Pakistan loses 262,000 university students as enrolment drops 11.8%
Higher education enrolment falls after decade-long expansion amid economic pressures, rising costs and migration trend
Islamabad: Pakistan’s university enrolment has declined by nearly 262,000 students since reaching its peak in 2020–21, marking an 11.8 per cent drop over three years, according to data from the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025.
University enrolment, which had expanded steadily for more than a decade, reached its highest level of 2.23 million students in 2020–21. However, by 2024–25, the number had fallen to an estimated 1.96 million students, indicating a significant reversal in higher education participation.
The decline comes after a period of rapid growth in which university enrolment increased from 1.30 million students in 2014–15 to 2.23 million in 2020–21, adding more than 900,000 students to the higher education system.
However, the upward trend changed after the peak year. Enrolment dropped to 1.94 million students in 2022–23 and only slightly recovered to an estimated 1.96 million in 2024–25, remaining far below the previous high.
The decline coincides with growing economic challenges, including inflation, increased education expenses, currency depreciation and a rise in overseas migration.
Experts and analysts suggest that Pakistan’s higher education challenge is shifting from expanding university capacity to ensuring that students can afford education and see meaningful career opportunities after graduation.
The data indicates that while Pakistan invested significantly in increasing access to universities over the past decade, the emerging concern is retaining student participation and strengthening the connection between higher education and employment opportunities.
The analysis by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International, is based on higher education enrolment figures published in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025, covering trends from 2014–15 to 2024–25.