Afghanistan: official statistics and sources
6 official bodies for Afghanistan, from National Statistics and Information Authority to National Procurement Authority, with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official languages: Pashto, Dari. Capital: Kabul.
Who holds power in Afghanistan
Unitary state under de facto Taliban rule since August 2021; no constitution in force. How local power works in Afghanistan: 3 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.
Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.
Government, regions and cities
- Government and power in Afghanistan: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
- All 34 provinces: Kabul, Herat, Nangarhar, Balkh, Ghazni…
- The 20 largest cities: Kabul Center, Kandhar Center, Herat Center, Balkh Center, Kunduz Center
Key figures
What the figures show
Afghanistan had 43.8 million people in 2025, by the World Bank's count; ten years earlier the figure was 33.8 million. Of the 22 UN members in the World Bank's Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region, 5 have more people; worldwide it comes 36th.
In 2024 Afghanistan recorded gross domestic product of $17.8 billion, converted to US dollars by the World Bank. That works out at $417 a head.
Real GDP grew by 1.9% in 2024, World Bank figures show.
Across 2024 the annual rate was -6.6%.
The ILO's modelled unemployment rate for 2025 is 13.4%; the national statistics office may publish a different figure from its own survey.
The IMF records general government gross debt of 7.6% of GDP for 2025, compared with a median of 52.5% across the World Bank's Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan region.
Life expectancy at birth: 66.3 years (2024).
- Annual inflation since 2015: highest 13.7% (2022), lowest -6.6% (2024).
- Debt ratio 2015: 9.2%; 2025: 7.6%.
- GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2024: minus 26%.
Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.
Official sources in Afghanistan
Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output
- National Statistics and Information Authority
Publishes Afghanistan's statistical yearbook, population estimates, price indices and other national statistics.
Central bank interest rates and money
- Da Afghanistan Bank
Publishes exchange rates, monetary statistics, banking regulations and the bank's annual and quarterly reports.
Laws and the official gazette the text of laws
- Ministry of Justice (Official Gazette)
Publishes the Official Gazette, decrees and legislative documents issued in Afghanistan.
Courts judgments
- Supreme Court of Afghanistan (Stara Mahkama)
Publishes court news, judicial decisions and announcements from the Afghan judiciary.
Public registers companies, land, charities
- Ministry of Economy (NGO registration)
Registers and monitors domestic and foreign non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan. Not in English.
Public contracts government tenders and awards
- National Procurement Authority
Publishes procurement notices, contract awards and procurement rules for Afghan public bodies. Not in English.
Notes
The IPU records the National Assembly (Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga) as effectively dissolved following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, and lists it as suspended since March 2022.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) refers to the Taliban administration as the de facto authorities; bodies listed here are those operating under that administration.
What Afghanistan does not have
- No online company register could be reached: the Afghanistan Central Business Registry domain (acbr.gov.af) did not resolve on 2026-10-13.
- No online land register could be reached: the land authority domain (arazi.gov.af) did not resolve on 2026-10-13.
- No functioning information commissioner could be confirmed.
- No public register of lobbyists or of officials' asset declarations.
- No official state database of court judgments beyond the Supreme Court's own site, already listed.
Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.
Afghanistan by subject
- Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
- Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
- Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
- Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
- Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
- Housing homes, cities, water and power
- Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
- Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
- Education schools, universities and literacy
- Environment emissions, air, forests and water
Power in Afghanistan, from local government up to the G20
The global bodies above national governments, and the levels of power inside Afghanistan. How the ten levels work.
Level 3: Local councils
- Cities of Afghanistan the largest cities, with their figures
- Local government in Afghanistan how councils, regions and municipalities work
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Regions of Afghanistan 34 regions, states or provinces
Level 6: National government
- Afghanistan: national government this page
- Government and power in Afghanistan who leads, the parliament and the courts
- World leaders every country's head of state and government
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Common questions
What is the population of Afghanistan?
43.8 million (2025, World Bank). National figures: National Statistics and Information Authority.
What is the inflation rate in Afghanistan?
minus 6.6% (2024, World Bank). Official index: National Statistics and Information Authority.
What is Afghanistan's GDP?
$17.8 billion (2024, World Bank).
How much government debt does Afghanistan have?
7.6% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).
Who publishes official statistics in Afghanistan?
National Statistics and Information Authority: https://gsia.gov.af/
What is the central bank of Afghanistan?
Da Afghanistan Bank: https://dab.gov.af/
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