GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Afghanistan, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gdp growth in Afghanistan is 2.3%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 136.3% on the previous year and down 59.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Afghanistan peaked at 28.6% in 2002 and was at its lowest, -20.7%, in 2021.
That places Afghanistan 138th out of 212 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | -9.4% | — |
| 2002 | 28.6% | -403.2% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | -69.1% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | -84.0% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | +694.1% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | -52.3% |
| 2007 | 13.8% | +158.1% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -71.6% |
| 2009 | 21.4% | +445.0% |
| 2010 | 14.4% | -32.9% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -97.0% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +2891.0% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | -56.1% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -51.4% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -46.7% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +55.7% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | +17.1% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -55.1% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | +228.9% |
| 2020 | -2.4% | -160.1% |
| 2021 | -20.7% | +782.1% |
| 2022 | -6.2% | -69.9% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -136.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 2.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.1%, 55% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 2.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.3%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +2891.0% | 0.4% | 12.8% |
| 2021 | -782.1% | -2.4% | -20.7% |
| 2005 | +694.1% | 1.4% | 11.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.5% | -9.4% | 28.6% | 9 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 0.4% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -6.8% | -20.7% | 2.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More population data for Afghanistan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2412 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,075 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 199.65 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.03 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Afghanistan?
- Gdp growth in Afghanistan was 2.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 28.6% in 2002.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.7% in 2021.
- How does Afghanistan rank for gdp growth?
- Afghanistan ranks 138th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release