Afghanistan

Background

Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and established Afghanistan in 1747. This nation acted as a buffer zone between the British and Russian Empires until it achieved independence from nominal British oversight in 1919. A short period of enhanced democratic governance was interrupted by a coup in 1973, succeeded by a communist countercoup in 1978. In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded to bolster the faltering Afghan communist regime, signaling the onset of a protracted and devastating conflict. Anti-communist mujahidin fighters, supported by international allies, compelled the USSR to withdraw in 1989. A succession of civil wars culminated in the Taliban's seizure of Kabul in 1996, a fundamentalist faction backed by Pakistan. Following the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, military actions by the United States and its allies ousted the Taliban, who had been sheltering Usama BIN LADIN.

The Bonn Conference, convened by the UN in 2001, initiated a political reconstruction process, which entailed the creation of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In 2004, Hamid KARZAI was elected as Afghanistan's first democratically elected president and secured reelection in 2009. Ashraf Ghani AHMADZAI took office in 2014 following a contentious election. The Taliban engaged in a two-decade-long insurgency against the Afghan government and the forces of the United States and allied nations. A deal was finalized in February 2020 between the US and the Taliban, leading to the withdrawal of international troops in return for commitments regarding counterterrorism and other assurances. On August 15, 2021, the Taliban reclaimed control over Afghanistan.

The Taliban formed an interim leadership structure composed exclusively of male Pashtun clerics, led by Haibatullah AKHUNDZADA. They promulgated a series of decrees that restricted women's rights pertaining to mobility, education, and employment, forbidding access to education beyond the primary level. As of now, no nation has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate governing authority of Afghanistan.

Area

Climate

characterized by climates that range from arid to semi-arid, experiencing cold winters and hot summers

Terrain

predominantly consists of rugged mountain ranges, with plains located in the northern and southwestern regions

Land use

Location

located in Southern Asia, sharing borders with Pakistan to the north and west, and Iran to the east

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Irrigated land

24,930 sq km (2022)

Map references

Asia

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

experiences severe earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountains; also vulnerable to floods and droughts

Geography - note

a landlocked country; the Hindu Kush mountains run from the northeast to the southwest, separating the northern provinces from the remainder of the nation; the tallest peaks are found in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) region

Natural resources

possesses natural resources such as natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, along with both precious and semi-precious stones, in addition to arable land

Area - comparative

approximately six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas

Geographic coordinates

33 00 N, 65 00 E

Population distribution

populations are generally found in the foothills and edges of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller communities are scattered throughout various interior valleys; overall, the eastern areas show a higher population concentration, whereas the southern parts are less densely populated

Major lakes (area sq km)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km

note: [s] indicates river source following the country name; [m] indicates river mouth following the country name

Literacy

Languages

Religions

Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (estimate from 2009)

Sex ratio

Birth rate

35.99 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco use

Urbanization

Age structure

Ethnic groups

Reliable and up-to-date statistical information regarding ethnicity in Afghanistan is lacking; the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan mentioned ethnic groups including Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui; there exist numerous other small ethnic communities within the country

Child marriage

Dependency ratios

Physician density

0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health expenditure

Net migration rate

-1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

Education expenditure

Infant mortality rate

Population growth rate

2.86% (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.39 (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Populations are primarily found in the foothills and peripheries of the rugged Hindu Kush mountains; smaller ethnic communities reside in various inland valleys; generally, the eastern regions exhibit higher population density in contrast to the sparsely populated southern regions

Life expectancy at birth

Maternal mortality ratio

521 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Alcohol consumption per capita

Major urban areas - population

4.589 million KABUL (capital) (2023)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.5% (2016)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2015 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.9% (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18.4% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Climate

climates that vary from arid to semi-arid, characterized by cold winters and hot summers

Land use

Urbanization

Waste and recycling

Environmental issues

scarce natural freshwater resources; insufficient drinking water; deterioration of soil; overgrazing; deforestation (for fuel and construction materials); desertification; contamination of air and water in urban regions

Total water withdrawal

Carbon dioxide emissions

Particulate matter emissions

84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

65.33 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

Flag

description: The national flag consists of three equal vertical stripes: black (on the left), red, and green, with the national emblem depicted in white at the center of the red band, partially overlapping the adjacent stripes; the emblem illustrates a mosque with a pulpit and flags on either side; below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals representing the solar year 1298 (equivalent to 1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year Afghanistan achieved independence from the United Kingdom); surrounding the mosque is a border made of wheat sheaves; above the mosque is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (the Islamic creed), accompanied by rays emanating from the rising sun above the Takbir (an Arabic phrase meaning "God is great"); beneath the mosque is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan.

meaning: The black color signifies the past, red represents the blood shed for independence, and green denotes hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam.

history: Afghanistan has undergone more variations of its national flag in the 20th century—19 by some estimates—than any other nation. The colors black, red, and green were present in most of these designs.

