Introduction
Background
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. Internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels forced the USSR to withdraw in 1989. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US and Allied military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN.
A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan, and he was reelected in 2009. Ashraf Ghani AHMADZAI succeeded him as president in 2014 following a disputed election. The Taliban conducted an insurgency for two decades against the Afghan Government and forces from the United States and other countries. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement that led to the withdrawal of international forces in exchange for commitments on counterterrorism and other assurances. The Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August 2021.
The Taliban established an all-male interim leadership structure dominated by Pashtun clerics under the leadership of Haivatrullah AKHUNDZADA. The Taliban issued numerous edicts that constrained women's mobility, ability to study and work, and access to education beyond primary school. To date, no country has recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.
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Geography
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates
33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area - comparative
almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries
total: 5,987 km
border countries (6): China 91 km; Iran 921 km; Pakistan 2,670 km; Tajikistan 1,357 km; Turkmenistan 804 km; Uzbekistan 144 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain
mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation
highest point: Noshak 7,492 m
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
mean elevation: 1,884 m
Natural resources
natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 58.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 12% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.4% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.9% (2022 est.)
other: 39.4% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
24,930 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km)
Population distribution
populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Natural hazards
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Geography - note
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
People and Society
Population
total: 40,121,552 (2024 est.)
male: 20,301,066
female: 19,820,486
comparison rankings: total 36; male 37; female 37
Nationality
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups
current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups
Languages
Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.)
major-language sample(s):
کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari)
د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note 1: percentages sum to more than 100% because many people are multilingual
note 2: Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pashaie, Nuristani, Balochi, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them
Religions
Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 39.6% (male 8,062,407/female 7,818,897)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 11,702,734/female 11,372,249)
65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 535,925/female 629,340)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 82.7 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 77.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 19.3 (2024 est.)
Population distribution
populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Urbanization
urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
4.589 million KABUL (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
19.9 years (2015 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Infant mortality rate
total: 101.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 109.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 92.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 1
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 54.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 52.8 years
female: 56.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 227
Gross reproduction rate
2.16 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 76.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 23.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
21.8% of GDP (2021)
1.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 93% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.)
total: 68% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved:
urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)
rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.)
total: 32% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 183
Tobacco use
total: 20.8% (2025 est.)
male: 36.5% (2025 est.)
female: 5.2% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 62
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
70.3% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 9.6% (2023)
women married by age 18: 28.7% (2023)
men married by age 18: 7.3% (2015)
Education expenditure
4.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
8.2% national budget (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 94
Literacy
total population: 37% (2021 est.)
male: 52% (2021 est.)
female: 26.6% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years (2018 est.)
male: 13 years (2018 est.)
female: 8 years (2018 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution in urban areas
International environmental agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Land use
agricultural land: 58.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 12% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.4% (2022 est.)
forest: 1.9% (2022 est.)
other: 39.4% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
7.757 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 930,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 6.827 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 118
Particulate matter emissions
84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.629 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 203.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 169.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources
65.33 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021); current country name disputed
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021; current country name is disputed)
local short form: Afghanistan
etymology: the name "Afghan" originally referred to the Pashtun people, but today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups; the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Afghanistan literally means the "Land of the Afghans"
Government type
theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government
Capital
name: Kabul
geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
etymology: named for the Kabul River, but the river's name is of unknown origin
Administrative divisions
34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Legal system
the Taliban is implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, which is partially based on the Hanifi school of Islamic jurisprudence and have enforced strict punishments; before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law (2021)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest ratified in 2004, but not currently enforced by the Taliban
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada (since 15 August 2021)
head of government: overall Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada is the [so-called] Amir-ul Momineen of the Taliban and is seen by them as a head of government
cabinet: the Taliban have announced a “cabinet” for the “caretaker government,” including the “acting prime minister,” “acting deputy prime ministers,” and “ministers” who claim to represent 26 ministries
election/appointment process: the 2004 Afghan constitution directed that the president should be elected by majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the Taliban have given no indication that they intend to reinstate elections or any other mechanism of democratic governance
most recent election date: 28 September 2019
note: the United States has not yet made a decision whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan
Legislative branch
note: Afghanistan’s bicameral National Assembly consisted of the House of Elders and House of the People but was dissolved after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021
Judicial branch
highest court(s): the Taliban are purported to have appointed clerics, including a "Chief Justice," to Afghanistan's Supreme Court
subordinate courts: provincial courts, religious courts, and specialty courts
Political parties
the Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian state and has banned other political parties
the Taliban have banned other political parties but have allowed some party leaders, including the head of Hezb-e-Islami, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to continue to live and work in Afghanistan; Hekmatyar likely continues to enjoy some political support from loyalists; leaders of other parties, including Jamiat-e-Islami’s Salahuddin Rabbani and Jumbesh’s Rashid Dostum, operate from abroad but likely also command some following within Afghanistan
note: before 15 August 2021, the Ministry of Justice had licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019
Diplomatic representation in the US
none
note: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: the United States does not maintain a presence in Afghanistan and its diplomatic mission to Afghanistan has relocated to Doha, Qatar
International organization participation
Afghanistan is a member of the following organizations but Taliban representatives do not participate: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday
previous: Independence Day, 19 August (1919); under the Taliban Government, 15 August (2022) is declared a national holiday, marking the anniversary of the victory of the Afghan jihad
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of black (left), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other bands; the emblem shows a mosque with a pulpit and flags on either side; below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); a border of wheat sheaves circles the mosque; above the mosque is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed), with rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"); under the mosque is a scroll with the name Afghanistan
meaning: black stands for the past, and red for the blood shed for independence; green can represent hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam
history: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century -- 19 by one count -- than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them
note: the United States has not recognized the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan and, accordingly, continues to display the flag of Afghanistan as set forth in the country's constitution of 2004
National color(s)
red, green, black
National anthem(s)
title: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
history: adopted 2006
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam; Buddhas of Bamyan
note: the monumental 6th- and 7th-century Buddha statues at Bamyan were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001
Economy
Economic overview
low-income South Asian economy; economy stable after major contraction due to Taliban takeover, but recovery remains fragile; widespread poverty and obstacles to human development; import-reliant for food, fuel, and machinery; ongoing sanctions, suspended development aid, and frozen reserve assets
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$82.238 billion (2023 est.)
