Skip to content

Economy of Afghanistan vs Argentina compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Afghanistan has a GDP of $17.8B compared to $683B for Argentina, ranking 139/197 and 25/197 by economy size, respectively.

Afghanistan has $1.58B in government debt (7.98% of GDP), compared to $549B (80.3% of GDP) in Argentina.

Afghanistan vs Argentina GDP by year

Afghanistan
Argentina
1x
Year GDP, current $
Afghanistan Argentina
2025 - $683,097,891,619
2024 $17,778,508,876 $638,365,455,340
2023 $17,152,234,637 $649,461,687,959
2022 $14,497,243,872 $633,993,756,301
2021 $14,259,995,441 $486,564,085,480
2020 $19,955,929,052 $385,740,508,437
2019 $18,799,444,490 $447,754,683,615
2018 $18,053,222,687 $524,819,892,360
2017 $18,753,456,498 $643,628,393,281
2016 $18,116,572,395 $557,532,320,663
2015 $19,134,221,645 $594,749,285,413
2014 $20,497,128,556 $526,319,673,732
2013 $20,146,416,758 $552,025,140,252
2012 $19,907,329,778 $545,982,375,701
2011 $17,805,098,206 $530,158,122,010
2010 $15,856,668,556 $423,627,422,092
2009 $12,416,152,732 $332,976,484,578
2008 $10,109,297,048 $361,558,037,110
2007 $9,747,886,187 $287,530,508,431
2006 $6,971,758,282 $232,557,260,817
2005 $6,203,256,539 $198,737,095,012
2004 $5,224,896,719 $164,657,930,453
2003 $4,520,946,819 $127,586,973,492
2002 $3,825,701,439 $97,724,004,252
2001 $2,813,571,754 $268,696,750,000
2000 $3,521,418,060 $284,203,750,000
1999 - $283,523,000,000
1998 - $298,948,250,000
1997 - $292,859,000,000
1996 - $272,149,750,000
1995 - $258,031,750,000
1994 - $257,440,000,000
1993 - $236,741,715,015
1992 - $228,778,917,308
1991 - $189,719,984,268
1990 - $141,352,654,305
1989 - $76,629,728,760
1988 - $126,890,235,049
1987 - $108,810,885,301
1986 - $105,872,372,614
1985 - $88,150,891,728
1984 - $116,915,052,107
1983 - $103,979,106,778
1982 - $84,307,486,837
1981 - $78,676,842,367
1980 - $76,961,923,741
1979 - $69,252,328,952
1978 - $89,049,453,088
1977 - $56,781,000,101
1976 - $51,169,499,892
1975 - $52,438,647,922
1974 - $72,436,777,342
1973 - $52,544,000,117
1972 - $34,733,000,536
1971 - $33,293,199,095
1970 - $31,584,210,366
1969 - $31,256,284,544
1968 - $26,436,857,247
1967 - $24,256,667,553
1966 - $28,630,474,728
1965 - $28,344,705,967
1964 - $25,605,249,382
1963 - $18,272,123,664
1962 - $18,337,691,145
1961 - $20,132,220,375
1960 - $15,865,474,315

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

GDP per capita in Afghanistan vs Argentina by year

Afghanistan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Argentina
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Afghanistan Argentina
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 - - $14,898 -
2024 $417 - $13,970 $30,431
2023 $414 $2,202 $14,262 $30,221
2022 $357 $2,123 $13,962 $29,809
2021 $356 $2,144 $10,738 $26,300
2020 $511 $2,562 $8,536 $22,393
2019 $497 $2,583 $9,956 $23,517
2018 $491 $2,432 $11,753 $24,410
2017 $525 $2,336 $14,533 $23,385
2016 $522 $2,213 $12,700 $20,106
2015 $566 $2,284 $13,680 $19,899
2014 $625 $2,224 $12,233 $19,487
2013 $637 $2,133 $12,964 $19,929
2012 $651 $1,988 $12,950 $19,430
2011 $607 $1,744 $12,704 $19,105
2010 $561 $1,766 $10,260 $17,848
2009 $452 $1,571 $8,150 $16,182
2008 $382 $1,334 $8,944 $17,277
2007 $376 $1,287 $7,185 $16,455
2006 $274.2 $1,122 $5,869 $14,844
2005 $254.2 $1,076 $5,068 $13,465
2004 $221.8 $972 $4,242 $12,118
2003 $198.9 $967 $3,320 $10,933
2002 $179 $927 $2,570 $9,953
2001 $138.7 $748 $7,141 $11,118
2000 $174.9 $814 $7,637 $11,500
1999 - - $7,706 $11,464
1998 - - $8,219 $11,836
1997 - - $8,147 $11,403
1996 - - $7,663 $10,496
1995 - - $7,358 $9,891
1994 - - $7,438 $10,103
1993 - - $6,932 $9,472
1992 - - $6,790 $8,668
1991 - - $5,709 $7,961
1990 - - $4,315 $7,158
1989 - - $2,375 -
1988 - - $3,993 -
1987 - - $3,477 -
1986 - - $3,436 -
1985 - - $2,906 -
1984 - - $3,915 -
1983 - - $3,538 -
1982 - - $2,915 -
1981 - - $2,764 -
1980 - - $2,748 -
1979 - - $2,512 -
1978 - - $3,282 -
1977 - - $2,126 -
1976 - - $1,947 -
1975 - - $2,027 -
1974 - - $2,845 -
1973 - - $2,098 -
1972 - - $1,409 -
1971 - - $1,373 -
1970 - - $1,323 -
1969 - - $1,330 -
1968 - - $1,142 -
1967 - - $1,064 -
1966 - - $1,275 -
1965 - - $1,282 -
1964 - - $1,176 -
1963 - - $853 -
1962 - - $870 -
1961 - - $971 -
1960 - - $778 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

