | +37.6% |
| 2009 | 1.72 million | +20.4% |
| 2010 | 2.04 million | +19.1% |
| 2011 | 2.21 million | +8.1% |
| 2012 | 2.42 million | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 2.54 million | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 2.60 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 2.65 million | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 2.73 million | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.90 million | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 3.06 million | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 3.43 million | +11.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 3.43 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.07 million, 3.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 3.43 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.03 million, 3.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | -46.4% | 332,935 | 178,423 |
| 1991 | +54.6% | 182,340 | 281,928 |
| 2006 | +54.6% | 651,453 | 1.01 million |
| 1994 | +49.9% | 332,170 | 497,762 |
| 2004 | +46.1% | 406,895 | 594,306 |
| 2001 | -29.3% | 512,851 | 362,415 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 186,010 | 116,174 | 265,991 | 10 |
| 1980s | 219,004 | 178,423 | 332,935 | 10 |
| 1990s | 352,350 | 182,340 | 512,851 | 6 |
| 2000s | 842,616 | 362,415 | 1.72 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.57 million | 2.04 million | 3.06 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.43 million | 3.43 million | 3.43 million | 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)
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan?
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled in Afghanistan was 3.43 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest secondary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.43 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest secondary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 116,174 in 1970.
- How does Afghanistan rank for secondary education, pupils, gaps filled?
- Afghanistan ranks 34th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is secondary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Secondary education, pupils with 698 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Secondary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Secondary education, pupils with 698 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.