AFGHANISTAN
BASICS:
- Population 2018 (millions)q 36
- GNP per capita 2008 (PPI, US$)... 1970
- GNP 1997 (Atlas method, US$ billions) 19.98
- Unemployment 2017 23.9%
-
- Total Area 250,000 sq. mi
- Urban Population 25.5%
- Life expectancy at birth (years) 64
- Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 70
- Illiteracy (% of population age 15+) 61.8%
ECONOMICS:
Afghanistan is gradually recovering from decades of conflict. Before 2014, the economy had sustained nearly a decade of strong growth, largely because of international assistance. Since 2014, however, the economy has slowed, in large part because of the withdrawal of nearly 100, 000 foreign troops that had artificially inflated the country’s economic growth. Despite improvements in life expectancy, incomes, and literacy since 2001, Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. Corruption, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure, and the Afghan Government's difficulty in extending rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. Afghanistan's living standards are among the lowest in the world.
The international community remains committed to Afghanistan's development, pledging over $83 billion at ten donors' conferences between 2003 and 2016. In October 2016, the donors at the Brussels conference pledged an additional $3.8 billion in development aid annually from 2017 to 2020. Despite this help, the Government of Afghanistan will need to overcome a number of challenges, including low revenue collection, anemic job creation, high levels of corruption, weak government capacity, and poor public infrastructure.
In 2017 Afghanistan's growth rate was only marginally above that of the 2014-2016 average. The drawdown of international security forces that started in 2012 has negatively affected economic growth, as a substantial portion of commerce, especially in the services sector, has catered to the ongoing international troop presence in the country. Afghan President Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai is dedicated to instituting economic reforms to include improving revenue collection and fighting corruption. The government has implemented reforms to the budget process and in some other areas. However, many other reforms will take time to implement and Afghanistan will remain dependent on international donor support over the next several years.
1990
2000
2010
2016
GDP (current US$) (billions)
..
2.46
15.94
19.47
GDP growth (annual %)
..
8.4
8.4
2.4
Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %)
..
11.7
9.4
5.1
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP)
..
38
26
21
Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP)
..
23
21
22
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)
..
32
10
7
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
..
65
45
49
Gross capital formation (% of GDP)
..
12
18
18
Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP)
..
..
11
10.1
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP)
..
..
1.5
-1.3
States and markets
Time required to start a business (days)
..
..
8
8
Domestic credit provided by financial sector (% of GDP)
..
..
4.8
-1.2
Tax revenue (% of GDP)
..
..
9.1
7.6
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
..
..
1.9
1
Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people)
0
0
35.5
62.3
Individuals using the Internet (% of population)
0
0
4
10.6
High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports)
..
..
..
..
Statistical Capacity score (Overall average)
..
..
52
51
Global links
Merchandise trade (% of GDP)
..
72
35
37
Net barter terms of trade index (2000 = 100)
..
100
145
161
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) (millions)
0
0
2,425
2,404
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
..
..
0.4
3.5
Net migration (thousands)
2,327
929
448
..
Personal remittances, received (current US$) (millions)
..
..
