Islamabad (HRNW) – A new report by Gallup Pakistan has revealed a concerning decline in university enrollments across the country, highlighting the growing impact of Pakistan’s economic challenges on access to higher education.
According to the report, university enrollment in Pakistan reached its highest level of 2.23 million students during the 2020–21 academic year. However, by 2024–25, the number had dropped to approximately 1.96 million, representing a decline of around 262,000 students over just three years—a decrease of 11.8 percent.
The findings are based on higher education statistics published in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025, which covers enrollment trends from 2014–15 to 2024–25.
The decline comes at a time when Pakistan is experiencing significant economic hardship, including persistently high inflation, rising tuition and educational expenses, depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, uncertainty in the job market, and an increasing trend of emigration among students and skilled professionals.
The report notes that the situation marks a sharp reversal from the previous growth trend. Between 2014–15 and 2020–21, university enrollment steadily increased from approximately 1.3 million to 2.23 million, adding more than 900,000 students to the country’s higher education system during that period.
Education experts warn that the declining enrollment figures could have long-term implications for Pakistan’s human capital development, economic competitiveness, and social progress. They emphasize the need for policies that improve affordability, expand financial assistance, and strengthen opportunities for higher education to ensure that economic barriers do not prevent young people from pursuing university studies.
Important Note
This report is based on data published in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025 and analysis by Gallup Pakistan. The figures reflect national enrollment trends and are intended to provide an overview of changes in higher education participation.
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