Missed Opportunities: The High Cost of Not Educating Girls

This report estimates the global impact of depriving girls of education as well as showing how educational attainment can affect their life chances and choices, and the outcomes of this at an individual, family and community level. Its findings show the transformative power of education for girls in six areas: (1) earnings and standards of living, (2) child marriage and early childbearing, (3) fertility and population growth, (4) health, nutrition and well-being, (5) agency and decision-making, and (6) social capital and institutions. Findings indicate that limited educational opportunities for girls and barriers to completing 12 years of education cost countries between $15 trillion and $30 trillion dollars in lost lifetime productivity and earnings. The report also finds that primary education is not enough. Across many indicators, benefits from primary education only are limited.