Pakistan records steady gains in education as primary completion reaches 57pc

• Primary school completion rises from 51pc to 57pc since 2018-19, official documents show

• Female educational attainment improves nationwide, with rural women recording notable gains

• Punjab leads provinces in completion rate, while Balochistan posts biggest improvement

• Out-of-school children rate drops sharply from 38pc in 2023 to 28pc in 2025

 ISLAMABAD: The proportion of Pakistanis aged 10 years and above who have completed at least primary education increased to 57 per cent in 2024-25, up from 51 per cent in 2018-19, reflecting continued progress in educational attainment, school participation and literacy across the country.

According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the national primary school completion rate rose from 51 per cent in 2018-19 to 57 per cent in 2024-25. Among males, the completion rate increased from 61 per cent to 65 per cent, while among females it improved from 42 per cent to 48 per cent, indicating steady gains in educational outcomes for both genders.

The documents show that educational attainment improved in both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, the primary completion rate increased from 66 per cent to 68 per cent, while in rural areas it rose from 42 per cent to 49 per cent. Male completion in rural areas increased from 54 per cent to 60 per cent, while female completion improved from 32 per cent to 38 per cent.

Among the provinces, Punjab recorded the highest primary completion rate, rising from 57 per cent to 62 per cent. Sindh improved from 49 per cent to 52 per cent, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered an increase from 44 per cent to 52 per cent. Balochistan recorded the largest relative improvement, with its primary completion rate climbing from 31 per cent to 42 per cent during the review period.

The documents indicate that improvements in educational attainment have been accompanied by broader gains in school participation. The proportion of the population aged 10 years and above who have ever attended school increased from 61 per cent in 2018-19 to 67 per cent in 2024-25. Male attendance rose from 73 per cent to 77 per cent, while female attendance increased from 50 per cent to 57 per cent.

Progress was also recorded in rural communities, where school attendance improved from 53 per cent to 59 per cent. According to the documents, rural female participation showed particularly encouraging gains, reflecting continued efforts to expand educational opportunities and reduce disparities in access to education.

Pakistan's literacy indicators also improved during the period under review. The literacy rate among people aged 10 years and above increased from 61 per cent to 63 per cent, with male literacy rising to 73 per cent and female literacy reaching 54 per cent. Rural female literacy recorded one of the most significant improvements among all population groups.

The documents further show progress in reducing the number of children outside the education system. The national out-of-school children rate declined from 38 per cent in 2023 to 28 per cent in 2025, with improvements recorded across all provinces and regions.

According to the documents, the continued increase in primary school completion, school attendance and literacy rates reflects sustained efforts to strengthen access to education and improve learning outcomes across Pakistan.