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Afghanistan statistics: country profile & rankings

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan is a low-income country with a population of 42.6M people. The capital and largest city is Kabul, with 5.33M residents. Afghanistan shares land borders with Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China.

Afghanistan ranks 137/197 by GDP ($17.2B) and 196/197 by GDP per capita ($414). The top export category is raw agricultural goods, while the top import is raw materials & minerals.

Main facts and rankings

Afghanistan Rank
Population
45409324
36/197
GDP
$17.2B
2023
137/197
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
Land area 251,827 sq mi 40/197
Population density 179 ppl/mi² 123/197
Fertility rate 4.84 9/196
Median age 18.2 years 186/196
Life expectancy 66.8 years 163/197

Afghanistan trends dashboard: time-series charts

Afghanistan's economy ranked

1x
Year GDP
2023 $17,152,234,637
2022 $14,497,243,872
2021 $14,259,995,441
2020 $19,955,929,052
2019 $18,799,444,490
2018 $18,053,222,687
2017 $18,753,456,498
2016 $18,116,572,395
2015 $19,134,221,645
2014 $20,497,128,556
2013 $20,146,416,758
2012 $19,907,329,778
2011 $17,805,098,206
2010 $15,856,668,556
2009 $12,416,152,732
2008 $10,109,297,048
2007 $9,747,886,187
2006 $6,971,758,282
2005 $6,203,256,539
2004 $5,224,896,719
2003 $4,520,946,819
2002 $3,825,701,439
2001 $2,813,571,754
2000 $3,521,418,060

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2000–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan | CC BY

Afghanistan's economy ranked

1x
Year GDP per capita
2023 $414
2022 $357
2021 $356
2020 $511
2019 $497
2018 $491
2017 $525
2016 $522
2015 $566
2014 $625
2013 $637
2012 $651
2011 $607
2010 $561
2009 $452
2008 $382
2007 $376
2006 $274.2
2005 $254.2
2004 $221.8
2003 $198.9
2002 $179
2001 $138.7
2000 $174.9

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (2000–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan | CC BY

Afghanistan's life expectancy calculator

1x
Year Life expectancy, years
2026 66.8
2025 66.5
2024 66.3
2023 66
2022 65.6
2021 60.4
2020 61.5
2019 62.9
2018 62.4
2017 62.4
2016 62.6
2015 62.3
2014 62.3
2013 62.2
2012 61.7
2011 61.3
2010 60.7
2009 60.2
2008 59.7
2007 59
2006 58.6
2005 58.2
2004 57.8
2003 57.2
2002 56.2
2001 55.5
2000 55
1999 54.5
1998 52.5
1997 53.2
1996 52.8
1995 52.1
1994 51
1993 51
1992 46.6
1991 45.5
1990 45.1
1989 44.5
1988 43.2
1987 38.8
1986 38.4
1985 32.1
1984 31.5
1983 36.5
1982 36.1
1981 39.4
1980 39.3
1979 38.8
1978 40.1
1977 41.1
1976 40.5
1975 40
1974 39.5
1973 39
1972 38.4
1971 37.9
1970 37.5
1969 37
1968 36.5
1967 36
1966 35.6
1965 35.1
1964 34.7
1963 34.2
1962 33.8
1961 33.3
1960 32.8
1959 32.3
1958 31.8
1957 31.3
1956 30.8
1955 30.4
1954 29.7
1953 29.5
1952 29
1951 28.6
1950 28.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan | CC BY

Afghanistan's population clock and projection

1x
Year Population
2024 42,647,492
2023 41,454,761
2022 40,578,842
2021 40,000,412
2020 39,068,979
2019 37,856,121
2018 36,743,039
2017 35,688,935
2016 34,700,612
2015 33,831,764
2014 32,792,523
2013 31,622,704
2012 30,560,034
2011 29,347,708
2010 28,284,089
2009 27,466,101
2008 26,482,622
2007 25,909,852
2006 25,424,094
2005 24,404,567
2004 23,560,654
2003 22,733,049
2002 21,378,117
2001 20,284,307
2000 20,130,327
1999 19,887,785
1998 19,159,996
1997 18,452,091
1996 17,763,266
1995 17,065,836
1994 16,250,794
1993 14,943,172
1992 13,278,974
1991 12,238,879
1990 12,045,660
1989 11,874,088
1988 11,523,298
1987 11,387,818
1986 11,420,074
1985 11,426,852
1984 11,190,221
1983 10,917,982
1982 10,991,378
1981 11,937,581
1980 13,169,311
1979 13,655,567
1978 13,611,441
1977 13,340,756
1976 13,059,851
1975 12,773,954
1974 12,469,127
1973 12,157,999
1972 11,853,696
1971 11,567,667
1970 11,290,128
1969 11,017,409
1968 10,756,922
1967 10,505,959
1966 10,266,395
1965 10,036,008
1964 9,814,318
1963 9,604,487
1962 9,404,406
1961 9,214,083
1960 9,035,043

