Afghanistan

Region

🌍 Asia

Population

👥 43

Currency

💱 Afghan afghani

Languages

🗣️ Dari, Pashto, Turkmen

This mark means a fact is linked to a checked source. Hover or tap it to see the source. 33 of 141 facts on this page are sourced.

Official NameSource: REST Countries

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Continent

Asia

DemonymSource: REST Countries

Afghan

Independence

August 19, 1919 (from the United Kingdom)

Top-Level Domain

.af

Calling CodeSource: REST Countries

+93

Time ZoneSource: REST Countries

UTC+04:30

Capital CitySource: REST Countries

Kabul

ISO Alpha-2

ISO Alpha-3

AFG

UN Code

Geographic Coordinates

33,65

Area (km²)Source: REST Countries

652,230#41 of 249

PopulationSource: REST Countries

43,844,000#36 of 247

Population Density (per km²)

63.56

Highest Point (m)

7,492 (Nowshak)

Lowest Point (m)

576 (Amu Darya)

Land Use

Primarily agricultural, with significant areas of pasture and forest

Irrigated Land

Approximately 2.8 million hectares

Coastline Length

This landlocked country has no coastline.

Climate

Dry with hot summers and cold winters; arid to semiarid

Natural Resources

Natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones

Bordering CountriesSource: REST Countries

Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China

Major Rivers

Amu Darya, Helmand River, Harirud

Major Lakes

Lake Sarez, Band-e Amir lakes

Government Type

The government type is currently in a state of flux and is not formally recognized internationally.

Administrative Divisions

34 provinces (velayat)

Legal System

Based on a combination of Islamic law and various customary laws. The current legal system is subject to change.

Chief of State

The current political structure is not formally recognized internationally; the position is currently held by a leader of the Taliban.

Head of Government

The current political structure is not formally recognized internationally; the position is currently held by a leader of the Taliban.

Cabinet

The current political structure is not formally recognized internationally; the cabinet is composed of Taliban officials.

Elections

Elections are not currently being held.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is currently based on Islamic law and is subject to change.

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is currently based on decrees and is subject to change.

Major Political Parties

Major political parties are currently not active under the present regime.

CurrencySource: REST Countries

Afghan afghani

GDP, Nominal (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP (current US$) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

17.78#140 of 211

GDP, PPP (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP, PPP (current international $) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

95.37#105 of 201

GDP per Capita (US$)Source: World Bank: GDP per capita (current US$) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

416.87#210 of 211

GDP - Agriculture (%)Source: World Bank: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

34.29

GDP - Industry (%)Source: World Bank: Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

14.52

GDP - Services (%)Source: World Bank: Services, value added (% of GDP) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

45.16

Inflation Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

-6.6#191 of 191

Labor Force (people)Source: World Bank: Labor force, total (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

9,433,041

Unemployment Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

13.35#20 of 185

Public Debt (% of GDP)

Afghanistan's public debt situation is complex and subject to change.

Budget

Afghanistan's budget is heavily reliant on international aid.

Exports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Exports of goods and services (current US$) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

2.79#150 of 192

Imports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Imports of goods and services (current US$) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

12.1#116 of 192

Foreign Reserves

Foreign reserves are limited and subject to significant fluctuations.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange information may be limited due to the country's economic situation; consult with local financial institutions for current rates.

GDP by Sector

The economy is primarily based on agriculture; other sectors include services and a small industrial base.

Major Industries

Major industries include agriculture, textiles, and food processing.

Major Export Partners

Major export partners are limited, and data availability is restricted.

Major Import Partners

Major import partners include neighboring countries and some Asian nations.

Society

Literacy Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) (2021)Checked September 29, 2026

37.27#164 of 169

Birth Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

Death Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

5.7

Net Migration Rate

The net migration rate is negative, with many people emigrating due to instability.

Median Age

The median age is relatively young, around 18 years.

Urban Population (%)Source: World Bank: Urban population (% of total population) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026

25.94#201 of 214

Urbanization Rate

Urbanization is ongoing, though data is limited.

Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

66.3#180 of 214

HIV/AIDS Prevalence

HIV/AIDS prevalence is low.

