Afghanistan ranked 137/197 by economy size with a GDP of $17.2B and 196/197 by GDP per capita at $414. Afghanistan has $1.44B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 8.8%.
In 2023, Afghanistan made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.01% in 2000.
Afghanistan GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $17,152,234,637 | 2.27% |
| 2022 | $14,497,243,872 | -6.24% |
| 2021 | $14,259,995,441 | -20.7% |
| 2020 | $19,955,929,052 | -2.35% |
| 2019 | $18,799,444,490 | 3.91% |
| 2018 | $18,053,222,687 | 1.19% |
| 2017 | $18,753,456,498 | 2.65% |
| 2016 | $18,116,572,395 | 2.26% |
| 2015 | $19,134,221,645 | 1.45% |
| 2014 | $20,497,128,556 | 2.72% |
| 2013 | $20,146,416,758 | 5.6% |
| 2012 | $19,907,329,778 | 12.8% |
| 2011 | $17,805,098,206 | 0.43% |
| 2010 | $15,856,668,556 | 14.4% |
| 2009 | $12,416,152,732 | 21.4% |
| 2008 | $10,109,297,048 | 3.92% |
| 2007 | $9,747,886,187 | 13.8% |
| 2006 | $6,971,758,282 | 5.36% |
| 2005 | $6,203,256,539 | 11.2% |
| 2004 | $5,224,896,719 | 1.41% |
| 2003 | $4,520,946,819 | 8.83% |
| 2002 | $3,825,701,439 | 28.6% |
| 2001 | $2,813,571,754 | -9.43% |
| 2000 | $3,521,418,060 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2000–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY 
Afghanistan GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2023 | $414 | $2,202 |
| 2022 | $357 | $2,123 |
| 2021 | $356 | $2,144 |
| 2020 | $511 | $2,562 |
| 2019 | $497 | $2,583 |
| 2018 | $491 | $2,432 |
| 2017 | $525 | $2,336 |
| 2016 | $522 | $2,213 |
| 2015 | $566 | $2,284 |
| 2014 | $625 | $2,224 |
| 2013 | $637 | $2,133 |
| 2012 | $651 | $1,988 |
| 2011 | $607 | $1,744 |
| 2010 | $561 | $1,766 |
| 2009 | $452 | $1,571 |
| 2008 | $382 | $1,334 |
| 2007 | $376 | $1,287 |
| 2006 | $274.2 | $1,122 |
| 2005 | $254.2 | $1,076 |
| 2004 | $221.8 | $972 |
| 2003 | $198.9 | $967 |
| 2002 | $179 | $927 |
| 2001 | $138.7 | $748 |
| 2000 | $174.9 | $814 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2000–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY
Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $414, ranking 196/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $2,202, ranking 184/197, and a median annual after tax income of $1,869, ranking 170/197.
Afghanistan GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2023 | 131 | 191 | 178 |
| 2022 | 138 | 191 | 178 |
| 2021 | 133 | 191 | 178 |
| 2020 | 114 | 188 | 168 |
| 2019 | 116 | 191 | 168 |
| 2018 | 118 | 192 | 170 |
| 2017 | 114 | 186 | 171 |
| 2016 | 114 | 186 | 171 |
| 2015 | 112 | 188 | 172 |
| 2014 | 112 | 186 | 168 |
| 2013 | 111 | 187 | 170 |
| 2012 | 111 | 185 | 173 |
| 2011 | 115 | 188 | 177 |
| 2010 | 112 | 186 | 176 |
| 2009 | 115 | 190 | 179 |
| 2008 | 131 | 191 | 183 |
| 2007 | 123 | 190 | 182 |
| 2006 | 130 | 191 | 184 |
| 2005 | 132 | 189 | 182 |
| 2004 | 131 | 190 | 183 |
| 2003 | 133 | 190 | 183 |
| 2002 | 131 | 189 | 184 |
| 2001 | 136 | 191 | 185 |
| 2000 | 130 | 188 | 184 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2000–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2023 Afghanistan is ranked 131st out of 192 by GDP (down from 130th), 191st by GDP per capita (down from 188th), and 178th by GDP per capita PPP (up from 184th).
