World · permanent entity record · AF
Afghanistan
Thirty-second orientation
Afghanistan at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Afghan(s); adjective: Afghan
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
Afghanistan through time
Admitted to the United Nations
Afghanistan became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,844,111World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 49,474,805 (2025 est.) male: 25,051,967 female: 24,422,838CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-20 |
| 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.)CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04 | 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 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 themCIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-20 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $17.8 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $417
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 66.3 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 25.9%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 87.8%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 16.1%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Kabul
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 652,230 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 43,844,111
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- afghanis (AFA)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Afghan(s); adjective: Afghan
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Government
- theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json ·
- Continent
- Asia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “South Asia.”
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Religions
- Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- black, red, green, white
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- lion
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Noshak · 24,580 ft (7,492 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Amu Darya · 846 ft (258 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography20 fields
- Location
- Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 652,230 sq km land: 652,230 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Noshak 7,492 m lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m mean elevation: 1,884 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 58.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 12% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 46% (2023 est.) forest: 1.9% (2023 est.) other: 39.7% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major lakes (area sq km)
- salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society36 fields
- Population
- total: 49,474,805 (2025 est.) male: 25,051,967 female: 24,422,838
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 82.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 77 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 19 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 18.4 years (2025 est.) male: 20 years female: 20.1 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 35.99 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 4.589 million KABUL (capital) (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 19.9 years (2015 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 521 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 42 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 109.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 92.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 54.4 years (2024 est.) male: 52.8 years female: 56.1 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 4.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- urban: 99% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 21.8% of GDP (2021) 1.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- urban: 93% of population (2022 est.) rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 68% of population (2022 est.) urban: 7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 32% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 20.8% (2025 est.) male: 36.5% (2025 est.) female: 5.2% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 18.4% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 65.9% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Child marriage
- women married by age 15: 9.6% (2023) women married by age 18: 28.7% (2023) men married by age 18: 7.3% (2015)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 4.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 15.7% national budget (2017 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Literacy
- total population: 37.3% (2021 est.) male: 52.1% (2021 est.) female: 26.6% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 11 years (2018 est.) male: 13 years (2018 est.) female: 8 years (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment10 fields
- Environmental issues
- limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution in urban areas
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International environmental 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 58.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 12% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 46% (2023 est.) forest: 1.9% (2023 est.) other: 39.7% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 7.757 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 930,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.827 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.629 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.1% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 203.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 169.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 65.33 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government23 fields
- 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, but today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups; the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Afghanistan literally means the "Land of the Afghans"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: several previous; latest ratified in 2004, but not currently enforced by the Taliban
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 effectively the 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 election/appointment process: 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); the Taliban have given no indication that they intend to reinstate elections or any other mechanism of democratic governance most recent election date: 28 September 2019 note: the United States has not yet made a decision whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- note: Afghanistan’s bicameral National Assembly consisted of the House of Elders and House of the People but was dissolved after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- the Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian state and has banned other political parties 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none note: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- description: three equal vertical bands of black (left), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other bands; the emblem shows a mosque with a 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); a border of wheat sheaves circles the mosque; above the mosque is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed), with rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"); under the mosque is a scroll with the name Afghanistan meaning: black stands for the past, and red for the blood shed for independence; green can represent hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam history: 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 note: 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA history: adopted 2006
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 Buddha statues at Bamyan were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy29 fields
- Economic overview
- low-income South Asian economy; economy stable after major contraction due to Taliban takeover, but recovery remains fragile; widespread poverty and obstacles to human development; import-reliant for food, fuel, and machinery; ongoing sanctions, suspended development aid, and frozen reserve assets
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $82.238 billion (2023 est.) $80.416 billion (2022 est.) $85.768 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 2.3% (2023 est.) -6.2% (2022 est.) -20.7% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $2,000 (2023 est.) $2,000 (2022 est.) $2,100 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $17.152 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- -6.6% (2024 est.) -4.6% (2023 est.) 13.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 34.7% (2023 est.) industry: 13.4% (2023 est.) services: 46.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 98.1% (2023 est.) government consumption: 21.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 15.2% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -50.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- wheat, milk, grapes, watermelons, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- 1.8% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 9.133 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 13.3% (2024 est.) 14% (2023 est.) 14.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 16.7% (2024 est.) male: 15.8% (2024 est.) female: 27% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population below poverty line
- 54.5% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- Pakistan 42%, India 40%, China 4%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- coal, grapes, tropical fruits, gum resins, other nuts (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- UAE 28%, Pakistan 15%, China 15%, Uzbekistan 12%, Kazakhstan 9% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- wheat flours, tobacco, palm oil, broadcasting equipment, synthetic fabric (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Debt - external
- $2.717 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy7 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 85.3% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95.9% electrification - rural areas: 81.7%
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 627,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 6.468 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 6.221 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 725.652 million kWh (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 13.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 77% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- production: 767,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 503,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 265,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 66 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 3.38 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 182,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 25.6 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- under the Taliban, independent media outlets have decreased and are probably self-censoring; the Ministry of Information and Culture monitors all mass media; television and radio are key media platforms; only about a fifth of Afghans use the internet, mostly through smartphones (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 33,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation3 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- YA
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security6 fields
- 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 (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- the Taliban claims to have 190,000 under the Ministry of Defense and 215,000 under the Ministry of Interior (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the Taliban military and security forces are equipped with armaments captured in 2021 from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, which were largely equipped with Russian/Soviet-era and US material (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- the Taliban’s key security priorities are border and internal security; specific issues have included tensions with Pakistan along their shared border, armed anti-Taliban resistance elements, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K) terrorist group (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Terrorism1 fields
- Terrorist group(s)
- Haqqani Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues3 fields
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 21,236 (2024 est.) IDPs: 5,457,183 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/afghanistan/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Illicit drugs
- USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
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