Health Expenditures (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) (2023)Checked September 29, 2026

14.99

Ethnic Groups

The population consists of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, and other smaller groups.

Religions

Islam is the dominant religion.

LanguagesSource: REST Countries

Dari, Pashto, Turkmen

Education

Education System

Education system is significantly impacted by conflict and poverty, with limited resources and access. Curriculum often follows Islamic principles.

School Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (2018)Checked September 29, 2026

10.2

Government Education Spending

Low; government funding is limited and often supplemented by international aid. Difficult to obtain reliable figures.

Primary Education Access

—

Secondary Education Access

—

Higher Education Access

—

Major Universities

Kabul University, Herat University, and Balkh University.

Culture

Cultural Overview

Rich and diverse, reflecting its location at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. Influenced by Persian, Turkic, and Indian cultures. Marked by Islamic traditions and tribal customs.

National Holidays

Independence Day (August 19th), and religious holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which vary based on the Islamic calendar.

Popular Music

Includes traditional Afghan music (rubab, tabla, dhol), and modern genres influenced by Bollywood and Western pop. Significant influence from Pashto and Dari languages.

Traditional Food

Features rice dishes (pilau), kebabs, and various stews. Popular dishes include Kabuli palaw, mantu (dumplings), and ashak (leek dumplings).

Sports

Cricket and football are popular. Buzkashi (a horseback game) is a traditional sport.

Major Festivals

Nowruz (Persian New Year), Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Islamic festivals), and other regional festivals.

Famous People

Rumi (Persian poet), Khaled Hosseini (author), Hamida Ahmadzai (singer).

Cultural Heritage Sites

Limited number due to conflict and lack of preservation efforts.

UNESCO Sites

The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley.

Annual Tourist Visits

—

Tourism Overview

—

Top Tourist Attractions

—

Famous Cities

—

National Parks

—

Protected Areas

—

Best Time to Visit

—

Tourist Visa Info

—

Visa Requirements Overview

—

Travel Advisory

—

Healthcare

Healthcare Quality

Healthcare quality is generally considered to be low.

Medical Cost

Medical costs are relatively low compared to developed nations, but affordability remains a challenge.

Number of Hospitals

The number of hospitals is limited, with varying levels of quality.

Universal Healthcare

Limited access, primarily through NGOs and international aid. Healthcare infrastructure is severely underdeveloped.

Medical Services Overview

Medical services are limited; healthcare infrastructure is under-developed, particularly outside of major cities.

Emergency Medical Access

Emergency medical access is limited due to infrastructure challenges and security concerns.

Emergency & Safety

Emergency Number (Police)

—

Emergency Number (Ambulance)

—

Emergency Number (Fire)

—

Crime Rate

—

Safety Index

—

Military Expenditure

—

Emergency Services Overview

—

Safety Overview

—

Military Branches

—

Infrastructure

Electricity Access

—

Water Access

—

Sanitation Access

—

Railways

Very limited railway infrastructure, with few operating lines.

Roadways

—

Transportation System

Poorly developed. Roads are in a poor state, and public transport is limited. Air travel is the most reliable long-distance option.

AirportsSource: OurAirports

Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport (KDH), Herat - Khwaja Abdullah Ansari International Airport (HEA), Kabul International Airport (KBL), Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport (MZR), Bagram Airfield (OAI), Jalalabad Airport (JAA)

Ports

—

Public Transit

—

Technology & Communication

Internet Penetration (%)Source: World Bank: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

16.09#200 of 211

Mobile Subscriptions (per 100)

—

Tech Startups

—

Innovation Index

—

ICT Development Index

—

TV Broadcast Stations

—

Radio Broadcast Stations

—

Plug Type & Voltage

—

CO2 Emissions (t per capita)Source: World Bank: Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions excluding LULUCF per capita (t CO2e/capita) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026

0.28#175 of 202

Air Quality Index

—

Water Pollution Level

—

Renewable Energy Usage

—

Environmental Issues

—

Natural Hazards

—

Waste Management

—

Environmental Agreements

—

UN MembershipSource: REST Countries

Yes

Diplomatic Missions

—

International Organizations

—

Major Treaties

—

Visa-Free Countries

—