Poverty and living standards in Herat, Afghanistan: official figures

18.9% of people in Herat were in the poorest fifth of Afghan households by the survey's wealth index (housing, assets and services) in 2022-23, and 35.4% in the richest fifth; the share in the poorest fifth is 17th lowest of the 34 provinces (20% for the country by definition).

Household population in the poorest national wealth quintile

18.9%

2022-23

How many children in Herat work?

16.0% of children aged 5 to 17 in Herat were in child labour in the week before the 2022-23 survey, 14th lowest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 19.3%).

Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copy

How common is child marriage in Herat?

40.0% of women aged 20 to 24 in Herat were first married before the age of 18, and 13.6% before 15; 7th highest of the 34 provinces for marriage before 18 (Afghanistan: 28.7% and 9.6%).

Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copy

Are births registered in Herat?

The births of 23.4% of children under five in Herat were registered with the National Statistics and Information Authority in 2022-23, joint 4th lowest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 47.8%).

Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copy

How are children disciplined in Herat?

88.7% of children aged 1 to 14 in Herat experienced violent discipline (physical punishment or shouting and insults) at home in the month before the survey, 17th lowest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 87.6%).

Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copy

How Herat compares with other provinces

People in the poorest fifth of Afghan households (wealth index) (2022-23)

Herat ranks 18 of 34, highest first. 20% nationally by definition

Rank	Region	People in the poorest fifth of Afghan households (wealth index)
15	Daykundi	22.1%
16	Nangarhar	20.9%
17	Parwan	19.1%
18	Herat	18.9%
19	Takhar	17.4%
20	Kapisa	17.0%
21	Nimroz	16.9%

Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copy

Children aged 5-17 in child labour (2022-23)

Herat ranks 21 of 34, highest first.

Rank	Region	Children aged 5-17 in child labour
18	Balkh	18.2%
19	Badghis	18.2%
20	Paktya	16.8%
21	Herat	16.0%
22	Kunduz	15.9%
23	Paktika	15.3%
24	Nangarhar	14.4%

Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copy

More on Herat: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Afghanistan

Sources

UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA): Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2022-23, Survey Findings Report (province tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1469591017d8…)

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