Education in Kandahar, Afghanistan: official figures
24.1% of children of primary school age in Kandahar were attending school in 2022-23 (net attendance rate), 7th lowest of the 34 provinces; 75.8% were out of school (Afghanistan: 47.5% attending, 52.8% out of school).
Do girls in Kandahar go to primary school?
Primary school attendance in Kandahar was 31.1% for boys and 16.9% for girls in 2022-23 (Afghanistan: 54.1% and 40.6%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow many children in Kandahar go to secondary school?
6.6% of children of lower secondary school age in Kandahar were attending secondary school in 2022-23, 5th lowest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 20.3%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyDo girls in Kandahar go to secondary school?
Lower secondary school attendance in Kandahar was 11.3% for boys and 2.1% for girls in 2022-23, and upper secondary 14.1% and 1.7% (Afghanistan: 32.1% and 8.9%; 28.6% and 11.5%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow many women in Kandahar can read?
12.7% of women aged 15 to 49 in Kandahar could read in 2022-23, joint 9th lowest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 26.6%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow Kandahar compares with other provinces
Primary school net attendance rate (adjusted) (2022-23)
Kandahar ranks 28 of 34, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Primary school net attendance rate (adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Kapisa | 32.0% |
| 26 | Samangan | 29.5% |
| 27 | Farah | 28.8% |
| 28 | Kandahar | 24.1% |
| 29 | Ghor | 23.0% |
| 30 | Helmand | 20.8% |
| 31 | Badghis | 19.8% |
Women aged 15-49 who are literate (2022-23)
Kandahar ranks 26 of 34, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Women aged 15-49 who are literate |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Farah | 13.7% |
| 24 | Samangan | 13.2% |
| 25 | Kunar | 12.7% |
| 26 | Kandahar | 12.7% |
| 27 | Nuristan | 12.2% |
| 28 | Paktya | 11.5% |
| 29 | Ghor | 8.3% |
More on Kandahar: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · Afghanistan
Sources
- UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA): Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2022-23, Survey Findings Report (province tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1469591017d8…)
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