Photo: Hylgeriak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Tajikistan: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Tajikistan is placed 108th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 4.151 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 11.44 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
108th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 4.151Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 11.44Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 85.22Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- 5.437Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Tajikistan on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Tajikistan’s is from 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0
4.151
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Tajikistan: 4.151. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Central Asia
- 0.566 Uzbekistan
- Land neighbours
- Kyrgyzstan 2.982 · Uzbekistan 0.566
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Tajikistan’s is from 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0
11.44
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Tajikistan: 11.44. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Central Asia
- 86.2 Kyrgyzstan
- Land neighbours
- Kyrgyzstan 86.2 · Uzbekistan 81.57
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
85.22
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Tajikistan: 85.22. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Central Asia
- 98.98 Uzbekistan
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 36.28 · China 89.82 · Kyrgyzstan 93.42 · Uzbekistan 98.98
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
5.437
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Tajikistan: 5.437. Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Central Asia
- 6.827 Kyrgyzstan
- Land neighbours
- China 3.897 · Kyrgyzstan 6.827 · Uzbekistan 5.473
02Over time
Which way Tajikistan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
TajikistanWorld median
Tajikistan fell from 6.851 in 2000 to 4.151 in 2017; the world median went from 8.642 to 2.907.
Every year’s figures
Year Tajikistan World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 — 3.330 2020 — 2.678 2019 — 2.758 2018 — 2.439 2017 4.15 2.907 2016 6.56 2.954 2015 8.28 3.052 2014 9.38 3.904 2013 9.14 3.413 2012 7.25 3.408 2011 3.07 3.626 2010 2.60 3.491 2009 3.87 3.577 2008 5.17 3.878 2007 6.30 4.029 2006 6.65 4.338 2005 6.44 4.571 2004 6.73 3.791 2003 6.97 4.412 2002 5.93 4.144 2001 7.44 4.051 2000 6.85 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
TajikistanWorld median
Tajikistan fell from 12.39 in 2000 to 11.44 in 2017; the world median went from 66.32 to 87.36.
Every year’s figures
Year Tajikistan World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 11.44 87.4 2016 13.13 87.9 2015 10.63 88.2 2014 9.48 89.2 2013 9.60 88.0 2012 9.84 85.4 2011 8.54 86.2 2010 7.39 86.1 2009 8.94 84.8 2008 8.36 85.8 2007 9.05 86.7 2006 8.07 84.0 2005 8.50 82.2 2004 8.32 81.8 2003 8.29 78.3 2002 8.74 80.0 2001 12.05 80.8 2000 12.39 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
TajikistanWorld median
Tajikistan rose from 53.49 in 2000 to 85.22 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Tajikistan World median 2025 85.2 64.9 2024 84.5 65.0 2023 83.6 64.2 2022 82.4 63.6 2021 81.1 62.9 2020 79.7 62.2 2019 78.2 61.5 2018 76.5 60.9 2017 74.4 60.5 2016 72.3 60.1 2015 70.3 58.9 2014 68.5 57.0 2013 66.7 54.7 2012 64.8 52.4 2011 63.0 50.9 2010 61.6 49.5 2009 60.6 48.5 2008 59.9 47.4 2007 59.1 46.2 2006 58.3 45.0 2005 57.4 43.8 2004 56.5 42.9 2003 55.7 41.6 2002 54.9 40.3 2001 54.2 39.0 2000 53.5 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
TajikistanWorld median
Tajikistan rose from 2.329 in 2000 to 5.437 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Tajikistan World median 2023 5.44 3.7092 2022 5.40 4.0570 2021 4.38 4.2611 2020 5.14 4.4056 2019 5.48 4.1407 2018 5.39 4.2159 2017 5.54 4.1401 2016 5.73 4.2342 2015 4.97 4.2386 2014 5.59 4.2005 2013 5.29 4.3493 2012 4.02 4.0348 2011 3.94 3.9987 2010 4.01 4.1396 2009 4.10 4.6638 2008 3.46 4.4226 2007 3.41 4.1717 2006 3.40 4.0593 2005 3.51 4.0557 2004 2.77 3.9745 2003 2.42 4.1595 2002 2.78 4.0173 2001 2.38 4.1002 2000 2.33 3.8861
03In context
Tajikistan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Tajikistan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Uzbekistan | 25th | 0.566 | 81.57 | 98.98 | 5.473 |
 Kyrgyzstan | =38th | 2.982 | 86.2 | 93.42 | 6.827 |
 China | 51st | — | — | 89.82 | 3.897 |
| Tajikistan | 108th | 4.151 | 11.44 | 85.22 | 5.437 |
 Afghanistan | not placed | — | — | 36.28 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
- Uzbekistan25th
- Kyrgyzstan=38th
Kazakhstan76th- Tajikistan108th
Turkmenistan126th
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Tajikistan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Tajikistan is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Tajikistan does better than the middle country measured.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.9980.529No earlier reading
Tajikistan: 0.998 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9999.7393.99No earlier reading
Tajikistan: 99.73 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 15th of 172 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.2990.446No earlier reading
Tajikistan: 0.299 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 140th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2197.2789.21▲ Improved since 2015
Tajikistan: 97.27 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 47th of 164 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.279.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Tajikistan: 11.27 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 193 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4398.8297.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Tajikistan: 98.82 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 66th of 165 · derived.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2298.8198.22No earlier reading
Tajikistan: 98.81 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Tajikistan does worse than the middle country measured.
Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 1.2440.9451.244▲ Improved since 2014
Tajikistan: 0.945 · world median 1.244 · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.74 to 1.83; higher is better.
Position 9th of 95 · derived.
Bachelor's or Higher AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 19.8616.3419.86▲ Improved since 2016
Tajikistan: 16.34 · world median 19.86 · Adults 25+ who completed a bachelor's degree or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.135 to 52.72; higher is better.
Position 55th of 90 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9416.7857.941▼ Worsened since 2017
Tajikistan: 6.785 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 110th of 172 · derived.
Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · 2024 · world median 52.7735.6452.77No real change since 2014
Tajikistan: 35.64 · world median 52.77 · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.566 to 141.86; higher is better.
Position 63rd of 95 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32390.57414.32▼ Worsened since 2017
Tajikistan: 390.57 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 114th of 172 · derived.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1986.993.19▼ Worsened since 2020
Tajikistan: 86.9 · world median 93.19 · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19.87 to 158.55; higher is better.
Position 74th of 109 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3410.8513.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Tajikistan: 10.85 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 162nd of 195 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.0820.619No real change since 2015
Tajikistan: 0.082 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 165th of 176 · derived.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3559.5134.35Moved since 2018
Tajikistan: 59.51 · world median 34.35 · People aged 15+ who trust scientists in their country 'a lot' (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 9.335 to 72.35.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1737.0138.17No earlier reading
Tajikistan: 37.01 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2405402,240No real change since 2022
Tajikistan: 540 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
No current reading for Tajikistan
Female Share of STEM Graduates, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2017), Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2011), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2017), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2017), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2017), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2017), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2017), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2017), Research and Development Spending (last 2020), Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy (last 2013), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes (last 2017) and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2017). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Tajikistan’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Tajikistan’s 5th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energy45th of 1653/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability69th of 1864/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience73rd of 1934/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital104th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge108th of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 118th of 2004/4 keys
- Digital & Technology122nd of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 115th of 1844/4 keys
- Peace & Security115th of 1774/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality104th of 1592/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 155th of 1834/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation154th of 1764/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions170th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties185th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour172nd of 1824/4 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Tajikistan can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Asia
United Arab Emirates1st2/4 keysHighest in Central Asia
Uzbekistan25th4/4 keysThis page
Tajikistan108th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Tajikistan on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Tajikistan rank on education & knowledge?
Tajikistan is placed 108th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Government Spending on Education). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Tajikistan?
4.151 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Tajikistan?
11.44 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does Tajikistan compare with China on education & knowledge?
China is placed 51st of 198, and Tajikistan 108th. Upper Secondary Completion Rate: China 89.82, Tajikistan 85.22; Government Spending on Education: China 3.897, Tajikistan 5.437.
How have Tajikistan’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary fell from 6.851 in 2000 to 4.151 in 2017; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 12.39 in 2000 to 11.44 in 2017; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 53.49 in 2000 to 85.22 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 2.329 in 2000 to 5.437 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Tajikistan?
No current reading is published for Tajikistan on Female Share of STEM Graduates, Government Funding per Primary Student, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Learning Poverty, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower Secondary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, School Life Expectancy, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Tajikistan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Tajikistan (banner) — Hylgeriak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Tajikistan: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/tajikistan/education