Afghanistan: housing

How many people in Afghanistan live in slums?

71.6% of Afghanistan's urban population lived in slums in 2022, according to UN-Habitat data on World Bank Open Data, read on 15 October 2026.

UN-Habitat counts a household as living in a slum if it lacks one or more of: safe water, adequate sanitation, durable housing, enough living space or secure tenure. 25.9% of the population lived in urban areas in 2025. No national house price or rent figures were found on the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing site, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: population living in slums, Afghanistan · World Bank: urban population, Afghanistan

What are house prices in Kabul?

No official house price or rent figures for Kabul or Afghanistan were found on the sites of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and Da Afghanistan Bank, checked on 15 October 2026. The site of the National Statistics and Information Authority (gsia.gov.af) could not be reached on 15 October 2026.

The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing publishes news of housing and township projects on its site.

Official sources: Ministry of Urban Development and Housing · Da Afghanistan Bank

What share of Afghanistan is urban?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 25.9%. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 22nd highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 78.4%. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 180th highest.

How many people in Afghanistan live in slums?

71.6%: that is the share of city dwellers living in slums in Afghanistan for 2022, according to UN-Habitat. Its high point since 2006 was 2018, at 73.3%; its low point was 2006, at 63.6%. It is 1st highest of 19 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 10.9%. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 9th highest.

What is the electricity access rate in Afghanistan?

The World Bank puts the share of people with access to electricity in Afghanistan at 87.8% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 28.7% (2005) to 97.7% (2016). It is 19th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 100.0%. World rank, highest first: 144th of 193.

How many people in Afghanistan have clean water?

According to WHO and UNICEF, the share of people using safely managed drinking water in Afghanistan was 30.6% in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 89.0%, and Afghanistan placed 17th highest of 17. World rank, highest first: 111th of 134.

What is access to sanitation in Afghanistan?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 24.8%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 79.8%, and Afghanistan placed 15th highest of 17. World rank, highest first: 110th of 134.

What share of homes in Afghanistan cook with clean fuels?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 30.0%. The peak was 31.0% in 2018 and the low 11.0% in 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 99.5%, and Afghanistan placed 22nd highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 155th of 192.