60% of Pakistanis Say They Are Better Educated Than Their Parents, Gallup Survey Finds

Women, older adults, and higher-educated respondents are most likely to report educational progress across generations, according to a nationwide survey.

Hamid Khan Wazir

ISLAMABAD: A majority of Pakistanis believe they have achieved a higher level of education than their parents, according to a new nationwide survey by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, highlighting a positive perception of intergenerational educational progress despite ongoing challenges in the country's education sector.

The survey found that 60% of respondents said they and their immediate family are better off in terms of educational attainment compared to their parents' generation. Meanwhile, 22% believed their educational status is about the same, 12% felt they are worse off, while 3% said they did not know and another 3% did not respond.

The findings are based on responses to the question: "As an individual, do you feel that you and your immediate family are better off, worse off, or about the same compared to your parents (previous generation) in terms of educational attainment?"

According to the survey, perceptions of educational progress were particularly strong among women (63%), higher-educated respondents (67%), and older adults (68%), suggesting notable differences across gender, age, and education levels in how Pakistanis view intergenerational advancement.

Gallup & Gilani Pakistan said the results indicate that most citizens perceive improvements in access to education and educational outcomes over time. The organization noted that these findings could help policymakers better understand public perceptions regarding education and the country's long-term human capital development.

The survey was conducted between March 26 and April 1, 2026, using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). It covered a nationally representative sample of 761 adult respondents from both urban and rural areas across Pakistan's four provinces.

The survey carries an estimated margin of error of approximately ±2–3% at the 95% confidence level.

Gallup & Gilani Pakistan is the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The survey was released by the Gilani Research Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing social science research for students, academics, policymakers, and the public.

Headed by Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gilani, Chairman of Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, the foundation is a nonpartisan research institution that provides data and analysis without advocating specific policy positions. Dr. Gilani established Gallup Pakistan in 1980 and has taught at leading universities in Pakistan and abroad after earning his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).