Afghanistan
Asia · Southern Asia
Taliban-controlled since 2021; extreme poverty, not accessible for most travellers.
At a Glance
📈Afghanistan's Human Development Index
0.462
Low human development#180 of 191 countries worldwide, #42 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 6% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Despite decades of conflict, homicide rate is lower than Brazil or Jamaica.
- Produces 90% of the world's illicit opium — more than all other countries combined.
- One of the youngest populations in Asia, with a median age under 18.
Quick Facts
Capital
Kabul
Languages
Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
Currency
؋ AFN
Area
652,230 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
5Mbps
GDP / Capita
$417
PPP / Capita
$2K
Inflation
-6.6%
Unemployment
13.4%
GNI / Capita
$390
FDI Inflows
0.1%
Cost of Living
21.1
Price Level Index
99th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.284 → 0.462 (+0.178)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Afghanistan for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
💬Quick answers
What is Afghanistan's Human Development Index?
Afghanistan's Human Development Index is 0.462 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #180 of 191 countries.
Is Afghanistan safe?
Afghanistan scores 3.11 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #154 of 160 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.