Gross Domestic Product 

Afghanistan's Gross Domestic Product at market prices is estimated at AFN 627.39 billion in 2009-10, an increase of 15.9% compared to the previous year. The real GDP growth rate declined to 2.3% in 2008-09 and is estimated to increase by 17.1% in 2009-10. The agricultural sector accounted for 32.5% of total GDP, followed by industries sector which contributed to 22.1% of total GDP and the services sector accounted for 45.4% of GDP.

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics1)

GDP per capita in 2009-10 was USD 500 compared to USD 426 in 2008-09.

Gross National Income (GNI)

Afghanistan’s GNI per capita at PPP in the year 2010 was USD 1,419 compared to USD 973 in the year 2005.

(Source: UNDP)

Income Tax Rate

The highest tax rate on individual income is 20%.

(Source: heritage.org) 

Corporate Tax Rate

The standard corporate tax rate in the country is 20%. 

(Source: National Statistics)

Foreign Direct Investment Inflows

Foreign Direct Investment Inflows in 2009 amounted to USD 185 million compared to USD 300 million in 2008.

(Source: UNCTAD)

Bank Sector Assets 

The bank sector assets increased by 7.5% in March 2010 as compared to previous year amounting to AFN 216,110 million.

Consumer Price Index

Consumer Price index was registered at 156.4 in March 2010 compared to 158.6 in April 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Interest Rate

The interest rate on overnight deposits was 6.33% in March 2009 compared to 13.53% in March 2008.

 (Source: Central Bank)

 Money Supply

Narrow money (M1) amounted to AFN 214,354 million and Broad money (M2) amounted to AFN 230,439 million in Q1 2010.

(Source: Central Bank page: 31)

(Source: Central bank, page: 49)

Government Expenditure

The government’s expenditure in the year 2010 is estimated at AFN 171.24 billion compared to AFN 135.05 billion in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Exchange Rate

Exchange rate AFN/USD in 2009-10 was registered at 49.16 compared to 50.85 in 2008-09.

 (Source: National Statistics)

Government Financial Well-being

Fiscal Balance

The fiscal deficit for the year 2010 is estimated at AFN 7.33 billion compared to AFN 8.66 billion in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Total Revenue

The total revenue for the year 2010 is estimated at AFN 163.91 billion compared to AFN 126.39 billion in 2009.

(Source: IMF)

Tax Revenue

In 2009-10, tax revenues were registered at AFN 40,190.7 million, a decrease of 3% compared to the previous year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Current Account Balance

The country is expected to record current account surplus after two consecutive years of deficit. The current account surplus is estimated at AFN 107 million or 0.64% of the GDP.

(Source: IMF)

Balance of Payments

(Source: Central Bank)

Labour Force

The total labour force in 2008 was 9,303,902.4, an increase of 3.2% compared to the previous year.

(Source: World Bank)

Labour Force Participation Rate

In 2008, labour force participation rate for males and females was recorded at 88.6% and 28.5% respectively.

(Source: World Bank)

Unemployment Rate

The Labour Ministry estimates the unemployment rate at more than 40%.

(Source: UNHCR)

Minimum Wage

The monthly minimum wage in Afghanistan for government workers is AFN 4,000 and for private sector workers is AFN 2,000.

(Source: minimumwage.org)

Level of Unionisation

The total number of union members in Afghanistan is 361,279. The trade unions in the country include:

• Central Council of National Union of Afghanistan Employee
• Afghanistan Journalists Union
• Afghanistan Craftsmen Union
• Afghanistan Farmers Union
• Afghanistan Lawyers Union
• Afghanistan Doctors & Health Staff Union
• Democrat lawyers Union

(Source: National Statistics)

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The consumer price index in February 2011 was registered at 111.4 compared to 108.1 in 2010. Annual CPI was recorded at 109.5 and 107.5 in the years 2010 and 2009 respectively.

[Base Year: Index Base 2005=100]

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics1)

Wholesale Price Index

The annual wholesale price index in 2010 was registered at 110.8 compared to 105.5 in 2009.

