Afghanistan could face a shortage of more than 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers by 2030 if restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment continue, UNICEF warned on Tuesday.

In a new report, UNICEF said ongoing bans on girls’ secondary education and limits on women’s participation in the workforce are already damaging the country’s education and health sectors, while also weakening the broader economy.

The report, titled The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan, found that female representation in the civil service declined from 21 percent to 17.7 percent between 2023 and 2025.

According to UNICEF, more than one million girls have been denied access to secondary education since authorities imposed the ban in September 2021.

If restrictions remain in place until 2030, more than two million girls could be deprived of education beyond primary school in a country that already has one of the world’s lowest female literacy rates, the report stated.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said Afghanistan cannot afford to lose future teachers, nurses, doctors, midwives and social workers who are essential to public services.

She urged the authorities to lift the ban on girls’ secondary education and called on the international community to continue supporting Afghan girls’ right to learn.

Education and Health Systems Under Pressure

UNICEF warned that Afghanistan faces a dual challenge: losing trained female professionals while preventing the next generation from qualifying to replace them.

By 2030, the country could lose as many as 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 female healthcare workers, according to the analysis.

The education system is already showing signs of strain. The number of female teachers in basic education fell by more than nine percent, from nearly 73,000 in 2022 to around 66,000 in 2024.

The agency said this decline could hurt school attendance and learning outcomes, particularly for girls, who are more likely to remain in school when female teachers are present.

Risks to Healthcare and Economy

UNICEF also warned that shortages of female health workers could have serious consequences for maternal, newborn and child healthcare, especially in communities where cultural norms limit treatment by male staff.

The report estimated that restrictions on women’s education and employment are costing Afghanistan around $84 million each year in lost economic output, with losses expected to rise if current policies remain unchanged.

Ongoing Support

Despite the challenges, UNICEF said it continues to support education across Afghanistan.

In 2025, more than 3.7 million children in public schools received emergency assistance, while 442,000 children benefited from community-based learning programmes, 66 percent of them girls.

The agency also reported building or rehabilitating 232 schools across the country.