Afghanistan

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 26,570 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

under the Taliban government, independent media outlets have decreased in number and are probably self-censoring criticism of the Taliban and the Ministry of Information and Culture monitors all mass media in Afghanistan; television and radio are key media platforms; only about a fifth of Afghans use the internet, mostly through smartphones (2023)

Internet country code

.af

Internet users

total: 7.02 million (2020 est.) percent of population: 18% (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Afghanistan's telecom sector is facing challenges providing adequate coverage to all of the population; prior to the Taliban regaining power, the World Bank and other donors supported the development of a nationwide fiber backbone and there is terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries; work on the 'Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project' to connect to China has faced obstacles because of Afghanistan's economic issues. (2021) domestic: before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 57 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021) international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 146,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 22.678 million (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, watermelons, grapes, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, apples (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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

Debt - external

$2.14 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic 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

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.)

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

Exports - commodities

coal, cotton, grapes, gum resins, nuts (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Pakistan 57%, India 28%, China 3%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.502 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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

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

Imports - commodities

wheat, tobacco, palm oil, packaged medicine, rice (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

UAE 21%, Kazakhstan 17%, Pakistan 17%, China 9%, Uzbekistan 9% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-5.73% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2019 est.) 0.63% (2018 est.) 4.98% (2017 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

8.921 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

54.5% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

7% of GDP (2017 est.)

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

Remittances

2.55% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.24% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.95% of GDP (2020 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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

Taxes and other revenues

9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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.) male: 16.8% (2023 est.) female: 30.4% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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.)

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.)

Electricity

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 85.3% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95.9% electrification - rural areas: 81.7%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 15.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 74.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

2.686 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

production: 80.2 million cubic meters (2020 est.) consumption: 80.2 million cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 49.554 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

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.)

Climate

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

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

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity: due to civil conflict, population displacement, and economic slowdown - the latest analysis estimated the number of people in crisis or emergency food insecurity at 15.3 million people (35% of the population analyzed) between May and October 2023; although the levels of acute food insecurity have declined compared to the same season in 2022, largely due to seasonal improvements and the scale‑up of humanitarian assistance in 2022, the situation could deteriorate in areas where humanitarian assistance faces access constraints; the ban on women s participation in the humanitarian response poses a challenge to the delivery of quality humanitarian assistance leading to significant additional access constraints, particularly to the most vulnerable, women and children (2023)

Land use

agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018) permanent pasture: 46% (2018) forest: 1.8% (2018 est.) other: 40.1% (2018)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km

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 note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0.45% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

65.33 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 200 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,628,525 tons (2016 est.)

Area

total : 652,230 sq km land: 652,230 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas

Climate

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point: Noshak 7,492 m lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m mean elevation: 1,884 m

Geographic coordinates

33 00 N, 65 00 E

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)

Irrigated land

24,930 sq km (2020)

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

Land use

agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018) permanent pasture: 46% (2018) forest: 1.8% (2018 est.) other: 40.1% (2018)

Location

Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km

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 note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km)

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts

Natural resources

natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land

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

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

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

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

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest ratified in 2004, but not currently enforced by the Taliban

Country 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"

Diplomatic representation 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

none Note : the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022

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

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

Government type

theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government

Independence

19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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

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)

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

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) selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam; Buddhas of Bamyan note: the monumental 6th- and 7th-century statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001

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

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, green, black

Political parties

the Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian state and has banned other political parties; note - before 15 August 2021, the Ministry of Justice had licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019 the Taliban have banned other political parties but have allowed some party leaders, including the head of Hezb-e-Islami, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to continue to live and work in Afghanistan; Hekmatyar likely continues to enjoy some political support from loyalists; leaders of other parties, including Jamiat-e-Islami s Salahuddin Rabbani and Jumbesh s Rashid Dostum, operate from abroad but likely also command some following within Afghanistan; note - before 15 August 2021, the Ministry of Justice had licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military - note

the Taliban s security focuses include border security, ISIS-Khorasan, and anti-Taliban resistance elements (2023)

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 and security service personnel strengths

the Taliban claims that the defense forces have approximately 150,000 personnel; it also claims that over 50,000 personnel had been trained for the police forces (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Taliban military/security forces are armed with weapons and equipment captured in 2021 from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, which was largely equipped with Russian/Soviet-era and US material (2024)

Military 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 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

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

34.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 4.2% women married by age 18: 28.3% (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

19.1% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

18.9% (2018) note: percent of women aged 12-49

Current health expenditure

15.5% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

70.3% (2023 est.)

Death rate

11.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 84.6 youth dependency ratio: 80.2 elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 potential support ratio: 22.5 (2021 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 68.3% of population total: 76.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 31.7% of population total: 23.5% of population (2020 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

Gross reproduction rate

2.16 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)

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

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 sample(s): کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari) د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto) The World Factbook, 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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 54.4 years (2024 est.) male: 52.8 years female: 56.1 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 37.3% male: 52.1% female: 22.6% (2021)

Major urban areas - population

4.589 million KABUL (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

620 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 20 years (2024 est.) male: 20 years female: 20.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2015 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.5% (2016)

Physician density

0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

total: 40,121,552 male: 20,301,066 female: 19,820,486 (2024 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

Population growth rate

2.22% (2024 est.)

Religions

Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other 0.3% (2009 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 88.2% of population rural: 52% of population total: 61.4% of population unimproved: urban: 11.8% of population rural: 48% of population total: 38.6% of population (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 13 years female: 8 years (2018)

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.)

Tobacco use

total: 23.3% (2020 est.) male: 39.4% (2020 est.) female: 7.2% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.43 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

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

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)

Refugees 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)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 3 Afghanistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Afghanistan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/afghanistan/

Airports

67 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YA

Heliports

8 (2024)

National 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

Pipelines

466 km gas (2013)

Roadways

total: 34,903 km paved: 17,903 km unpaved: 17,000 km (2021)

Waterways

1,200 km (2011) (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT)