Afghanistan
| Capital: | Kabul |
| Area size: | 652090 sq. km Slightly larger than Spain and Portugal combined |
| Time zone: | GMT +4 1/2 |
| Currency: | Afghani |
| Area code: | (+) 93 |
| Driving: | Right |
| Climate description: | Severe winter at higher altitudes, summers are warm throughout the mountainous country but very hot at lower levels. Rain in the spring, dry period between June and October |
People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Pashto and Persian (Dari) are the official languages. There is also a great variety of languages -- mainly with Persian or Turkic roots -- such as Hazaragi, Turkmen, Uzbek and Aimaq.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
40.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
Pashtun 44 percent, Tajik 25 percent, Hazara 10 percent, Uzbek 8 percent. The rest of the population is comprised of peoples of Turkic origin and nomads of Mongolian origin.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Muslims make up 99 percent of the population (74 percent Sunni, 15 percent Shia and 10 percent others).
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
Pashto and Persian (Dari) are the official languages. There is also a great variety of languages -- mainly with Persian or Turkic roots -- such as Hazaragi, Turkmen, Uzbek and Aimaq.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2007 | 26.2 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 25.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 25.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 24.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 23.1 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 22.2 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 21.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 20.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
40.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
Pashtun 44 percent, Tajik 25 percent, Hazara 10 percent, Uzbek 8 percent. The rest of the population is comprised of peoples of Turkic origin and nomads of Mongolian origin.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Muslims make up 99 percent of the population (74 percent Sunni, 15 percent Shia and 10 percent others).
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 23.6 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 23.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 22.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 22.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 22.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 21.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 21.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 21.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
No data available
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 47 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.6 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 46.7 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
No data available
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
No data available percent
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
28.1 percent (2004)
Source: UNDP 2006
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 42.9 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.4 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | 46.2 years | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available years | |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 42.9 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.2 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available years | |
| 2002 | No data available years | |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 42.8 years | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 46.7 years | UNDP 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available years | |
| 2002 | No data available years | |
| 2001 | No data available years | |
| 2000 | No data available years |
Infant mortality
| 2006 | 165 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 165 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 165 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | No data available per 1,000 live births | |
| 2002 | No data available per 1,000 live births | |
| 2001 | 165 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2006 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNDP 2005 |
| 2002 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNDP 2004 |
| 2001 | 257 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 live births |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 14 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 14 percent | UNDP 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 14 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2001 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | No data available per 100,000 live births | |
| 2000 | 1900 per 100,000 live births | UNDP 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
No data available
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2006 | 39 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 39 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 39 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2002 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2001 | 48 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | No data available percent |
Percentage of undernourished population
No data available percent
Population with access to improved water
| 2006 | 22 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 39 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2006 | 30 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 34 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - average
28.1 percent (2004)
Source: UNDP 2006
Literacy - male
| 2005 | 43.1 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 43.1 percent | UNDP 2006 |
Literacy - female
| 2005 | 12.6 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2004 | 12.6 percent | UNDP 2006 |
Landlines telephones
| 2006 | 5 per 1,000 people | International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007 |
| 2005 | 3 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 2 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2006 | 81 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 40 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 21 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 7 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | No data available per 1,000 people | |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 people |
Internet users
| 2006 | 17 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 10 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 0.7 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | No data available per 1,000 people | |
| 2001 | No data available per 1,000 people | |
| 2000 | No data available per 1,000 people |
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
| 2008 | 176 | Transparency International 2008 |
| 2007 | 172 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | Not ranked | |
| 2005 | 117 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 133 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | Not ranked | |
| 2002 | Not ranked | |
| 2001 | Not ranked | |
| 2000 | Not ranked |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2006 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | No data available current US$ | |
| 2000 | current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2006 | 8.4 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 7.3 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 6.0 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 4.6 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 4.0 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 2.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | No data available current US$ billions |
Annual GDP growth
| 2006 | 5.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 14.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 8.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 15.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual inflation
| 2006 | 9.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 11.9 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 17.0 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 6.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Risk from P. vivax and P. falciparum from May through November below 2000 metres altitude. P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | 19 per 100,000 people | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 1990-2004 | 19 per 100,000 people | UNDP 2006 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2007 | No data available percent | |
| 2006 | No data available percent | |
| 2005 | No data available percent | |
| 2004 | No data available percent | |
| 2003 | No data available percent |
Malaria
Risk from P. vivax and P. falciparum from May through November below 2000 metres altitude. P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2006 | 161 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2005 | 168 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 175 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2003 | 186 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2002 | 195 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2001 | 203 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2000 | 208 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2002)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
9.9 percent (2005)
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2007 | 1909911 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 2107519 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 1908052 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 2084925 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 2136043 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 2510294 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 3809767 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 3587336 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2007 | 42 | UNHCR |
| 2006 | 35 | UNHCR |
| 2005 | 32 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 30 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 22 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 3 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 6 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | No data available |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| 2007 | 161000 | Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008 | |
| 2006 | 132000 | Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2006 | |
| 2005 | 153192 - 200000 | IDMC 2006 | |
Landmine casualties per year
| 2004 | 878 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 1018 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2002)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
9.9 percent (2005)
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 0.7 percent | U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2007 |
| 2003-2004 | No data available percent | |
| 2002 | 3.1 percent | UNDP 2005 |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.
Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.
Related articles
Breaking stories
Asia
Friends pay musical tribute to Pavarotti in ancient city of Petra
Asia
Pakistan president heads to China to boost ties
AlertNet insight
Asia
Most Britons unaware of African conflicts - Red Cross survey
Aid agency news feed
Asia
CARE Afghanistan monthly briefing
Blogs
Asia
Talking to the Taliban (Hopefully)
Maps
Americas
GLOBAL poverty distribution - infant mortality as poverty indicator
More briefings