Poverty and living standards in Zabul, Afghanistan: official figures

28.4% of people in Zabul were in the poorest fifth of Afghan households by the survey's wealth index (housing, assets and services) in 2022-23, and 1.4% in the richest fifth; the share in the poorest fifth is 11th highest of the 34 provinces (20% for the country by definition).

Household population in the poorest national wealth quintile

28.4%

2022-23

How many children in Zabul work?

26.1% of children aged 5 to 17 in Zabul were in child labour in the week before the 2022-23 survey, 9th highest 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 Zabul?

38.0% of women aged 20 to 24 in Zabul were first married before the age of 18, and 13.2% before 15; 8th 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 Zabul?

The births of 39.8% of children under five in Zabul were registered with the National Statistics and Information Authority in 2022-23, 15th 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 Zabul?

94.1% of children aged 1 to 14 in Zabul experienced violent discipline (physical punishment or shouting and insults) at home in the month before the survey, 5th highest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 87.6%).

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

How Zabul compares with other provinces

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

Zabul ranks 11 of 34, highest first. 20% nationally by definition

Rank	Region	People in the poorest fifth of Afghan households (wealth index)
8	Helmand	32.1%
9	Uruzgan	30.1%
10	Sar-e-Pul	29.0%
11	Zabul	28.4%
12	Faryab	25.4%
13	Kunar	24.7%
14	Paktika	22.2%

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

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

Zabul ranks 9 of 34, highest first.

Rank	Region	Children aged 5-17 in child labour
6	Takhar	28.1%
7	Kandahar	27.8%
8	Parwan	27.5%
9	Zabul	26.1%
10	Logar	26.0%
11	Farah	22.6%
12	Maidan Wardak	22.4%

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

More on Zabul: 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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