Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes was 77.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan, 1979–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan is 77.4%, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan peaked at 77.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 54.1%, in 1979.
That places Afghanistan 70th out of 72 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 54.1% | — |
| 2011 | 71.3% | +32.0% |
| 2015 | 54.5% | -23.6% |
| 2021 | 74.3% | +36.4% |
| 2022 | 77.4% | +4.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 77.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 87.9%, 88% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 77.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 98.7%, 78% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 54.1% | 54.1% | 54.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 62.9% | 54.5% | 71.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 75.9% | 74.3% | 77.4% | 2 |
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 youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan?
- Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes in Afghanistan was 77.4% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.1% in 1979.
- How does Afghanistan rank for youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes?
- Afghanistan ranks 70th out of 72 countries with data for 2022.
- Is youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Youth literacy rate, population 15-24 years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release