 (Source: National Statistics)

Interest Rate on Savings Deposit

(Source: Central Bank)

Interest Rate on Time Deposit

(Source: Central Bank)

Money Supply

Money Supply M3 for January and February 2011 amounted to EUR 9,494.3 billion and EUR 9,543.3 billion respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

Public Debt

The public debt as a percentage of GDP was registered at 66.5% in 2009 compared to 62.6% in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics)

Government Expenditure
 
Total government expenditure for the year 2010 amounted to EUR 150,401 million. The government expenditure in 2010 was 53% of the GDP.

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics)

Exchange Rate

The exchange rate of EUR per USD in 2010 was registered at 1.32 compared to 1.4 in 2009.

(Source: Central Bank)

Total Population

The total population in 2009-10 was registered at 23.99 million, an increase of 2.04% compared to the previous year.

Individuals below 14 years of age constituted 46.1% of total population and people above the age of 65 years accounted for 3.7% of total population.

(Source: National Statistics, National Statistics1)

Gender Balance

Representation of gender in the country is not equal. The male population in 2009-10 was 12.27 million, constituting 51.5% of the total population. Females accounted for 48.9% of the total population and was registered at 11.72 million.

The gender ratio was 107.4 men per 100 women in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics, UN)

Mortality Rate

Infant mortality rate in 2005-2010 period was recorded at 157 per 1,000 live births. Birth rate and death rate were registered at 46.5 per 1,000 individuals and 19.6 per 1,000 individuals respectively in 2008.

(Source: UN, ruralpoverty.org)

Average Life Expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for an individual in the country was 44.6 years. Average life expectancy for males and females was 43.9 years and 43.8 years respectively in the 2005-2010 period.

(Source: UNDP, UN)

Migration and Urbanisation

The total urban population was recorded at 5.51 million. Males and females accounted for 51.5% and 48.5% of total urban population respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

The total international migrants at mid-year was 90,883 in 2010. The total male and female migrants at mid-year were 51,295 and 39,588.

(Source: UN)

Racial/ Ethnic Environment

Pashtuns are the major ethnic group, accounting for 50% of the total population. The other ethnic groups include Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras.

(Source: BBC)

Poverty and Inequality

As of 2007, 42% of the population in the country was below the national poverty line. The poor population in the rural areas was registered at 10.14 million in 2009. The major causes of poverty in Afghanistan include a high illiteracy rate, lack of irrigation facilities and inadequate land ownership.

(Source: ruralpoverty.org)

Human Development Index

Afghanistan is ranked 155thon the Human Development Index 2010 with a score of 0.35. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

(Source: UNDP)

Literacy Rate

The adult literacy rate in Afghanistan is estimated at 28% for the year 2010.

(Source: UNDP)

Education Resources

In 2009-10, the country had 11,990 schools. The total number of students and teachers were 6,602,616 and 156,066 respectively. There were 331 kindergartens and nurseries, 34 universities and 32 technical and vocational institutes. 

(Source: National Statistics)

Expenditure in education amounted to AFN 14,109.8 million in 2009. The year on year growth rate was recorded at 34.2% in 2009 over the previous year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Healthcare Resources

The healthcare quality in Afghanistan is low and lacks resources. There were only 2 doctors per 10,000 individuals and 5 beds per 10,000 people in 2009-10. Infant mortality rate is 111 per 1,000 live births and maternal mortality rate is 1,600 per 100,000 live births. The major causes of death include malnutrition, malaria, respiratory infections and diarrhoea. In 2008, only 39% of the rural population had access to clean drinking water.

(Source: National Statistics page: 7)

The total health expenditure was AFN 1,846.4 million in 2009-10, accounting for 1.9% of total budgeted expenditure. The year on year growth rate was recorded at 15.5% in 2009-10 compared to the previous year.

(Source: National Statistics)

Mass public transit

The various means of public transport in Afghanistan include buses, private and passenger cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles.

(Source: National Statistics, PDF: services)

Roadways

The total roads length stretched to 1,686 km in 2008-09. Asphalted, sand-roofed and repaired roads extended to 1,132 km, 549 km and 5 km respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

Airports

(Source: aircraft charter world)

Telecommunications Network

Internet subscribers were recorded at 1.8 per 100 individuals in 2008.

(Source: UN)

(Source: Ministry of Communication, National Statistics)