Cities & Regions

Which Pakistani province has the highest out-of-school rate?

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Answer

Direct answer

UNICEF estimates 9.7 million out-of-school children in Punjab, or 27% of the provincial 5–16 population; 7.4 million in Sindh, or 44%; 4.5 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or 34%; 3.5 million in Balochistan, or nearly 69%; and about 0.09 million in Islamabad, or 15%. Punjab has the largest absolute number, while Balochistan has the highest proportional exclusion. Counts and rates answer different questions and should be reported together.

69%Balochistan out-of-school share, ages 5–16
Evidence

Sources used

International Organization · 2026

Education in Pakistan

UNICEF Pakistan

UNICEF context for out-of-school children, access gaps and gender/province differences in education.View source
Government Data · 2021

Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey 2019–20

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics

Government survey source for literacy, education and household living-standard indicators.View source
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