362
368
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) (millions)
0
0
191
94
Net official development assistance received (current US$) (millions)
121.7
136
6,470.40
4,064.30
Government:
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:
history: several previous; latest drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004, signed 16 January 2004, ratified 26 January 2004
amendments: proposed by a commission formed by presidential decree followed by the convention of a Grand Council (Loya Jirga) decreed by the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Loya Jirga membership and endorsement by the president (2017)
Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts 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: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai (since 29 September 2014); CEO Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. (since 29 September 2014); First Vice President Abdul Rashid DOSTAM (since 29 September 2014); Second Vice President Sarwar DANESH (since 29 September 2014); First Deputy CEO Khyal Mohammad KHAN; Second Deputy CEO Mohammad MOHAQQEQ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai (since 29 September 2014); CEO Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. (since 29 September 2014); First Vice President Abdul Rashid DOSTAM (since 29 September 2014); Second Vice President Sarwar DANESH (since 29 September 2014); First Deputy CEO Khyal Mohammad KHAN; Second Deputy CEO Mohammad MOHAQQEQ
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 25 ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held in 2 rounds on 5 April and 14 June 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: Ashraf GHANI elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Abdullah ABDULLAH (National Coalition of Afghanistan) 45%, Ashraf GHANI (independent) 31.6%, Zalmai RASSOUL 11.4%, other 12%; percent of vote in second round - Ashraf GHANI 56.4%, Abdullah ABDULLAH 43.6%
Legislative branch:
description: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats; 34 members indirectly elected by district councils to serve 3-year terms, 34 indirectly elected by provincial councils to serve 4-year terms, and 34 nominated by the president of which 17 must be women, 2 must represent the disabled, and 2 must be Kuchi nomads; members serve 5-year terms) and the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (249 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
note: the constitution allows the government to convene a constitutional Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it consists of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils; no constitutional Loya Jirga has ever been held, and district councils have never been elected; the president appointed 34 members of the Meshrano Jirga that the district councils should have indirectly elected
elections: Meshrano Jirga - last held 10 January 2015 (next to be held in 2018); Wolesi Jirga - last held on 18 September 2010 (next originally scheduled on 15 October 2016 but postponed to 7 July 2018)
election results: Meshrano Jirga - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Meshrano Jirga - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Stera Mahkama (consists of the supreme court chief and 8 justices organized into criminal, public security, civil, and commercial divisions or dewans)
judge selection and term of office: court chief and justices appointed by the president with the approval of the Wolesi Jirga; court chief and justices serve single 10-year terms
subordinate courts: Appeals Courts; Primary Courts; Special Courts for issues including narcotics, security, property, family, and juveniles
Political parties and leaders:
note - the Ministry of Justice licensed 57 political parties as of September 2016a
History:
The history of this country extends back to the days of Alexander the Great. After falling to the Parthians and thriving as a Buddhist entity, the country was conquered by Islam, only to fall to the forces of Genghis Khan in the early 13th century. After a period as the center of Tamerlane's empire a century-and-a-half later, the country was broken up and controlled by a number of small kingdoms and tribes. In the mid-eighteenth century, a unified emirate was established by Ahmed Shah Durani. Eventually, the country was controlled by Britain, and it was not until 1919 that Afghanistan achieved full independence under Amanullah Khan, who was proclaimed king. The monarchy was overthrown in a military-led coup in 1973 and the country descended into a civil war, following the 1979 Soviet invasion. (A pro-Soviet coup had taken place in 1978). A decade later the USSR withdrew. Turmoil has continued to dog the country with the rise of the extreme fundamentalist Taliban, which since 1995, have overrun the country and instituted a strict Islamic-based regime. In late 2001 in wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States began providing air and ground support to the forces fighting the Taliban. The Taliban regime was defeated and an interim government led by Hamid Karzai.
People:
Afghanistan is an ethnically mixed country, which reflects its location, along the major trade routes of Asia. Its population is overwhelmingly Muslim. Dari is spoken by 1/3 of the population and is the language used to conduct business in Afghanistan.
1990 2000 2010 2016
People
Income share held by lowest 20% .. .. .. ..
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 50 55 61 64
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 7.5 7.5 5.8 4.6
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 163 154 99 69
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) .. 5 22 23
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) .. 12 34 51
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 177 130 90 70
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. 44.9 25 25
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 20 27 62 62
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) 29 .. .. ..
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 29.7 21.9 102.2 104.6
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 11 13 52 55
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 0 1 1
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Environment
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) 0.4 0.4 .. 0.1
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) 55.4 43 .. ..
Urban population growth (annual %) 5.5 5 4.3 4.3
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) .. .. .. ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 0.21 0.04 0.29 0.3
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita)
Afghanistan National air transport system:
Afghanistan.National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 4
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 20
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,929,907
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 33,102,038 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
YA (2016)
Airports:
43 (2016)
country comparison to the world: 91
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2016)
Heliports:
9 (2013)
Pipelines:
gas 466 km (2013)
Roadways:
total: 42,150 km
paved: 12,350 km
unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 86
Waterways:
1,200 km; (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 60
Ports and terminals:
river port(s): Kheyrabad, Shir Khan .. .. .. ..
