The United Nations, citing a recent UNICEF report, says Afghanistan now has the world’s lowest female literacy rate under Taliban rule.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Afghanistan could lose around 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 female health workers by 2030 as restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment continue.
According to UNICEF, Taliban-imposed limitations on women and girls are already causing approximately $84 million in annual economic losses.
The report states that around one million Afghan girls are currently out of school, and warns that the number could exceed two million by 2030 if restrictions remain in place.
The crisis extends beyond literacy alone, threatening long-term access to education, maternal healthcare, and broader public services that depend heavily on female professionals.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, significantly limiting access to education, employment, and other fundamental rights.
The UN warning frames the issue not only as a rights emergency, but as a growing national crisis affecting Afghanistan’s future workforce, economy, and social infrastructure.