Economic indicators
Afghanistan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$17.2B
2023 |
137/197 |
| GDP growth |
2.27%
2022-2023 |
128/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$414
2023 |
196/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$2,202
2023 |
184/197 |
| Government debt |
$1.44B
2023 |
165/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
8.8%
2024 |
181/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$34.8
2023 |
185/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,869
2026 |
170/197 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
19.4%
2024 |
160/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
-4.3%
2023-2024 |
194/195 |
| Central bank interest rate |
6%
2021 |
48/106 |
| Unemployment rate |
5.68%
2021 |
88/196 |
| Population |
45409324
|
36/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 19.4% | 8.8% | -0.54% |
| 2023 | 17% | 8.42% | -1.33% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | 10.8% | -1% |
| 2021 | 17.9% | 11.2% | -0.48% |
| 2020 | 27.9% | 7.33% | -2.24% |
| 2019 | 28% | 6.14% | -1.06% |
| 2018 | 28.9% | 7.38% | 1.63% |
| 2017 | 27.7% | 8% | -0.67% |
| 2016 | 28% | 8.44% | 0.13% |
| 2015 | 25.9% | 9.15% | -1.38% |
| 2014 | 25.4% | 8.7% | -1.72% |
| 2013 | 25% | 6.92% | -0.63% |
| 2012 | 25% | 6.77% | 0.18% |
| 2011 | 21.9% | 7.52% | -0.67% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | 7.71% | 0.93% |
| 2009 | 21.2% | 16.2% | -1.76% |
| 2008 | 20.9% | 19.1% | -3.86% |
| 2007 | 21.4% | 20.1% | -2.46% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | 23% | 0.68% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | 206.4% | -0.92% |
| 2004 | 15.1% | 245% | -2.39% |
| 2003 | 11.9% | 270.6% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 6.94% | 346% | -0.1% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY
This chart shows Afghanistan's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 23 years, Afghanistan recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 0.95% of GDP. In 2023, government spending reached $2.91B (19.4% of GDP), with a deficit of 0.54%.
The national debt reached $1.44B, ranking 165th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 8.8%, ranking 181st.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | -4.3% |
| 2023 | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 10.6% |
| 2021 | 7.8% |
| 2020 | 5.6% |
| 2019 | 2.3% |
| 2018 | 0.6% |
| 2017 | 5% |
| 2016 | 4.4% |
| 2015 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 4.7% |
| 2013 | 7.4% |
| 2012 | 6.4% |
| 2011 | 11.8% |
| 2010 | 2.2% |
| 2009 | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 26.4% |
| 2007 | 8.7% |
| 2006 | 6.8% |
| 2005 | 10.6% |
| 2004 | 16.4% |
| 2003 | 35.7% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2003–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Afghanistan has had an average annual inflation rate of 5.09%. In 2024, inflation was -4.3%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Afghanistan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$3.14B
2020 |
159/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-15.7%
2020 |
173/190 |
| Goods imports |
$5.88B
2020 |
131/189 |
| Goods exports |
$777M
2020 |
152/189 |
| Service imports |
$1.11B
2020 |
143/189 |
| Service exports |
$700M
2020 |
139/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
50.7%
2023 |
77/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
16.9%
2023 |
159/193 |
Afghanistan top 10 trading partners
Afghanistan's biggest trading partner accounting for 17.9% of all exports and imports is Pakistan, with a trade balance between the two of -$760M: Afghanistan exports $298M worth of goods and services to Pakistan and imports $1.06B.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Afghanistan.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pakistan
|
$1.36B | 17.9% | $298M | $1.06B | Raw agricultural goods | Raw agricultural goods |
| 2 |
Iran
|
$1.26B | 16.6% | $14.6M | $1.25B | Raw agricultural goods | Raw materials & minerals |
| 3 |
China
|
$1.19B | 15.7% | $31M | $1.16B | Raw agricultural goods | Textiles & consumer goods |
| 4 |
India
|
$815M | 10.8% | $410M | $405M | Raw agricultural goods | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 5 |
Kazakhstan
|
$518M | 6.83% | $2.9M | $515M | Raw agricultural goods | Raw agricultural goods |
| 6 |