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan | CC BY

Afghanistan's birth and fertility rates

1x
Year Fertility rate
2023 4.84
2022 4.93
2021 5.04
2020 5.15
2019 5.24
2018 5.33
2017 5.43
2016 5.54
2015 5.65
2014 5.77
2013 5.88
2012 5.99
2011 6.09
2010 6.2
2009 6.3
2008 6.39
2007 6.51
2006 6.69
2005 6.86
2004 7.02
2003 7.17
2002 7.32
2001 7.45
2000 7.57
1999 7.64
1998 7.69
1997 7.73
1996 7.76
1995 7.77
1994 7.77
1993 7.76
1992 7.7
1991 7.63
1990 7.58
1989 7.56
1988 7.55
1987 7.55
1986 7.55
1985 7.55
1984 7.55
1983 7.57
1982 7.6
1981 7.62
1980 7.64
1979 7.61
1978 7.6
1977 7.59
1976 7.56
1975 7.54
1974 7.53
1973 7.49
1972 7.45
1971 7.43
1970 7.4
1969 7.39
1968 7.36
1967 7.34
1966 7.32
1965 7.31
1964 7.3
1963 7.3
1962 7.29
1961 7.28
1960 7.28

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan | CC BY

Afghanistan's demographics

1x
Year Median age, years
2024 18.2
2023 18
2022 17.8
2021 17.6
2020 17.5
2019 17.3
2018 17.1
2017 17
2016 16.8
2015 16.6
2014 16.4
2013 16.2
2012 16
2011 15.9
2010 15.7
2009 15.5
2008 15.3
2007 15.2
2006 15.1
2005 15
2004 14.9
2003 14.9
2002 14.9
2001 14.9
2000 15
1999 15.1
1998 15.2
1997 15.3
1996 15.5
1995 15.6
1994 15.7
1993 15.8
1992 15.9
1991 16
1990 16.1
1989 16.1
1988 16.2
1987 16.3
1986 16.3
1985 16.4
1984 16.5
1983 16.6
1982 16.7
1981 16.8
1980 16.9
1979 17
1978 17.2
1977 17.3
1976 17.4
1975 17.5
1974 17.6
1973 17.7
1972 17.8
1971 17.9
1970 18.1
1969 18.2
1968 18.3
1967 18.4
1966 18.5
1965 18.6
1964 18.6
1963 18.7
1962 18.8
1961 18.9
1960 18.9

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan | CC BY

Afghanistan vs. World: Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Afghanistan with other countries.

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Afghanistan: National Statistics

Finance

Afghanistan Rank
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2023
139/194
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.4%
2024
160/195
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.34%
2017
84/193
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2021
80/163
Armed forces personnel
165,000
2020
37/174
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.54%
2024
41/188
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
88/196
Services, % of GDP
46.4%
2023
152/191
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2023
167/194
Economic freedom index
53
2021
142/197
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
78/177
Personal remittances received
$320M
2024
128/191
International tourism as share of exports
5.08%
2020
93/184
Banked people share
9.65%
2021
156/158

Energy

Afghanistan Rank
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
12.1 megatons
2024
102/187
CO2 emissions per capita
0.28 tons
2024
165/187
Renewable energy use share
20%
2022
107/193
Renewable electricity output share
78.2%
2021
33/192
Hydroelectric share
71.7%
2021
22/192
Nuclear share
0%
2021
33/192
Electricity access
85.3%
2023
146/195

Society

Afghanistan Rank
% of world population
0.52%
2024
36/197
Annual migration change
-74,404
2025
179/196
Urban population
25.7%
2024
183/195
Male:Female ratio
50.5:49.5
2024
N/A
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
148/190
Average female height
5.12 ft
2025
164/190
Quality of life index
15.5
2026
185/197
Corruption Perceptions Index
16
2025
184/197
Higher education index
20
2026
148/183
Homicides per 100K people
4.02
2021
87/197
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.9
2019
88/197
Visa free countries
36
2025
195/195
Adult literacy rate
37.3%
2021
192/196
English speaking
6%
2023
142/197
People using the Internet
17.7%
2023
186/195

Health

Afghanistan Rank
Government health expenditure per capita
$59.1
2023
166/192
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$45.6
2023
129/192
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
163/197
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
21.2%
2023
31/181
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.32
2023
149/193
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
114/137
Maternal mortality per 100K births
521
2023
7/193
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
55.5
2023
24/192
Obesity rate
19.6%
2022
111/189
Diabetes prevalence
11.7%
2024
54/195
Air quality index
3
2026
194/197
Tobacco use prevalence
22.7%
2022
59/164
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.01 liters
2020
181/186

Territory

Afghanistan Rank
% of world land
0.44%
2026
40/197
Land area per capita
5,905 sq mi
2024
74/197
Agricultural land area
147,167 sq mi
2026
35/194
Forest area
4,666 sq mi
2026
119/196
Roads length
21,688 mi
2021
80/176

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2021, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. Wikidata (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  12. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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.