A recent study by Harry Anthony Patrinos, in collaboration with World Bank education expert Raja Bentaouet Kattan and American University economist Rafiuddin Najam, underscores the profound economic benefits of investing in women’s education in Afghanistan. Analyzing data from Labor Force and Household Surveys conducted in 2007, 2014, and 2020, the research highlights Afghanistan’s significant progress in expanding educational opportunities for women after the Taliban’s fall in 2001.
Economic Gains Linked to Women’s Education
The study reveals a remarkable link between women’s education and economic growth in Afghanistan. After the Taliban’s first regime ended in 2001, infant mortality rates were halved, and gross national income per capita nearly tripled—rising from $810 in 2001 to $2,590 in 2020 (in real purchasing power terms). Notably, the economic returns on women’s education far exceeded the global average. For every additional year of schooling a woman received, her earnings increased by 13%, compared to the global average of 9%.
Women’s education played a pivotal role in this economic progress, demonstrating that even in a challenging environment like Afghanistan, targeted investments in education yield substantial returns. However, these gains are now under threat following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and the reimplementation of a ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade.
The Economic Costs of the Ban
The researchers estimate that the economic cost of excluding women from education and work could exceed $1.4 billion annually, representing a 2% decline in Afghanistan’s national income. This figure does not account for the broader social costs, such as reduced public health, diminished intergenerational benefits, and heightened inequality.
Afghanistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) was just $17 billion in 2023. The exclusion of women from education and the workforce undermines individual opportunities and jeopardizes the country’s economic stability and future growth.
Broader Implications of Women’s Education
The study reaffirms a widely held belief: investing in women’s education creates far-reaching economic and social benefits. Educated women tend to have healthier children, higher family incomes, and a greater likelihood of breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty. The multiplier effect of such investments benefits entire communities, fostering long-term development.
The Need for Further Research
Patrinos and his colleagues emphasize the importance of further studies to explore the social and public returns of women’s education in Afghanistan. Research could explore how education investments impact public health, reduce inequality, and sustain economic benefits across generations. Such evidence is critical for policymakers and international stakeholders advocating for women’s rights and education in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s experience demonstrates the profound impact of investing in and depriving women of education. While the progress made between 2001 and 2021 showcases the potential for transformative change, the current ban on women’s education risks undoing these gains, with dire consequences for the country’s economy and society.
Every day that the education ban persists compounds these losses, depriving generations of Afghan women and their communities of opportunities to thrive. Reinstating women’s access to education is not just a matter of rights—it is necessary for Afghanistan’s economic and social future.
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