Statistics Afghanistan 
Afghanistan in the World
Afghanistan - Introduction 2024
top of pageBackground:
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. Internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels forced the USSR to withdraw in 1989. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US and Allied military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN.
A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan, and he was reelected in 2009. Ashraf Ghani AHMADZAI succeeded him as president in 2014 following a disputed election. The Taliban conducted an insurgency for two decades against the Afghan Government and forces from the United States and other countries. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement that led to the withdrawal of international forces in exchange for commitments on counterterrorism and other assurances. The Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August 2021.
The Taliban established an all-male interim leadership structure dominated by Pashtun clerics under the leadership of Haivatrullah AKHUNDZADA. The Taliban issued numerous edicts that constrained women's mobility, ability to study and work, and access to education beyond primary school. To date, no country has recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.
A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan, and he was reelected in 2009. Ashraf Ghani AHMADZAI succeeded him as president in 2014 following a disputed election. The Taliban conducted an insurgency for two decades against the Afghan Government and forces from the United States and other countries. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement that led to the withdrawal of international forces in exchange for commitments on counterterrorism and other assurances. The Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August 2021.
The Taliban established an all-male interim leadership structure dominated by Pashtun clerics under the leadership of Haivatrullah AKHUNDZADA. The Taliban issued numerous edicts that constrained women's mobility, ability to study and work, and access to education beyond primary school. To date, no country has recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.
Area
Total: 652,230 km²
Land: 652,230 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Country comparison total: 5,987 km
Country comparison border countries: (6) China 91 km; Iran 921 km; Pakistan 2,670 km; Tajikistan 1,357 km; Turkmenistan 804 km; Uzbekistan 144 km
Land boundaries
Total: 5,987 km
Border countries: (6) China 91 km; Iran 921 km; Pakistan 2,670 km; Tajikistan 1,357 km; Turkmenistan 804 km; Uzbekistan 144 km
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land
Land use
Agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 11.8% (2018)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.3% (2018)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 46% (2018)
Agricultural land forest: 1.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 40.1% (2018)
Major rivers
By length in km: Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km
By length in km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds area km²: Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 km²); Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 km²); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 km²)
Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geography
Note: landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
Afghanistan - People 2024
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Total: 40,121,552
Male: 20,301,066
Female: 19,820,486 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.22% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 54.5% (2016 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Ethnic groups: current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups
Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.)
Major-language samples: کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari); د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note 1: percentages sum to more than 100% because many people are multilingual
Note 2: Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pashaie, Nuristani, Balochi, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them
Age structure
0-14 years: 39.6% (male 8,062,407/female 7,818,897)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 11,702,734/female 11,372,249)
65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 535,925/female 629,340)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 84.6
Youth dependency ratio: 80.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.8
Potential support ratio: 22.5 (2021 est.)
Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Urbanization
Urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution in overcrowded urban areas
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 62.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.67 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 90.98 megatons (2020 est.)
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2015 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Infant mortality rate
Total: 101.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 109.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 92.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: 68.3% of population
Improved total: 76.5% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved rural: 31.7% of population
Unimproved total: 23.5% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 88.2% of population
Improved rural: 52% of population
Improved total: 61.4% of population
Unimproved urban: 11.8% of population
Unimproved rural: 48% of population
Unimproved total: 38.6% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 37.3%
Male: 52.1%
Female: 22.6% (2021)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 10 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 8 years (2018)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 16.8% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 30.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Afghanistan - Government 2024
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021); current country name disputed
Conventional short form: Afghanistan
Local long form: Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021; current country name is disputed)
Local short form: Afghanistan
Etymology: the name 'Afghan' originally referred to the Pashtun people (today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups), while the suffix '-stan' means 'place of' or 'country'; so Afghanistan literally means the 'Land of the Afghans'
Capital
Name: Kabul
Geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E
Time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
Etymology: named for the Kabul River, but the river's name is of unknown origin
Administrative divisions: 34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
National holiday: previous: Independence Day, 19 August (1919); under the Taliban Government, 15 August (2022) is declared a national holiday, marking the anniversary of the victory of the Afghan jihad
Constitution
History: several previous; latest ratified in 2004, but not currently enforced by the Taliban
Legal system: the Taliban is implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, which is partially based on the Hanifi school of Islamic jurisprudence and have enforced strict punishments; before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law; (2021)
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive branch
Chief of state: Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada (since 15 August 2021)
Head of government: overall Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada is the [so-called] Amir-ul Momineen of the Taliban and is seen by them as a head of government
Cabinet: the Taliban have announced a 'cabinet' for the 'caretaker government,' including the 'acting prime minister,' 'acting deputy prime ministers,' and 'ministers' who claim to represent 26 ministries
Elections/appointments: the 2004 Afghan constitution directed that the president should be elected by majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 September 2019, and the Taliban have given no indication that they intend to reinstate elections or any other mechanism of democratic governance
Note: the United States has not yet made a decision whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan
Legislative branch
Note: before August 2021, Afghanistan had a bicameral National Assembly that consisted of the House of Elders and House of the People; the parliament has been on hiatus since August 2021 and the Taliban has shown no interest in reviving it
