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Gender Bias Excludes 15 Million Primary-Age Girls from School, UN Women Finds

The report warns that systemic barriers will worsen health outcomes, dampening economic growth in Afghanistan.

15 million primary-age girls around the world are currently out of school, as systemic gender discrimination continues to hinder equal access to education for girls and young women globally, a new report by UN Women revealed on Wednesday. (Representative image)
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Overview

  • Globally, girls account for 60% of primary-age children out of school, with 15 million girls excluded compared to 10 million boys.
  • Some regions endure out-of-school rates as high as 48.1% for girls, exposing disparities hidden by average enrolment figures.
  • Early pregnancy and household responsibilities drive many adolescent girls to leave secondary school, jeopardizing their prospects for employment and health.
  • In Afghanistan, 78% of young women are out of education, employment or training, with projections indicating a 45% increase in early childbearing and over 50% rise in maternal mortality by 2026.
  • Denying girls secondary education in Afghanistan is expected to shrink the country’s GDP by 2.5% each year.