Afghanistan is the only country where girls are banned from secondary and higher education, with nearly 2.2 million girls denied schooling beyond primary level.

Omissions

• The most recent UNESCO and UNICEF data confirming the 2.2 million figure dates from mid-to-late 2025 (August–September 2025), approximately 8–9 months before the session date of May 2026. While the ban remains in place and the figure is likely still accurate, no 2026-specific figure was found in the search results.
• UNICEF has separately warned that the pool of girls affected by secondary education restrictions could exceed 2 million by 2030 if the ban continues, suggesting the number may grow over time.

Sources

• PrimaryUNESCOToday, Afghanistan stands out tragically as the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is strictly forbidden to girls. […] Nearly 2.2 million of them are now barred from attending school beyond the primary level due to this regressive decision.
• PrimaryUNICEF and UNESCO Joint Press ReleaseAs a result, 2.2 million adolescent girls have been banned from attending school beyond primary level.
• PrimaryUNICEFIt has been four years since adolescent girls in Afghanistan were barred from attending school beyond grade 6.