# Afghanistan — key facts

Source: GeoReality (https://geo-reality.com) — verified country data, regenerated 2026-09-01.
When citing a figure, attribute both GeoReality and the primary source in the third column.

- Capital: Kabul
- Region: Asia · Southern Asia
- Full profile: https://geo-reality.com/country/af
- Methodology and source URLs: https://geo-reality.com/data-sources

| Fact | Value | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,844,111 | World Bank SP.POP.TOTL |
| Area | 652,230 km² | World Bank AG.LND.TOTL.K2 |
| GDP per capita (nominal) | 417 USD | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.CD |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | 2,236 intl $ | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD |
| GDP (total) | 17.8 bn USD | World Bank NY.GDP.MKTP.CD |
| Human Development Index | 0.46 | UNDP Human Development Report (2022) |
| Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful) | 3.11 | IEP Global Peace Index (2024) |
| Life satisfaction (Cantril ladder, 0-10) | 1.45 | World Happiness Report — Data for Figure 2.1, life evaluation (Cantril ladder) (2026) |
| Life expectancy at birth | 66.3 years | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Fertility rate | 4.76 births/woman | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Unemployment | 13.4% | World Bank SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Inflation (CPI, annual) | -6.6% | World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG |
| Cost of living index (NYC = 100) | 21.1 | Numbeo (2026) |
| Safety index (Numbeo) | 25.2 | Numbeo (2026) |
| Median fixed broadband | 4.85 Mbps | Ookla Speedtest Global Index (2025) |
| Internet users | 16.1% of population | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 25.9% | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Renewable share of energy | 20% | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Forest area | 1.9% of land | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |
| CO2 emissions per capita | 0.28 t/yr | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Corporate tax rate | 20% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (corporate column, headline statutory rate) (2024) |
| VAT / GST standard rate | 0% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (VAT/GST/Sales column, standard-rate preferred) (2024) |
| Top personal income tax | 20% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (Individual income / Highest column) (2024) |

## Two decades of change

| Indicator | First → last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 58.25 (2005) → 66.29 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Internet users | 2.11 (2006) → 16.09 (2024) | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 20.11 (2006) → 25.94 (2025) | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Births per woman | 6.86 (2005) → 4.76 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Renewable share of energy | 44.2 (2004) → 20 (2022) | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Access to electricity | 28.7 (2005) → 87.8 (2024) | World Bank EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Infant mortality | 93.8 (2005) → 48.3 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |
| CO2 emissions per person | 0.05 (2005) → 0.28 (2024) | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Forest area | 1.85 (2004) → 1.85 (2023) | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |

Context across all countries: https://geo-reality.com/changed

## Human Development Index, 1990–2022

Source: UNDP Human Development Report, composite indices complete time series (2023-24). Annual values as published, none interpolated.

| Year | HDI |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.284 |
| 1991 | 0.292 |
| 1992 | 0.299 |
| 1993 | 0.307 |
| 1994 | 0.300 |
| 1995 | 0.318 |
| 1996 | 0.326 |
| 1997 | 0.330 |
| 1998 | 0.329 |
| 1999 | 0.337 |
| 2000 | 0.340 |
| 2001 | 0.344 |
| 2002 | 0.368 |
| 2003 | 0.379 |
| 2004 | 0.395 |
| 2005 | 0.402 |
| 2006 | 0.410 |
| 2007 | 0.426 |
| 2008 | 0.431 |
| 2009 | 0.441 |
| 2010 | 0.449 |
| 2011 | 0.457 |
| 2012 | 0.467 |
| 2013 | 0.475 |
| 2014 | 0.480 |
| 2015 | 0.479 |
| 2016 | 0.483 |
| 2017 | 0.485 |
| 2018 | 0.486 |
| 2019 | 0.492 |
| 2020 | 0.488 |
| 2021 | 0.473 |
| 2022 | 0.462 |

Chart: https://geo-reality.com/country/af#hdi-history

Vintages marked "varies" are the most recent value the source publishes per country; the profile page states the exact year per figure.