GeoRealityMatch
Historic ruins atop a snowy hill, offering a striking view of Kabul and surrounding mountains.A stunning view of Kabul against a backdrop of mountains, capturing the city's architecture under a clear sky.

Afghanistan

Asia · Southern Asia

Low development

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country. It is among the least peaceful countries.

Source: FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Safety

155th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
3.106lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#155 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
4.0per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2021
Safety index
25.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery lowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$390national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2024
Rent index
2.3New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 52% in current dollars from 2006 to 2024, and rose 2% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.5K$3.0K$2,236 PPP$417Inflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020242006, $274 a person, $1,122 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2007, $376 a person, $1,287 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2008, $382 a person, $1,334 at PPP, inflation 26.4%2009, $452 a person, $1,571 at PPP, inflation -6.8%2010, $561 a person, $1,766 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2011, $607 a person, $1,744 at PPP, inflation 11.8%2012, $651 a person, $1,988 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2013, $637 a person, $2,133 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2014, $625 a person, $2,224 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2015, $566 a person, $2,284 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2016, $522 a person, $2,213 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2017, $525 a person, $2,336 at PPP, inflation 5%2018, $491 a person, $2,432 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2019, $497 a person, $2,583 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2020, $511 a person, $2,562 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2021, $356 a person, $2,144 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $357 a person, $2,123 at PPP, inflation 13.7%2023, $414 a person, $2,204 at PPP, inflation -4.6%2024, $417 a person, $2,236 at PPP, inflation -6.6%$0$1.5K$3.0KInflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020242006, $274 a person, $1,122 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2007, $376 a person, $1,287 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2008, $382 a person, $1,334 at PPP, inflation 26.4%2009, $452 a person, $1,571 at PPP, inflation -6.8%2010, $561 a person, $1,766 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2011, $607 a person, $1,744 at PPP, inflation 11.8%2012, $651 a person, $1,988 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2013, $637 a person, $2,133 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2014, $625 a person, $2,224 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2015, $566 a person, $2,284 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2016, $522 a person, $2,213 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2017, $525 a person, $2,336 at PPP, inflation 5%2018, $491 a person, $2,432 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2019, $497 a person, $2,583 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2020, $511 a person, $2,562 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2021, $356 a person, $2,144 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $357 a person, $2,123 at PPP, inflation 13.7%2023, $414 a person, $2,204 at PPP, inflation -4.6%2024, $417 a person, $2,236 at PPP, inflation -6.6%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
66.3years, at birthLow
#161 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
42WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
49.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very slow home internet

Unemployment rate
13.4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
5 Mbpsmedian download speedVery slowOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet5 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A stunning view of Kabul against a backdrop of mountains, capturing the city's architecture under a clear sky.
How it changed

Afghanistan's Human Development Index

0.496Low human development

181st of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 42nd of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #179Guinea0.500
  2. #180Ethiopia0.497
  3. #181Afghanistan0.496
  4. #182Mozambique0.493
  5. #183Madagascar0.487
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.285 in 1990 to 0.496 in 2023.

0.250.400.550.49619902000201020231990: 0.2851991: 0.2911992: 0.3011993: 0.3111994: 0.3051995: 0.3291996: 0.3341997: 0.3381998: 0.3381999: 0.3472000: 0.3512001: 0.3552002: 0.3832003: 0.3922004: 0.4082005: 0.4172006: 0.4262007: 0.4422008: 0.4462009: 0.4582010: 0.4652011: 0.4742012: 0.4842013: 0.4922014: 0.4972015: 0.4962016: 0.4952017: 0.4962018: 0.4982019: 0.5072020: 0.5012021: 0.4862022: 0.4952023: 0.4960.250.400.5519902000201020231990: 0.2851991: 0.2911992: 0.3011993: 0.3111994: 0.3051995: 0.3291996: 0.3341997: 0.3381998: 0.3381999: 0.3472000: 0.3512001: 0.3552002: 0.3832003: 0.3922004: 0.4082005: 0.4172006: 0.4262007: 0.4422008: 0.4462009: 0.4582010: 0.4652011: 0.4742012: 0.4842013: 0.4922014: 0.4972015: 0.4962016: 0.4952017: 0.4962018: 0.4982019: 0.5072020: 0.5012021: 0.4862022: 0.4952023: 0.496

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
66.3 years2024at birthUp 8 years from 58.3 years in 2005
Internet users
16%2024of people onlineUp 14 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
26%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 6 points from 20% in 2006
Births per woman
4.762024births per womanDown 2.10 from 6.86 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
20%2022of energy usedDown 24 points from 44% in 2004
Access to electricity
88%2024of people with electricityUp 59 points from 29% in 2005
Infant mortality
482024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 46 from 94 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
2%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Taliban-controlled since 2021; extreme poverty, not accessible for most travellers. The case against is the UK's advice against travel, a low peace ranking and low incomes.

About Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country of stark, breathtaking landscapes, from the Hindu Kush mountains to vast desert plains, with a culture shaped by millennia of trade routes and oral poetic tradition. Those drawn to raw, untouched terrain and deep historical layers will find it unlike anywhere on earth. It is not for those seeking comfort or ease of movement.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKabul
  • LanguagesDari, Pashto, Turkmen
  • CurrencyAfghan afghani (AFN)
  • Area652,230 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Afghanistan's Human Development Index?

Afghanistan's Human Development Index is 0.496 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #181 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Afghanistan safe?

Afghanistan scores 3.11 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #155 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Afghanistan?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Afghanistan at 21.1 (New York = 100); that is #4 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Afghanistan?

Life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan is 66.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #161 of 195 countries.