World Factbook
Afghanistan
Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021; current country name is disputed)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Budget
note
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
revenues
$9.093 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures
$7.411 billion (2017 est.)
Exports
note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2018
$1.609 billion (2018 est.)
Exports 2019
$1.516 billion (2019 est.)
Exports 2020
$1.476 billion (2020 est.)
Imports
note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2018
$7.988 billion (2018 est.)
Imports 2019
$7.371 billion (2019 est.)
Imports 2020
$6.983 billion (2020 est.)
Industries
small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Labor force
9.133 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Public debt
Public debt 2016
7.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
note
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021
2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2016
67.866 (2016 est.)
Exchange rates 2017
68.027 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates 2018
72.083 (2018 est.)
Exchange rates 2019
77.738 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
76.814 (2020 est.)
Debt - external
note
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt - external 2023
$2.717 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
low-income South Asian economy; economy stable after major contraction due to Taliban takeover, but recovery remains fragile; widespread poverty and obstacles to human development; import-reliant for food, fuel, and machinery; ongoing sanctions, suspended development aid, and frozen reserve assets
Unemployment rate
note
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022
14.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
14% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
13.3% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Pakistan 42%, India 40%, China 4%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
UAE 28%, Pakistan 15%, China 15%, Uzbekistan 12%, Kazakhstan 9% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Real GDP per capita
note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,100 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,000 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2021
-20.7% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
-6.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, grapes, watermelons, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, maize (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Exports - commodities
coal, grapes, tropical fruits, gum resins, other nuts (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - commodities
wheat flours, tobacco, palm oil, broadcasting equipment, synthetic fabric (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Current account balance
note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2018
-$3.897 billion (2018 est.)
Current account balance 2019
-$3.792 billion (2019 est.)
Current account balance 2020
-$3.137 billion (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
GDP (official exchange rate)
$17.152 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
note
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
household consumption
98.1% (2023 est.)
government consumption
21.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
0.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
15.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
16.9% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-50.7% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
54.5% (2016 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
note
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
13.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
-4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
-6.6% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
1.8% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$85.768 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$80.416 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$82.238 billion (2023 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
15.8% (2024 est.)
note
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
total
16.7% (2024 est.)
female
27% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
note
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$8.207 billion (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$8.498 billion (2019 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$9.749 billion (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
note
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
industry
13.4% (2023 est.)
services
46.4% (2023 est.)
agriculture
34.7% (2023 est.)