UNICEF has warned that Afghanistan is facing a deepening crisis that could lead to the loss of around 25,000 women teachers and health workers, further weakening already fragile education and healthcare systems. The agency says the restrictions on women’s education and employment are not only limiting opportunities for women but are also depriving children of access to essential learning and medical services, while undermining the country’s long-term economic stability.
A new UNICEF analysis, The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan, shows that female participation in the civil service has declined from 21% in 2023 to 17.7% in 2025. The report highlights that the continued ban on girls’ secondary education since 2021 has already left more than one million girls out of school, with projections suggesting that over two million may miss out on education beyond primary level if the restrictions continue until 2030.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed that Afghanistan risks losing future generations of essential professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses, midwives, and social workers if girls are kept out of education. She called on authorities to lift the ban and urged the international community to continue supporting girls’ right to learn, warning that exclusion from education will have lasting consequences for the country’s development.
The report also highlights a growing imbalance in Afghanistan’s workforce, where the country is losing trained female professionals while simultaneously preventing new ones from entering the system. By 2030, Afghanistan could lose up to 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 healthcare workers, further straining public services that depend heavily on female staff.
The education sector is already experiencing the impact, with the number of female teachers in basic education falling by more than 9% between 2022 and 2024. UNICEF notes that the decline particularly affects girls, who are more likely to remain in school when female teachers are present, thereby increasing the risk of further drops in female enrolment.
In healthcare, the consequences are especially severe due to cultural barriers that often require women to be treated by female health professionals. A shortage of women in the sector is expected to reduce access to maternal, newborn, and child health services, putting the lives of women and children at greater risk across the country.
UNICEF also estimates that restrictions on women’s education and employment are costing Afghanistan around $84 million annually in lost economic output. The agency continues to support education initiatives across the country, reaching millions of children through emergency schooling programmes and community-based learning, while also rebuilding and rehabilitating schools to keep education accessible where possible.