ECONOMICS:
Afghanistan is gradually recovering from decades of conflict. Before 2014, the economy had sustained nearly a decade of strong growth, largely because of international assistance. Since 2014, however, the economy has slowed, in large part because of the withdrawal of nearly 100, 000 foreign troops that had artificially inflated the country’s economic growth. Despite improvements in life expectancy, incomes, and literacy since 2001, Afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. Corruption, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure, and the Afghan Government's difficulty in extending rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. Afghanistan's living standards are among the lowest in the world.
The international community remains committed to Afghanistan's development, pledging over $83 billion at ten donors' conferences between 2003 and 2016. In October 2016, the donors at the Brussels conference pledged an additional $3.8 billion in development aid annually from 2017 to 2020. Despite this help, the Government of Afghanistan will need to overcome a number of challenges, including low revenue collection, anemic job creation, high levels of corruption, weak government capacity, and poor public infrastructure.
In 2017 Afghanistan's growth rate was only marginally above that of the 2014-2016 average. The drawdown of international security forces that started in 2012 has negatively affected economic growth, as a substantial portion of commerce, especially in the services sector, has catered to the ongoing international troop presence in the country. Afghan President Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai is dedicated to instituting economic reforms to include improving revenue collection and fighting corruption. The government has implemented reforms to the budget process and in some other areas. However, many other reforms will take time to implement and Afghanistan will remain dependent on international donor support over the next several years.
1990
|
2000
|
2010
|
2016
| |
GDP (current US$) (billions)
|
..
|
2.46
|
15.94
|
19.47
|
GDP growth (annual %)
|
..
|
8.4
|
8.4
|
2.4
|
Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %)
|
..
|
11.7
|
9.4
|
5.1
|
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP)
|
..
|
38
|
26
|
21
|
Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP)
|
..
|
23
|
21
|
22
|
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)
|
..
|
32
|
10
|
7
|
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
|
..
|
65
|
45
|
49
|
Gross capital formation (% of GDP)
|
..
|
12
|
18
|
18
|
Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP)
|
..
|
..
|
11
|
10.1
|
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP)
|
..
|
..
|
1.5
|
-1.3
|
States and markets
| ||||
Time required to start a business (days)
|
..
|
..
|
8
|
8
|
Domestic credit provided by financial sector (% of GDP)
|
..
|
..
|
4.8
|
-1.2
|
Tax revenue (% of GDP)
|
..
|
..
|
9.1
|
7.6
|
Military expenditure (% of GDP)
|
..
|
..
|
1.9
|
1
|
Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people)
|
0
|
0
|
35.5
|
62.3
|
Individuals using the Internet (% of population)
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
10.6
|
High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports)
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
..
|
Statistical Capacity score (Overall average)
|
..
|
..
|
52
|
51
|
Global links
| ||||
Merchandise trade (% of GDP)
|
..
|
72
|
35
|
37
|
Net barter terms of trade index (2000 = 100)
|
..
|
100
|
145
|
161
|
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) (millions)
|
0
|
0
|
2,425
|
2,404
|
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
|
..
|
..
|
0.4
|
3.5
|
Net migration (thousands)
|
2,327
|
929
|
448
|
..
|
Personal remittances, received (current US$) (millions)
|
..
|
..