Capital

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Constitution

Country name

Independence

19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

Legal system

The Taliban enforce their interpretation of Islamic law, which is partially influenced by the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence and has instituted strict penalties; prior to the Taliban's takeover, Afghanistan operated under a combination of civil, customary, and Islamic law (2021).

Government type

Theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government.

Judicial branch

Executive branch

National holiday

Previously: Independence Day, observed on 19 August (1919); under the Taliban Government, 15 August (2022) has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the victory in the Afghan jihad.

National color(s)

red, green, black

National heritage

Political parties

The Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian regime and has prohibited other political parties.

The Taliban have restricted other political parties but have permitted certain party leaders, including Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the head of Hezb-e-Islami, to reside and operate within Afghanistan; Hekmatyar likely retains some political support from his followers. Leaders of alternative parties, such as Salahuddin Rabbani of Jamiat-e-Islami and Rashid Dostum of Jumbesh, function from abroad but presumably still have some backing in Afghanistan.

Legislative branch

note: Afghanistan’s bicameral National Assembly consisted of the House of Elders and House of the People but was dissolved after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021

National anthem(s)

National symbol(s)

lion

Administrative divisions

34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul.

Diplomatic representation in the US

none

note: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

Afghanistan is a member of the following organizations but Taliban representatives do not participate: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

International law organization participation

Has not submitted a declaration of ICJ jurisdiction; previously accepted the jurisdiction of the ICCt.

Budget

Exports

Imports

Industries

small-scale manufacturing of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, footwear, fertilizers, garments, food items, non-alcoholic drinks, mineral water, cement; artisanal carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Labor force

9.133 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Remittances

Exchange rates

Debt - external

Economic overview

low-income economy situated in South Asia; the economy exhibits stability after a significant downturn caused by the Taliban's rise to power, though recovery is tenuous; pervasive poverty and challenges to human development; reliance on imports for food, fuel, and machinery; ongoing sanctions, halt of development assistance, and frozen assets

Unemployment rate

Exports - partners

Pakistan 42%, India 40%, China 4%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2023)

Imports - partners

UAE 28%, Pakistan 15%, China 15%, Uzbekistan 12%, Kazakhstan 9% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP growth rate

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, grapes, watermelons, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, maize (2023)

Exports - commodities

coal, grapes, tropical fruits, gum resins, other nuts (2023)

Imports - commodities

wheat flours, tobacco, palm oil, broadcasting equipment, synthetic fabric (2023)

Current account balance

Taxes and other revenues

9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.152 billion (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

Population below poverty line

54.5% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural gas

Electricity access

Energy consumption per capita

Electricity generation sources

Internet users

Broadcast media

During the period of Taliban rule, there has been a notable decline in independent media organizations, likely leading to self-censorship; the Ministry of Information and Culture oversees all forms of mass communication; television and radio serve as the primary media channels; approximately 20% of the Afghan population accesses the internet, predominantly via smartphones (2023)

Internet country code

.af

Telephones - fixed lines

Telephones - mobile cellular

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Airports

68 (2025)

Heliports

8 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YA

Military - note

The primary security challenges faced by the Taliban encompass both border and domestic security matters. Major issues have included confrontations with Pakistan along their mutual border, resistance from various armed groups, and dangers presented by the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K) terrorist faction (2025)

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

The Taliban has created a Ministry of Defense along with a National Army, which may also be referred to as the Army of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate Army, or the Afghan Army. In addition, police units have been established under the Ministry of Interior (2025)

Military service age and obligation

Military service is entirely voluntary; there is no system of conscription currently implemented (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military and security forces of the Taliban are armed with weapons obtained in 2021 from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, which were predominantly outfitted with equipment of Russian/Soviet and American design (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

The Taliban claims to have a total of 190,000 personnel in the Ministry of Defense and 215,000 in the Ministry of Interior (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Haqqani Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

Illicit drugs

Trafficking in persons

Refugees and internally displaced persons