The share of out-of-school children in Pakistan has declined sharply to 28% in 2025, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025–26 released on Thursday.

The report shows a notable improvement in school enrollment across the country, with the figure falling from 38% in 2023 to 28% in 2025, reflecting gradual progress in expanding access to education.

While overall numbers have improved, the survey highlights a continuing gender gap:

• Out-of-school boys decreased from 35% to 25%
• Out-of-school girls fell from 42% to 31%

Despite the improvement for both groups, girls remain more likely to be out of school, indicating ongoing challenges in female education access.

Provincial Trends Show Broad Improvement

All provinces recorded declines in out-of-school children:

• Balochistan: 69% → 45% (largest improvement)
• Sindh: 47% → 39%
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 30% → 28%
• Punjab: 32% → 21%

The report was released just ahead of the Budget 2026–27, suggesting that education funding, school enrollment programs, and girls’ education initiatives may become key government priorities.

Despite the progress, Pakistan still has a large number of children outside the formal education system, highlighting the need for continued reforms and investment in education infrastructure.