|
362
|
368
|
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) (millions)
|
0
|
0
|
191
|
94
|
Net official development assistance received (current US$) (millions)
|
121.7
|
136
|
6,470.40
|
4,064.30
|
Government:
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:
history: several previous; latest drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004, signed 16 January 2004, ratified 26 January 2004
amendments: proposed by a commission formed by presidential decree followed by the convention of a Grand Council (Loya Jirga) decreed by the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Loya Jirga membership and endorsement by the president (2017)
Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts 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: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai (since 29 September 2014); CEO Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. (since 29 September 2014); First Vice President Abdul Rashid DOSTAM (since 29 September 2014); Second Vice President Sarwar DANESH (since 29 September 2014); First Deputy CEO Khyal Mohammad KHAN; Second Deputy CEO Mohammad MOHAQQEQ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf GHANI Ahmadzai (since 29 September 2014); CEO Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. (since 29 September 2014); First Vice President Abdul Rashid DOSTAM (since 29 September 2014); Second Vice President Sarwar DANESH (since 29 September 2014); First Deputy CEO Khyal Mohammad KHAN; Second Deputy CEO Mohammad MOHAQQEQ
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 25 ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held in 2 rounds on 5 April and 14 June 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: Ashraf GHANI elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Abdullah ABDULLAH (National Coalition of Afghanistan) 45%, Ashraf GHANI (independent) 31.6%, Zalmai RASSOUL 11.4%, other 12%; percent of vote in second round - Ashraf GHANI 56.4%, Abdullah ABDULLAH 43.6%
Legislative branch:
description: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats; 34 members indirectly elected by district councils to serve 3-year terms, 34 indirectly elected by provincial councils to serve 4-year terms, and 34 nominated by the president of which 17 must be women, 2 must represent the disabled, and 2 must be Kuchi nomads; members serve 5-year terms) and the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (249 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
note: the constitution allows the government to convene a constitutional Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it consists of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils; no constitutional Loya Jirga has ever been held, and district councils have never been elected; the president appointed 34 members of the Meshrano Jirga that the district councils should have indirectly elected
elections: Meshrano Jirga - last held 10 January 2015 (next to be held in 2018); Wolesi Jirga - last held on 18 September 2010 (next originally scheduled on 15 October 2016 but postponed to 7 July 2018)
election results: Meshrano Jirga - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Meshrano Jirga - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Stera Mahkama (consists of the supreme court chief and 8 justices organized into criminal, public security, civil, and commercial divisions or dewans)
judge selection and term of office: court chief and justices appointed by the president with the approval of the Wolesi Jirga; court chief and justices serve single 10-year terms
subordinate courts: Appeals Courts; Primary Courts; Special Courts for issues including narcotics, security, property, family, and juveniles
Political parties and leaders:
note - the Ministry of Justice licensed 57 political parties as of September 2016a
History:
The history of this country extends back to the days of Alexander the Great. After falling to the Parthians and thriving as a Buddhist entity, the country was conquered by Islam, only to fall to the forces of Genghis Khan in the early 13th century. After a period as the center of Tamerlane's empire a century-and-a-half later, the country was broken up and controlled by a number of small kingdoms and tribes. In the mid-eighteenth century, a unified emirate was established by Ahmed Shah Durani. Eventually, the country was controlled by Britain, and it was not until 1919 that Afghanistan achieved full independence under Amanullah Khan, who was proclaimed king. The monarchy was overthrown in a military-led coup in 1973 and the country descended into a civil war, following the 1979 Soviet invasion. (A pro-Soviet coup had taken place in 1978). A decade later the USSR withdrew. Turmoil has continued to dog the country with the rise of the extreme fundamentalist Taliban, which since 1995, have overrun the country and instituted a strict Islamic-based regime. In late 2001 in wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States began providing air and ground support to the forces fighting the Taliban. The Taliban regime was defeated and an interim government led by Hamid Karzai.
People:
Afghanistan is an ethnically mixed country, which reflects its location, along the major trade routes of Asia. Its population is overwhelmingly Muslim. Dari is spoken by 1/3 of the population and is the language used to conduct business in Afghanistan.
1990 2000 2010 2016
People
Income share held by lowest 20% .. .. .. ..
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 50 55 61 64
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 7.5 7.5 5.8 4.6
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 163 154 99 69
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) .. 5 22 23
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) .. 12 34 51
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 177 130 90 70
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. 44.9 25 25
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 20 27 62 62
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) 29 .. .. ..
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 29.7 21.9 102.2 104.6
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 11 13 52 55
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 0 1 1
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Environment
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) 0.4 0.4 .. 0.1
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) 55.4 43 .. ..
Urban population growth (annual %) 5.5 5 4.3 4.3
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) .. .. .. ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 0.21 0.04 0.29 0.3
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita)
Afghanistan National air transport system:
Afghanistan.National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 4
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 20
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,929,907
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 33,102,038 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
YA (2016)
Airports:
43 (2016)
country comparison to the world: 91
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2016)
Heliports:
9 (2013)
Pipelines:
gas 466 km (2013)
Roadways:
total: 42,150 km
paved: 12,350 km
unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 86
Waterways:
1,200 km; (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 60
Ports and terminals:
river port(s): Kheyrabad, Shir Khan .. .. .. ..
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