Skip to content

Economy of Afghanistan vs Cuba compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has a GDP of $17.2B compared to $107B for Cuba, ranking 137/197 and 69/197 by economy size, respectively.

Afghanistan vs Cuba GDP by year

Afghanistan
Cuba
1x
Year GDP, current $
Afghanistan Cuba
2023 $17,152,234,637 -
2022 $14,497,243,872 -
2021 $14,259,995,441 -
2020 $19,955,929,052 $107,352,000,000
2019 $18,799,444,490 $103,427,600,000
2018 $18,053,222,687 $100,050,036,100
2017 $18,753,456,498 $96,850,649,700
2016 $18,116,572,395 $91,370,407,900
2015 $19,134,221,645 $87,132,800,000
2014 $20,497,128,556 $80,656,100,000
2013 $20,146,416,758 $77,148,000,000
2012 $19,907,329,778 $73,141,000,000
2011 $17,805,098,206 $68,990,000,000
2010 $15,856,668,556 $59,562,962,963
2009 $12,416,152,732 $57,481,481,481
2008 $10,109,297,048 $56,302,129,630
2007 $9,747,886,187 $54,262,870,370
2006 $6,971,758,282 $48,835,925,926
2005 $6,203,256,539 $42,643,836,100
2004 $5,224,896,719 $38,203,000,000
2003 $4,520,946,819 $35,901,200,000
2002 $3,825,701,439 $33,590,500,000
2001 $2,813,571,754 $31,682,400,000
2000 $3,521,418,060 $30,565,400,000
1999 - $28,364,615,200
1998 - $25,736,331,200
1997 - $25,365,908,100
1996 - $25,017,368,700
1995 - $30,429,803,651
1994 - $28,448,326,757
1993 - $22,367,254,865
1992 - $22,085,858,243
1991 - $24,316,556,026
1990 - $28,645,436,569
1989 - $27,023,468,666
1988 - $27,458,999,472
1987 - $25,213,935,012
1986 - $24,226,574,634
1985 - $22,920,490,774
1984 - $24,039,383,608
1983 - $22,204,940,512
1982 - $20,953,510,235
1981 - $20,150,254,096
1980 - $19,912,889,861
1979 - $19,584,443,288
1978 - $17,844,705,325
1977 - $14,206,158,675
1976 - $13,789,579,903
1975 - $13,027,415,244
1974 - $11,405,957,317
1973 - $9,987,709,650
1972 - $8,135,150,892
1971 - $6,914,658,400
1970 - $5,693,005,200

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Afghanistan vs Cuba by year

Afghanistan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Afghanistan Cuba
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2023 $414 $2,202 - -
2022 $357 $2,123 - -
2021 $356 $2,144 - -
2020 $511 $2,562 $9,605 -
2019 $497 $2,583 $9,232 -
2018 $491 $2,432 $8,911 -
2017 $525 $2,336 $8,611 -
2016 $522 $2,213 $8,111 $12,300
2015 $566 $2,284 $7,728 -
2014 $625 $2,224 $7,147 -
2013 $637 $2,133 $6,828 -
2012 $651 $1,988 $6,471 -
2011 $607 $1,744 $6,104 -
2010 $561 $1,766 $5,272 $10,200
2009 $452 $1,571 $5,089 $9,700
2008 $382 $1,334 $4,986 $9,500
2007 $376 $1,287 $4,807 $11,000
2006 $274.2 $1,122 $4,330 $4,000
2005 $254.2 $1,076 $3,786 $3,500
2004 $221.8 $972 $3,399 $3,000
2003 $198.9 $967 $3,203 $2,900
2002 $179 $927 $3,005 $2,300
2001 $138.7 $748 $2,843 -
2000 $174.9 $814 $2,751 $1,700
1999 - - $2,562 $1,700
1998 - - $2,332 -
1997 - - $2,306 -
1996 - - $2,282 -
1995 - - $2,785 -
1994 - - $2,613 -
1993 - - $2,063 -
1992 - - $2,048 -
1991 - - $2,269 -
1990 - - $2,694 -
1989 - - $2,566 -
1988 - - $2,632 -
1987 - - $2,440 -
1986 - - $2,365 -
1985 - - $2,257 -
1984 - - $2,386 -
1983 - - $2,222 -
1982 - - $2,114 -
1981 - - $2,046 -
1980 - - $2,031 -
1979 - - $2,006 -
1978 - - $1,837 -
1977 - - $1,472 -
1976 - - $1,441 -
1975 - - $1,374 -
1974 - - $1,217 -
1973 - - $1,079 -
1972 - - $892 -
1971 - - $770 -
1970 - - $645 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2016, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Afghanistan's GDP per capita is $414, ranking 196/197, compared to $9,605 in Cuba, ranking 86/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Afghanistan ranks 184th at $2,202, while Cuba ranks 124th at $12,300.