Uzbekistan
|
$429M | 5.66% | $1.28M | $428M | Raw agricultural goods | Raw agricultural goods |
| 7 |
Turkmenistan
|
$411M | 5.42% | $899K | $410M | Processed food, beverages & tobacco | Raw materials & minerals |
| 8 |
Malaysia
|
$320M | 4.22% | $100K | $320M | Metals | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 9 |
Japan
|
$201M | 2.65% | $14K | $201M | Raw agricultural goods | Machinery & equipment |
| 10 |
Russia
|
$165M | 2.17% | $2.01M | $163M | Raw agricultural goods | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
Top 10 exports
|
Afghanistan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw agricultural goods | $691M | 78/193 |
| Business & finance services | $313M | 97/188 |
| Transport & tourism services | $157M | 149/188 |
| Government & miscellaneous services | $102M | 77/180 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $89.2M | 151/193 |
| Manufacturing & construction services | $72.5M | 89/164 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $59.6M | 126/193 |
| IT & IP services | $54.8M | 122/183 |
| Animal & marine products | $12.4M | 148/192 |
| Metals | $7.11M | 156/192 |
Top 10 imports
|
Afghanistan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials & minerals | $1.82B | 122/193 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $1.18B | 76/193 |
| Machinery & equipment | $986M | 144/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $956M | 124/188 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $858M | 110/193 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $700M | 111/193 |
| Metals | $447M | 128/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $288M | 150/193 |
| Wood & paper products | $244M | 112/193 |
| Animal & marine products | $130M | 127/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Afghanistan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 53 | 142/197 |
| Property rights | 3.6 | 179/182 |
| Government integrity | 13.5 | 170/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 0 | 182/182 |
| Tax burden | 92 | 23/182 |
| Government spending | 90.8 | 21/180 |
| Fiscal health | 98.4 | 8/181 |
| Business freedom | 33.7 | 169/182 |
| Labor freedom | 44.4 | 159/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 84.9 | 2/180 |
| Trade freedom | 68.6 | 107/181 |
| Investment freedom | 10 | 169/181 |
| Financial freedom | 10 | 174/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | - | 0 | 92 | 90.8 | 98.4 |
| 2025 | - | 2.7 | - | - | - |
| 2024 | - | 4.9 | - | - | - |
| 2023 | - | 12.7 | - | - | - |
| 2022 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2021 | 53 | 25.7 | 91.1 | 76.1 | 99.9 |
| 2020 | 54.7 | 30 | 91.4 | 79.2 | 99.9 |
| 2019 | 51.5 | 29.6 | 91.7 | 80.3 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 51.3 | 28.2 | 91.8 | 79.3 | 98.3 |
| 2017 | 48.9 | 28.4 | 91.6 | 79.9 | 97.3 |
| 2016 | - | - | 91.6 | 81.2 | - |
| 2015 | - | - | 91.7 | 81.2 | - |
| 2014 | - | - | 91.2 | 84.2 | - |
| 2013 | - | - | - | 83.2 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2013–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY
Afghanistan is ranked 144/176 for economic freedom with a score of 53, compared to 159/176 and a score of 48.9 in 2017.
Other economic metrics
|
Afghanistan
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
46.4%
2023 |
152/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
13.4%
2023 |
167/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
34.7%
2023 |
8/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$15.5B
2023 |
139/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$2,210
2023 |
179/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$9.75B
2020 |
78/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$24.3M
2020 |
35/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
169/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
138/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
0.25%
2023 |
117/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
47.1%
2019 |
27/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
15.3%
2023 |
156/178 |
Compare Afghanistan vs other countries
GDP per capita map
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2002–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2013–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2019–2020, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.