How many Afghan girls are barred from secondary school?
UNESCO and UNICEF reported in January 2026 that 2.2 million adolescent girls were banned from attending secondary school in Afghanistan.
What the figure or term means
Afghanistan was described as the only country where secondary and higher education were forbidden to girls and women.
The count is tied to the education situation and demographic estimates at the time of publication.
Exclusion also affects future teachers, health workers, livelihoods, and national development.
Cite the January 2026 joint release when using 2.2 million.
How to use this information responsibly
Current sources show how restrictions, funding cuts, disease, malnutrition, and access barriers overlap, especially for women and children.
National figures should not be used to diagnose an individual, predict one child’s future, or flatten the experiences of all Afghan women and families.
Check the underlying information.
Editorial standard: This page is reviewed by a person, sourced to Famidi records or authoritative references, and revised when the program or underlying guidance changes. It does not replace legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.