Share of the population with lower secondary education in Pakistan
Pakistan: Share of the population with lower secondary education was 38.4% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Pakistan, 1972–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 38.4% for share of the population with lower secondary education in 2021. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with lower secondary education in Pakistan peaked at 38.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1972.
Pakistan ranks 109th of 135 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Share of the population with lower secondary education in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 10.7% | — |
| 2005 | 26.2% | +144.8% |
| 2006 | 32.5% | +23.9% |
| 2007 | 28.4% | -12.5% |
| 2008 | 32.4% | +14.2% |
| 2009 | 32.2% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 33.4% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 33.4% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 35.0% | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 35.4% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 37.3% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 35.0% | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 36.4% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 35.4% | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 37.2% | +5.2% |
| 2021 | 38.4% | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 30.3% | 26.2% | 32.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 35.4% | 33.4% | 37.3% | 9 |
| 2020s | 38.4% | 38.4% | 38.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 12.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 9.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0486 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 13.15 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0524 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 16.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 445,877 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -13.4 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with lower secondary education in Pakistan?
- Share of the population with lower secondary education in Pakistan was 38.4% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 38.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of the population with lower secondary education recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for share of the population with lower secondary education?
- Pakistan ranks 109th out of 135 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of the population with lower secondary education rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of adults aged 25 and older who have completed lower secondary education or higher.