Judicial branch
Highest courts: the Taliban are purported to have appointed clerics, including a 'Chief Justice', to Afghanistan's Supreme Court
Subordinate courts: provincial courts, religious courts, and specialty courts
Political parties and leaders: the Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian state and has banned other political parties
International organization participation: Afghanistan is a member of the following organizations but Taliban representatives do not participate: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation
In the us: none
In the us note: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022
From the us embassy: the United States does not maintain a presence in Afghanistan and its diplomatic mission to Afghanistan has relocated to Doha, Qatar
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other 2 bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning 'God is great'), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam
Note 1: the United States has not recognized the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan and, accordingly, continues to display the flag of Afghanistan as set forth in the country's constitution of 2004
Note 2: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century - 19 by one count - than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them
National anthem
Name: 'Milli Surood' (National Anthem)
Lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
Note: adopted 2006
National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 2 (both cultural)
Note: the monumental 6th- and 7th-century statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
Afghanistan - Economy 2024
top of pageEconomy overview: extremely low-income South Asian economy; import drops, currency depreciation, disappearing central bank reserves, and increasing inflation after Taliban takeover; increasing Chinese trade; hit hard by COVID; ongoing sanctions
Real gdp purchasing power parity: $80.416 billion (2022 est.); $85.768 billion (2021 est.); $108.209 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
Real gdp growth rate: -6.24% (2022 est.); -20.74% (2021 est.); -2.35% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real gdp per capita: $2,000 (2022 est.); $2,100 (2021 est.); $2,800 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 97.6% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 21.8% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.7% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.4% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -54.5% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 33.7% (2022 est.)
Industry: 16.1% (2022 est.)
Services: 45% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agriculture products: wheat, milk, watermelons, grapes, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, apples (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries: small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate: -5.73% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Labor force: 8.921 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate: 14.39% (2023 est.); 14.1% (2022 est.); 11.93% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 16.8% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 30.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line: 54.5% (2016 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Budget
Revenues: $9.093 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $7.411 billion (2017 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Taxes and other revenues: 9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.3% (2019 est.); 0.63% (2018 est.); 4.98% (2017 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Current account balance: -$3.137 billion (2020 est.); -$3.792 billion (2019 est.); -$3.897 billion (2018 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports: $1.476 billion (2020 est.); $1.516 billion (2019 est.); $1.609 billion (2018 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Pakistan 57%, India 28%, China 3%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: coal, cotton, grapes, gum resins, nuts (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports: $6.983 billion (2020 est.); $7.371 billion (2019 est.); $7.988 billion (2018 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: UAE 21%, Kazakhstan 17%, Pakistan 17%, China 9%, Uzbekistan 9% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: wheat, tobacco, palm oil, packaged medicine, rice (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $9.749 billion (2020 est.); $8.498 billion (2019 est.); $8.207 billion (2018 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Exchange rates:
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar - 76.814 (2020 est.)
77.738 (2019 est.)
72.083 (2018 est.)
68.027 (2017 est.)
67.866 (2016 est.)
77.738 (2019 est.)
72.083 (2018 est.)
68.027 (2017 est.)
67.866 (2016 est.)
Afghanistan - Energy 2024
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification total population: 85.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 95.9%
Access electrification rural areas: 81.7%
Installed generating capacity: 627,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 5.994 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 5.881 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 717.333 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 15.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 74.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
Production: 4.885 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 1.545 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 3.343 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 4,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 66 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Natural gas
Production: 80.2 million m³ (2020 est.)
Consumption: 80.2 million m³ (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 49.554 billion m³ (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3.125 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.904 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 167,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2020 est.)
Afghanistan - Communication 2024
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 146,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 22.678 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (2021 est.)
Afghanistan - Military 2024
top of pageMilitary expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2019); 3.2% of GDP (2018); 3.3% of GDP (2017); 3.1% of GDP (2016); 2.9% of GDP (2015)
Military and security forces: the Taliban claims authority over a Ministry of Defense and a National Army (aka Army of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate Army, or Afghan Army); it has also formed police forces under a Ministry of Interior (2024)
Military service age and obligation: service is voluntary; there is no conscription (2023)
Note: the Taliban dismissed nearly all women from the former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, except those serving in detention facilities and assisting with body searches
Terrorist groups: Haqqani Taliban Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
Note 1: as of 2024, Afghanistan was assessed to be a place of global significance for terrorism, with approximately 20 designated and non-designated terrorist groups operating in the country
Note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Afghanistan - Transportation 2024
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,722,612 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 29.56 million (2018) mt-km
Afghanistan - Transnational issues 2024
top of pageRefugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 59,486 (Pakistan) (mid-year 2022)
Idps: 4.394 million (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in the south and west due to natural disasters and political instability) (2022)
Illicit drugs: the world’s largest supplier of opiates, but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 233,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2022; opium from poppies used to produce morphine and heroin; also produces large quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis, and cannabis products such as hashish; one of the world’s largest populations suffering from substance abuse; major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics. (2022)
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