Afghanistan's GDP per capita is $417, ranking 196/197, compared to $14,898 in Argentina, ranking 70/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Afghanistan ranks 184th at $2,202, while Argentina ranks 73rd at $30,431.

Economic indicators

Afghanistan Argentina
Gross domestic product
$17.8B
2024
$683B
2025
GDP rank
139/197
2024
25/197
2025
GDP growth
1.87%
2023-2024
4.37%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$417
2024
$14,898
2025
GDP per capita rank
196/197
2024
70/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$30,431
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
184/197
2023
73/197
2024
Government debt
$1.58B
2024
$549B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
7.98%
2025
80.3%
2025
Government debt per person
$37.2
2024
$11,965
2025
Government debt per person rank
185/185
2024
52/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,529
2026
$8,751
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$52.9B
2022
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
31.2%
2024
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
1.9%
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
20%
2025
31.6%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.9%
2024-2025
41.9%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
6%
2021
29%
2025
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
7.38%
2025
Population
45682388
46083022

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Afghanistan
Spending

Debt
Argentina
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Afghanistan Argentina
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 20% 7.98% 31.6% 80.3%
2024 19.7% 8.91% 31% 84.7%
2023 17% 8.25% 37.6% 154.6%
2022 16.1% 10.6% 37.6% 84.3%
2021 17.9% 11.1% 37.9% 81%
2020 27.9% 7.33% 42.5% 103.8%
2019 28% 6.14% 38.1% 89.8%
2018 28.9% 7.38% 38.9% 85.2%
2017 27.7% 8% 41.1% 57%
2016 28% 8.44% 41.5% 53.1%
2015 25.9% 9.15% 41.4% 52.6%
2014 25.4% 8.7% 38.9% 44.7%
2013 25% 6.9% 37.6% 43.5%
2012 25% 6.76% 36.8% 40.4%
2011 21.9% 7.5% 34.9% 38.9%
2010 20.8% 7.7% 33.4% 43.5%
2009 21.2% 16.2% 34.5% 55.4%
2008 20.9% 19.1% 30.8% 53.8%
2007 21.4% 20.1% 29.6% 62.1%
2006 18.3% 23% 26.6% 70.8%
2005 15.7% 206.4% 24.4% 80.3%
2004 15.1% 245% 23% 117.9%
2003 11.9% 270.6% 22% 125.2%
2002 6.94% 346% 21.9% 147.2%
2001 - - 26.4% 48%
2000 - - 25.2% 40.8%
1999 - - 25.5% 38.9%
1998 - - 23.1% 34.1%
1997 - - 22.6% 31.7%
1996 - - 22.7% 32.6%
1995 - - 22.9% 30.7%
1994 - - 22.9% 28.4%
1993 - - 22% 26.9%
1992 - - 12.1% 25%
1991 - - 11.4% 35.7%
1990 - - 11% 48.5%
1989 - - 11% 118.2%
1988 - - 12.3% 61.4%
1987 - - 13.7% 74.1%
1986 - - 13.7% 55.9%
1985 - - 14.7% 55.2%
1984 - - 13% 54.6%
1983 - - 14.2% 64.2%
1982 - - 15.9% 52.2%
1981 - - 17% 26.5%
1980 - - 15.2% 11.4%
1979 - - 14.5% 12.4%
1978 - - 14.9% 17.5%
1977 - - 12.6% 25.1%
1976 - - 13% 28.7%
1975 - - 12.5% 33.8%
1974 - - 14% 13%
1973 - - 12.6% 12%
1972 - - 11.2% 17.1%
1971 - - 11.7% 15.2%
1970 - - 12% 13.5%
1969 - - 12.3% 9.63%
1968 - - 12.8% 9.43%
1967 - - 13% 10.9%
1966 - - 12.1% 13.4%
1965 - - 11.6% 15.9%
1964 - - 11.8% 16.8%
1963 - - 11.2% 23.4%
1962 - - 11.3% 25.1%
1961 - - 12.3% 8.69%
1960 - - 11.3% 8.39%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1992, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

