In this article, we will discuss a troubling global issue: the profound challenges faced by girls seeking an education in some parts of the world. We will talk about the 25 worst countries for girls to get an education. Access to education is a fundamental human right, yet in numerous countries, girls encounter formidable barriers that obstruct their path to learning.
These challenges are not mere happenstance but are often deeply rooted in cultural, social, and economic factors, resulting in a disheartening reality for girls aspiring to acquire knowledge.
According to the UNESCO 2019 report, there are still 132 million girls worldwide who are out of school. This staggering number highlights the vast gender gap in education. In countries where child marriage is prevalent, such as Niger and Chad, girls are often forced into early marriages, cutting short their educational opportunities.
As per UNICEF, in Niger, for example, 76% of girls are married before they turn 18 and have no education rights. Girls’ education is disproportionately affected in conflict-affected regions like Afghanistan and South Sudan. UNESCO reports that conflict leads to a high rate of school dropouts, with girls being more vulnerable.
Poverty remains a significant barrier to girls’ education. In many of the worst-affected countries, families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, or transportation. In sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, 9.3 million girls may never set foot in a classroom.
Deeply ingrained cultural norms, stereotypes, and gender biases restrict girls’ access to education in Pakistan and Yemen. These norms often prioritize boys’ education over girls’ education.
As per the latest reports of January 2023, 130 million girls are denied the right to education.
In assessing the educational landscape for girls, it’s crucial to recognize the progressive strides made by European countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Belgium. These nations have consistently demonstrated a commitment to gender equality, fostering environments where females not only have access to quality education but also thrive in the workforce.
European countries are not included in the list of 25 worst countries for girls to get an education because these are a safe haven for girls. Sweden, for instance, has implemented policies that actively promote gender equality in education and the workplace, contributing to its status as a global leader in this regard. Norway, too, has prioritized equal opportunities, exemplified by its high representation of women in various professions and leadership roles. Belgium, with its comprehensive education system, ensures that girls have the support and resources necessary to excel academically.
Female education in developing countries presents multifaceted challenges that significantly impact access and quality. While strides have been made, barriers such as cultural norms, economic constraints, and inadequate infrastructure persist, disproportionately affecting girls.
In some regions, traditional gender roles often limit girls’ educational opportunities, reinforcing societal expectations that prioritize domestic responsibilities over formal schooling and South African countries specifically fall in this category. Let’s look into our methodology that we used to curate this list of worst countries for girls to get an education.
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Our Methodology
For the ranking of 25 worst countries for girls to get an education, we checked all the recent statistics and trends on Google news. Also, we took into consideration 1,2,3,4,5 these articles from the Insider Monkey database.
We also took help from the first 15 articles on Google for this compilation and ranking. Eventually, we listed countries based on the issues that are constant and have been through the last decade. Let’s look at the 25 worst countries for girls to get an education.
25. Eswatini
Eswatini, a small landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, faces daunting obstacles regarding girls’ education. Limited access to schooling, driven by factors like poverty and distance to schools, disproportionately affects girls.
Cultural norms prioritizing boys’ education over girls’ further compound the issue. High dropout rates are prevalent, with early marriages, pregnancies, and household responsibilities often interrupting girls’ educational journeys. Gender-based violence, including sexual violence, poses a pervasive threat, hindering girls’ ability to focus on learning.
Only around 46% of Eswatini women are employed, indicating the limited economic opportunities for women.
24. Guinea
Guinea, a West African country, faces challenges regarding gender equality and women’s well-being, as the Women’s Peace and Security Index indicates. Guinea ranks poorly in multiple key areas. One particularly alarming statistic is that women in Guinea have one of the lowest levels of education globally, with a literacy rate of just 27.69 percent.
Enrollment rates for girls or female children in primary and secondary education are lower than for boys. Cultural norms, economic constraints, and early marriage often make girls drop out of school. All these factors contribute to including it to our lists of worst countries for girls to get an education.
23. Gambia
Gambia is 23rd in number and faces educational challenges, particularly impacting its women and girls. According to the antipoverty group the Borgen Project around less than half of women in this tiny West African country are literate. This alarming statistic underscores the limited access to quality education and the gender disparities in literacy rates.
Girls Not Brides estimates that 26% of Gambian girls marry before they turn 18. It is a practice that often disrupts their education and future opportunities.
22. India
India should have provided equal educational opportunities, particularly for girls. According to the Women’s Peace and Security Index, India ranks 148 out of 170 countries, indicating gender inequality in various aspects, including education.
Socio-cultural norms and practices often prioritize boys’ education over girls’, leading to gender disparities in literacy rates. UNICEF data highlights that the female literacy rate in India is lower than the male literacy rate, with less than two-thirds of women being literate.
These disparities limit girls’ educational opportunities, hinder their future prospects, and contribute to broader gender inequality issues in India.
21. Libya
The persistent challenges faced by Libyan women, including the lack of basic rights and political underrepresentation, have broader implications for access to education.
The ongoing gender disparities and the prevalence of violence against women and children, as highlighted by the U.N. Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem, create a hostile environment that can deter girls from pursuing their education.
The fear of violence and discrimination can limit their access to schools and hinder their ability to engage in learning fully.
20. Djibouti
In this East African country, the persistence of female genital mutilation (FGM), despite being illegal since the 1980s, poses a significant challenge. The unemployment rate is also 63% among women.
With many women and girls subjected to this practice, many students may likely experience health-related issues and trauma that hinder their participation in schools. Moreover, the low rate of cell phone access can limit their ability to access educational resources, particularly in areas with limited access to traditional educational infrastructure.