$80.416 billion (2022 est.)
$85.768 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 104
Real GDP growth rate
2.3% (2023 est.)
-6.2% (2022 est.)
-20.7% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 143
Real GDP per capita
$2,000 (2023 est.)
$2,000 (2022 est.)
$2,100 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 205
GDP (official exchange rate)
$17.152 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-6.6% (2024 est.)
-4.6% (2023 est.)
13.7% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 1
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 34.7% (2023 est.)
industry: 13.4% (2023 est.)
services: 46.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: agriculture 5; industry 170; services 166
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 98.1% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 21.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 15.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -50.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, grapes, watermelons, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, maize (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate
1.8% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 104
Labor force
9.133 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 58
Unemployment rate
13.3% (2024 est.)
14% (2023 est.)
14.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 168
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 16.7% (2024 est.)
male: 15.8% (2024 est.)
female: 27% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 68
Population below poverty line
54.5% (2016 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Remittances
1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $9.093 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: $7.411 billion (2017 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Taxes and other revenues
9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 131
Current account balance
-$3.137 billion (2020 est.)
-$3.792 billion (2019 est.)
-$3.897 billion (2018 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 161
Exports
$1.476 billion (2020 est.)
$1.516 billion (2019 est.)
$1.609 billion (2018 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 175
Exports - partners
Pakistan 42%, India 40%, China 4%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
coal, grapes, tropical fruits, gum resins, other nuts (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$6.983 billion (2020 est.)
$7.371 billion (2019 est.)
$7.988 billion (2018 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 140
Imports - partners
UAE 28%, Pakistan 15%, China 15%, Uzbekistan 12%, Kazakhstan 9% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
wheat flours, tobacco, palm oil, broadcasting equipment, synthetic fabric (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$9.749 billion (2020 est.)
$8.498 billion (2019 est.)
$8.207 billion (2018 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 79
Debt - external
$2.717 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 88
Exchange rates
afghanis (AFA) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
76.814 (2020 est.)
77.738 (2019 est.)
72.083 (2018 est.)
68.027 (2017 est.)
67.866 (2016 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 85.3% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 95.9%
electrification - rural areas: 81.7%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 627,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.468 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 6.221 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 725.652 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 147; consumption 122; imports 40; transmission/distribution losses 88
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 13.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 77% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
production: 767,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 503,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 265,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 66 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas
production: 80.2 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 80.2 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 49.554 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 182,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 121
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 23 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 59
Broadcast media
under the Taliban, independent media outlets have decreased and are probably self-censoring; the Ministry of Information and Culture monitors all mass media; television and radio are key media platforms; only about a fifth of Afghans use the internet, mostly through smartphones (2023)
Internet users
percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 33,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 159
Transportation
Military and Security
Military and security forces
the Taliban claims authority over a Ministry of Defense and a National Army (aka Army of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate Army, or Afghan Army); it has also formed police forces under a Ministry of Interior (2025)
Military expenditures
3.3% of GDP (2019)
3.2% of GDP (2018)
3.3% of GDP (2017)
3.1% of GDP (2016)
2.9% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Taliban claims to have 190,000 under the Ministry of Defense and 215,000 under the Ministry of Interior (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Taliban military/security forces are armed with weapons and equipment captured in 2021 from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, which was largely equipped with Russian/Soviet-era and US material (2024)
Military service age and obligation
service is voluntary; there is no conscription (2023)
note: the Taliban dismissed nearly all women from the former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, except those serving in detention facilities and assisting with body searches
Military - note
the Taliban’s key security priorities are border and internal security; specific issues have included rising tensions with Pakistan along their shared border, armed anti-Taliban resistance elements, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K) terrorist group (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Haqqani Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
note 1: as of 2024, Afghanistan was assessed to be a place of global significance for terrorism, with approximately 20 designated and non-designated terrorist groups operating in the country
note 2: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees: 21,236 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 5,457,183 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 3 — Afghanistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Afghanistan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/afghanistan/
Illicit drugs
USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)