In 2025, Afghanistan's government spending was $3.5B, accounting for 20% of its GDP, while Argentina spent $216B, or 31.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 7.98% in Afghanistan and 80.3% in Argentina, ranking 181/185 and 43/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Afghanistan

Argentina
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Afghanistan Argentina
2025 -0.89% -0.38%
2024 -0.55% 0.46%
2023 -1.33% -5.33%
2022 -1% -3.84%
2021 -0.48% -4.33%
2020 -2.24% -8.67%
2019 -1.06% -4.44%
2018 1.63% -5.44%
2017 -0.67% -6.69%
2016 0.13% -6.65%
2015 -1.38% -6%
2014 -1.72% -4.25%
2013 -0.63% -3.25%
2012 0.18% -3.02%
2011 -0.67% -2.75%
2010 0.93% -1.39%
2009 -1.76% -1.83%
2008 -3.86% 0.35%
2007 -2.46% 0.76%
2006 0.68% 1.65%
2005 -0.92% 3.34%
2004 -2.39% 3.97%
2003 -2.1% 1.5%
2002 -0.1% -1.91%
2001 - -5.36%
2000 - -3.42%
1999 - -3.71%
1998 - -1.83%
1997 - -1.84%
1996 - -2.81%
1995 - -2.07%
1994 - -1.25%
1993 - -0.02%
1992 - 1.54%
1991 - 0.96%
1990 - -0.14%
1989 - -0.25%
1988 - -1.75%
1987 - 1.89%
1986 - 3.3%
1985 - 3.6%
1984 - -1.39%
1983 - -2.89%
1982 - -4.68%
1981 - -3.93%
1980 - -1.14%
1979 - -1.5%
1978 - -1.36%
1977 - -0.54%
1976 - -2.39%
1975 - -2.9%
1974 - -1.08%
1973 - -1.48%
1972 - -0.12%
1971 - 0.32%
1970 - 1.01%
1969 - 0.54%
1968 - 0.25%
1967 - 0.66%
1966 - -0.98%
1965 - -0.89%
1964 - -1.34%
1963 - -0.65%
1962 - -0.47%
1961 - 1.73%
1960 - -1.98%
1959 - -4.82%
1958 - -6.61%
1957 - -2.72%
1956 - -3.77%
1955 - -3.75%
1954 - -3.21%
1953 - -3.1%
1952 - -3.01%
1951 - -3.52%
1950 - -3.38%
1949 - -3.98%
1948 - -2.73%
1947 - -1.6%
1946 - -4.12%
1945 - -5.25%
1944 - -4.61%
1943 - -3.86%
1942 - -2.9%
1941 - -2.85%
1940 - -2.31%
1939 - -3.09%
1938 - -2.09%
1937 - -1.62%
1936 - -1.44%
1935 - -1.16%
1934 - -1.56%
1933 - -1.27%
1932 - -1.19%
1931 - -2.98%
1930 - -3.94%
1929 - -1.95%
1928 - -1.52%
1927 - -3.3%
1926 - -1%
1925 - -0.46%
1924 - -0.68%
1923 - -0.93%
1922 - -1.86%
1921 - -0.99%
1920 - 0.2%
1919 - -0.3%
1918 - -1.14%
1917 - -2.18%
1916 - -2.13%
1915 - -2.64%
1914 - -3.03%
1913 - -0.61%
1912 - -0.78%
1911 - -2.19%
1910 - -2.24%
1909 - -2.57%
1908 - 0.28%
1907 - -0.2%
1906 - -0.32%
1905 - -3.52%
1904 - 0.15%
1903 - -0.25%
1902 - -2.2%
1901 - -0.54%
1900 - -0.42%
1899 - -0.4%
1898 - -9.31%
1897 - -1.46%
1896 - -4.19%
1895 - -1.59%
1894 - -1.06%
1893 - 0.06%
1892 - -1.33%
1891 - -4.48%
1890 - -1.82%
1889 - -2.88%
1888 - -0.69%
1887 - 0.35%
1886 - -2.39%
1885 - -2.67%
1884 - -4.07%
1883 - -4.19%
1882 - -5.42%
1881 - -2.31%
1880 - -2.15%
1879 - -1.09%
1878 - -1.08%
1877 - -1.68%
1876 - -4.15%
1875 - -3.08%
1874 - -2.59%
1873 - -1.39%
1872 - -1.18%
1871 - -5.54%
1870 - -2.74%
1869 - -1.61%
1868 - -1.8%
1867 - -1.08%
1866 - -2.09%
1865 - -0.79%
1864 - 0.51%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1864–1992, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1993–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