Economic indicators

Afghanistan Cuba
Gross domestic product
$17.2B
2023
$107B
2020
GDP rank
137/197
2023
69/197
2020
GDP growth
2.27%
2022-2023
-1.06%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$414
2023
$9,605
2020
GDP per capita rank
196/197
2023
86/197
2020
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$12,300
2016
GDP per capita PPP rank
184/197
2023
124/197
2016
Government debt
$1.44B
2023
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
8.8%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$34.8
2023
n/a
Government debt per person rank
185/185
2023
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,869
2026
$3,075
2026
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.4%
2024
49%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-4.3%
2023-2024
5.5%
2019-2020
Central bank interest rate
6%
2021
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
1.7%
2018
Population
45409324
10894785

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Afghanistan

Cuba
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Afghanistan Cuba
2024 -4.3% -
2023 -7.7% -
2022 10.6% -
2021 7.8% -
2020 5.6% 5.5%
2019 2.3% 5.5%
2018 0.6% 5.5%
2017 5% -
2016 4.4% 4.5%
2015 -0.7% 4.4%
2014 4.7% -
2013 7.4% 6%
2012 6.4% 5.5%
2011 11.8% 4.7%
2010 2.2% 0.7%
2009 -6.8% -0.5%
2008 26.4% 3.4%
2007 8.7% 3.1%
2006 6.8% 5%
2005 10.6% 7%
2004 16.4% 3.1%
2003 35.7% 4.1%
2002 - 7.1%
2001 - -
2000 - -
1999 - 0.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2003–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 18 years, Afghanistan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 8.19%, compared with 4.22% in Cuba. In 2020, inflation was -4.3% in Afghanistan and 5.5% in Cuba.

Top exports between countries

Afghanistan
Export category Export value
Cuba
Export category Export value
Metals $39K
Wood & paper products $15K

Balance of trade

Afghanistan Cuba
Current account balance
-$3.14B
2020
n/a
Current account balance ranking
159/190
2020
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-15.7%
2020
n/a
Goods imports
$5.88B
2020
n/a
Goods exports
$777M
2020
n/a
Service imports
$1.11B
2020
n/a
Service exports
$700M
2020
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
50.7%
2023
82.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
16.9%
2023
42.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Afghanistan Cuba
Economic freedom 53 25.2
Economic freedom ranking 142/197 195/197
Property rights 3.6 27.7
Government integrity 13.5 33
Judicial effectiveness 0 16
Tax burden 92 51.9
Government spending 90.8 0
Fiscal health 98.4 0
Business freedom 33.7 41.4
Labor freedom 44.4 20
Monetary freedom 84.9 20
Trade freedom 68.6 72.8
Investment freedom 10 10
Financial freedom 10 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Afghanistan
Cuba
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Afghanistan Cuba
2026 - 25.2
2025 - 25.4
2024 - 25.7
2023 - 24.3
2022 - 29.5
2021 53 28.1
2020 54.7 26.9
2019 51.5 27.8
2018 51.3 31.9
2017 48.9 33.9
2016 - 29.8
2015 - 29.6
2014 - 28.7
2013 - 28.5
2012 - 28.3
2011 - 27.7
2010 - 26.7
2009 - 27.9
2008 - 27.5
2007 - 28.6
2006 - 29.3
2005 - 35.5
2004 - 34.4
2003 - 35.1
2002 - 32.4
2001 - 31.6
2000 - 31.3
1999 - 29.7
1998 - 28.2
1997 - 27.8
1996 - 27.8
1995 - 27.8

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Afghanistan is 53, ranking 142/197, compared to 25.2 for Cuba, ranking 195/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Afghanistan Cuba
Services, % of GDP
46.4%
2023
73.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2023
23.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
34.7%
2023
1.24%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2023
$101B
2019
GNI per capita, PPP
$2,210
2023
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$144M
1960
Total reserves ranking
78/177
2020
173/177
1960
Net foreign direct investment
$24.3M
2020
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
0.25%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
47.1%
2019
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
15.3%
2023
9.87%
2020

GDP per capita map

1x

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/cuba | 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 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2003–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. 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.