Ratio of girls to boys in education; selected states with GDP comparable to Pakistan

Pakistan is the country with the second highest number of children out of school, according to UNESCO. Two-thirds (over 3 million) of these are girls. Compared to other lower middle income countries, Pakistan has a low primary enrolment rate. Only 54% of girls are enrolled in primary school, which drops to 30% for secondary school. The figures for girls from rural areas are even worse (50% primary enrolment, 24% secondary). These figures vary by region. Girls are also more likely than boys to drop out of primary school, mainly owing to poverty. Although gender parity in education improved from 2001 to 2011, the World Bank still reports a ratio of 79 girls to 100 boys in primary and secondary schools.