In 2024, Afghanistan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $97.4M, equivalent to 0.55% of GDP. This compares to Argentina's surplus of $2.92B, or 0.46% of GDP.

Over the past 23 years, Afghanistan recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while Argentina ran a deficit in 16 years. On average, Afghanistan posted an annual deficit equal to 0.95% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.51% of GDP for Argentina.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Afghanistan

Argentina
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Afghanistan Argentina
2025 2.9% 41.9%
2024 -4.3% 219.9%
2023 -7.7% 133.5%
2022 10.6% 72.4%
2021 7.8% 48.4%
2020 5.6% 42%
2019 2.3% 53.5%
2018 0.6% 34.3%
2017 5% 25.7%
2016 4.4% -
2015 -0.7% -
2014 4.7% -
2013 7.4% 10.6%
2012 6.4% 10%
2011 11.8% 9.8%
2010 2.2% 10.5%
2009 -6.8% 6.3%
2008 26.4% 8.6%
2007 8.7% 8.8%
2006 6.8% 10.9%
2005 10.6% 9.6%
2004 16.4% 4.4%
2003 35.7% 13.4%
2002 - 25.9%
2001 - -1.1%
2000 - -0.9%
1999 - -1.2%
1998 - 0.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1998–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

Over the past 23 years, Afghanistan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 6.82%, compared with 38.7% in Argentina. In 2025, inflation was 2.9% in Afghanistan and 41.9% in Argentina.

Top exports between countries

Afghanistan
Export category Export value
Argentina
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $980K

Balance of trade

Afghanistan Argentina
Current account balance
-$3.14B
2020
-$7.58B
2025
Current account balance ranking
153/190
2020
169/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-15.7%
2020
-1.11%
2025
Goods imports
$5.88B
2020
$71.8B
2025
Goods exports
$777M
2020
$87.2B
2025
Service imports
$1.11B
2020
$29.3B
2025
Service exports
$700M
2020
$18B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
68.1%
2024
14.8%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
15.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Afghanistan Argentina
Economic freedom 53 57.4
Economic freedom ranking 142/197 117/197
Property rights 3.6 41.2
Government integrity 13.5 41.2
Judicial effectiveness 0 58.2
Tax burden 92 67.8
Government spending 90.8 62.3
Fiscal health 98.4 72.2
Business freedom 33.7 56.8
Labor freedom 44.4 53.5
Monetary freedom 84.9 28.9
Trade freedom 68.6 67.4
Investment freedom 10 70
Financial freedom 10 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

Afghanistan
Argentina
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Afghanistan Argentina
2026 - 57.4
2025 - 54.2
2024 - 49.9
2023 - 51
2022 - 50.1
2021 53 52.7
2020 54.7 53.1
2019 51.5 52.2
2018 51.3 52.3
2017 48.9 50.4
2016 - 43.8
2015 - 44.1
2014 - 44.6
2013 - 46.7
2012 - 48
2011 - 51.7
2010 - 51.2
2009 - 52.3
2008 - 54.2
2007 - 54
2006 - 53.4
2005 - 51.7
2004 - 53.9
2003 - 56.3
2002 - 65.7
2001 - 68.6
2000 - 70
1999 - 70.6
1998 - 70.9
1997 - 73.3
1996 - 74.7
1995 - 68

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Afghanistan is 53, ranking 142/197, compared to 57.4 for Argentina, ranking 117/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Afghanistan Argentina
Services, % of GDP
45.2%
2024
56.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
14.5%
2024
22.9%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
34.3%
2024
5.53%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$16.8B
2024
$672B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,250
2024
$31,920
2025
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$41B
2025
Total reserves ranking
81/177
2020
54/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$24.3M
2020
-$300M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$11.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$2.76B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.38%
2024
6.32%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
47.1%
2019
38.1%
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.1%
2024
16.1%
2025

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/afghanistan/argentina | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1864–1992, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. TradeMap (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.