19. Liberia
Liberia is among the worst countries for girls to get an education because of study infrastructure struggles. Few schools have access to water and sanitation facilities. Access to quality education still needs to be improved. High dropout rates are common, with only a few students transitioning from primary to junior secondary school.
Moreover, Liberia faces a shortage of trained teachers, with a teacher-pupil ratio of approximately 1:58, making it difficult to provide quality education to girls.
18. Nigar
In 2019, the Niger government introduced a policy that allowed married and pregnant girls to continue their education after giving birth, which was commendable. However, child marriage remains prevalent despite this policy, with 76% of women aged 20-24 in Niger being married before 18.
Forced marriages, even in cases of rape, persist as a troubling issue, often curtailing girls’ access to education. Furthermore, economic hardships and traditional beliefs contribute to the perpetuation of these practices.
17. Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, nearly 60% of girls are married before age 18, and the educational issues are significant.
Child marriage often leads to the discontinuation of girls’ education as they assume familial responsibilities, perpetuating a cycle of limited educational opportunities and these make Bangladesh inclusion in the list of worst countries for girls to get an education.
16. Republic of Congo
In the Republic of Congo, despite efforts to improve gender equality, the persisting gender disparities and discrimination have broader implications for education. The unequal legal framework can reinforce traditional gender roles and affect women’s ability to access education and make life decisions.
According to USAID, 4 million children are still out of school in the Republic of Congo.
15. Madagascar
According to the World Bank, the overall literacy rate for women in Madagascar is relatively low. Most women need more basic literacy skills; only 36.6% of girls complete secondary education.
Furthermore, gender disparities persist in primary and secondary education, with girls having lower enrollment and completion rates than boys. Socioeconomic factors, early marriage, and household responsibilities often contribute to girls dropping out of school prematurely.
14. Mauritania
The challenging situation for women in Mauritania is reflected in both the legal and social spheres, which has broader implications for their access to education. 47% of girls do not transition from primary to secondary school, and only 17 to 20 are university students.
Economic opportunities for women are limited, which can indirectly affect their ability to access education due to financial constraints.
13. Central African Republic
The challenges women face in the Central African Republic include low financial inclusion rates, limited access to education, and underrepresentation in parliament. All this has broader implications for their participation in the political and security context.
Also, the underrepresentation of women in parliament reflects gender disparities in political decision-making, which can hinder the development of policies that address women’s specific concerns, including security and education.
12. Somalia
The deeply concerning situation in Somalia, particularly regarding gender-based violence and female genital mutilation, has broader implications for women’s access to education and overall well-being.
The alarming rates of intimate partner abuse compound these challenges, creating an environment of fear and insecurity that can deter girls from attending school or disrupt their learning process. Moreover, legislative actions undermining protections against violence and permitting child and forced marriages only exacerbate the already dire situation for women and girls in Somalia.
11. Palestine
Palestine is in our list of 25 worst countries for girls to get an education because of all the sad reasons. In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, access to education for girls faces numerous challenges due to prolonged occupation and ongoing conflict. The right to education is continuously undermined by incidents such as attacks or threats on schools and lost time due to checkpoint delays.
10. Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, the prevalence of female genital mutilation and early marriage has hindered girls’ education. With an estimated 86% of Sierra Leonean women aged 15-49 having undergone FGM, this harmful practice has severe physical and psychological consequences. Plus, there is gender based violence that portrays a sad picture of girls’ education.
9. Sudan
In Sudan, the cultural norms and strict interpretations of Islam have created a challenging environment for girls’ education, with discrimination being deeply embedded within society. Laws regarding education often fall short of guaranteeing protection against discrimination.
This bias is reflected in practices such as female genital mutilation and honor killings, which contribute to the marginalization of women and girls in various aspects of life, including education.
UNICEF’s alarming statistic that 49% of girls are missing out on primary education underscores the extent of this issue, with approximately three million children, half of them girls, left out of Sudan’s education system.
8. Chad
In Chad, the forced dropout of thousands of girls from school due to early marriages and pregnancies poses long-term challenges. These girls often encounter difficulties securing jobs and providing for their families, given their limited education and support systems. The lack of assistance from husbands and public institutions exacerbates their struggles.
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo is among the world’s poorest countries. As defined by the U.N. Human Development Index, 70% of the country’s 96 million people live below the poverty threshold.
Intimate partner violence continues to be an issue, largely due to societal instability. Around 4 million people remain out of school.
6. South Sudan
The situation for women and girls is deeply distressing in the world’s newest internationally recognized country, South Sudan, as highlighted in a March 2022 U.N. Commission report.
Alarmingly, only 16 percent of females over 15 are literate, starkly contrasting the 40 percent literacy rate among males
5. Iraq
Oppression is the main reason why we have added Iraq in the list of 25 worst countries for girls to have an education. In Iraq, the heartbreaking reality for women is marked by the highest violence perpetrated by intimate partners, reaching 45%, according to the 2021 WPS Index. The dire employment situation, with only one in 10 Iraqi women employed, coupled with discriminatory laws that codify a husband’s right to punish his wife, perpetuates a cycle of abuse and oppression.
Despite the prevalence of cell phone usage, other challenges, including damaged infrastructure, underinvestment in teachers and curriculum, ongoing displacement, and nationwide COVID-19 school closures, have severely damaged access to and the quality of girls’ education.
4. Pakistan
Pakistan’s ranking on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, at 153rd out of 156 countries, reflects a disheartening gender disparity situation. The report highlights that women make up only 7% of Pakistan’s labor force, one of the lowest figures globally.
Income disparities remain stark, with a Pakistani woman earning just 16.3% of a man’s income on average. Additionally, women face unequal access to justice, land ownership, non-financial assets, and inheritance rights.