Jump to content

Economy of Afghanistan

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Forestry in Afghanistan)

Economy of Afghanistan
Kabul, the economic capital of Afghanistan
CurrencyAfghani (AFN)
21 December – 20 December
Trade organizations
ECO, SAARC, SCO (observer) and WTO
Country group
Statistics
PopulationIncrease 41,480,304 (2023)
GDP
  • Decrease $14.58 billion (nominal; 2021)[3]
  • Decrease $67.13 billion (PPP; 2021)[3]
GDP rank
GDP growth
  • 1.8% (2018) 2.9% (2019e)
  • −5.5% (2020f) 1.0% (2021f)[4]
GDP per capita
  • Decrease $363.7 (nominal; 2021)[3]
  • Decrease $1674 (PPP; 2021)[3]
GDP per capita rank
GDP by sector
-1% (2023)[6]
Population below poverty line
Decrease 0.478 low (2021)
Labor force
  • Increase 14,450,224 (2019)[9]
  • 47% employment to population ratio (2021)[10]
Labor force by occupation
UnemploymentNegative increase 13.28% (2021)[5]
Main industries
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food-products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
External
Exports
  • Increase $2 billion (2022)[11]
  • note: not including illicit exports or reexports
Export goods
fruits, nuts, rugs, wool, cotton, hides, gemstone, and medical herbs[12]
Main export partners
ImportsIncrease $7 billion (2022)[11][5]
Import goods
machinery and other capital goods, food, textiles and petroleum products
Main import partners
Decrease $1.014 billion (2017 est.)[5]
$1.4 billion (2022)[14][15]
Public finances
Positive decrease 7% of GDP (2017)[5]
−15.1% (of GDP) (2017)[5]
Revenues2.276 billion (2017)[5]
Expenses5.328 billion (2017)[5]
$9.6 billion (Frozen by the U.S.)(2021)[16]
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The economy of Afghanistan is listed as the 124th largest in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP), and 102nd largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). With a population of around 41 million people, Afghanistan's GDP (nominal) stands at $14.58 billion as of 2021, amounting to a GDP per capita of $363.7 (according to a World Bank report).[17] Its annual exports exceed $2 billion,[11] with agricultural, mineral and textile products accounting for 94% of total exports.[18] The nation's total external debt is $1.4 billion as of 2022.[14][15]

The Afghan economy continues to improve due to the influx of expats, establishment of more trade routes with neighboring and regional countries,[19][20] and expansion of the nation's agriculture, energy and mining sectors.[21][22][23] The billions of dollars in assistance that came from expats and the international community saw this increase when there was more political reliability after NATO became involved in Afghanistan.[24][25]

Despite holding over one trillion dollars in proven untapped mineral deposits, Afghanistan remains one of the least developed countries in the world. Its unemployment rate is over 23%[5] and about half of its population lives below the poverty line.[5][26] The main factor behind this has been the continuous war in the country, which deterred business investors and left much of the population fighting among each other instead of catching up with the rest of the world.[27] Afghanistan has long sought foreign investment in order to improve its economy.[28] The population of Afghanistan increased by more than 50% between 2001 and 2014, while its GDP grew eightfold.[29] After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the Biden administration decided to confiscate or withhold $9.5 billion worth of assets from the Afghanistan Central Bank to stop the Taliban from accessing it.[30][31][32]

The official currency of Afghanistan is the afghani (AFN), which has an exchange rate of around 70 afghanis to 1 United States dollar.[33][34][35] The country has a central bank called Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB). A number of local banks also operate in the country, including the Afghanistan International Bank, Azizi Bank, New Kabul Bank and Pashtany Bank.

Economic history

Further information: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan § Economy

When Afghanistan was ruled by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan (1880–1901) and his son Habibullah Khan (1901–1919), a great deal of commerce was controlled by the government. These monarchs were eager to develop the stature of government and the country's military capability, and so attempted to raise money by the imposition of state monopolies on the sale of commodities and high taxes. This slowed the long-term development of Afghanistan during that period. Western technologies and manufacturing methods were introduced at the command of the Afghan ruler, but in general only according to the logistical requirements of the growing army. An emphasis was placed on the manufacture of weapons and other military material. This process was in the hands of a small number of foreign experts invited to Kabul by the Afghan kings.[36] Otherwise, it was not possible for non-Afghans, particularly westerners, to set up large-scale enterprises in Afghanistan during that period.[37]

In the post-independence period, DAB strongly financed the cultivation of cotton; at one point, the Spinzar Cotton Company in Kunduz Province was one of the largest providers of cotton in the world, most of which were exported to the Soviet Union. Fruits were mainly exported to British-controlled India.[38]

The first prominent plan to develop Afghanistan's economy in modern times was the Helmand Valley Authority project of 1952, modeled on the Tennessee Valley Authority in the United States, which was expected to be of primary economic importance.[39] Glenn Foster, an American contractor working in Afghanistan in the 1950s, stated this about the Afghan people:

Even though there are masses of people, the country seems able to feed them all. Although their diet may not be abundant, you don't see the hunger that you do in some countries....[40][36]

Afghanistan began facing severe economic hardships during the 1979 Soviet invasion and ensuing civil war destroyed much of the country's limited infrastructure, and disrupted normal patterns of economic activity. Eventually, Afghanistan went from a traditional economy to a centrally planned economy up until 2002 when it was replaced by a free market economy.[41] Gross domestic product has fallen substantially since the 1980s due to disruption of trade and transport as well as loss of labor and capital. Continuing internal strife severely hampered domestic efforts to rebuild the nation or provide ways for the international community to help.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the Afghan economy grew 20% in the fiscal year ending in March 2004, after expanding 30% in the previous 12 months. The growth was mainly attributed to United Nations assistance. Billions of dollars in international aid had entered Afghanistan from 2002 to 2021. A GDP of $4 billion in fiscal year 2003 was recalculated by the IMF to $6.1 billion, after adding proceeds from opium production. Mean graduate pay was $0.56 per man-hour in 2010. The country expects to be self sufficient in wheat, rice, poultry and dairy production by 2026.[42][22]

The recent reestablishment of the Taliban government led to temporary suspension of international development aid to Afghanistan.[43] The World Bank and International Monetary Fund also halted payments during that period.[44][45] In this regard, Taliban's spiritual leader Hibatullah Akhundzada stated, "The economy of a country is built when its people work together and do not rely on foreign aid[.]"[46] The Biden administration froze about $9 billion in assets belonging to the DAB, which was intended to block the Taliban from accessing the money.[47][48] The recent droughts, earthquakes and floods in the country have created further adverse economic situation for many residents.[49] The Ministry of Finance has collected over $2 billion in 2022.[19]

The GDP of Afghanistan is estimated to have dropped by 20% following the Taliban return to power. Following this, after months of free-fall, the Afghan economy began stabilizing, as a result of the Taliban's restrictions on smuggled imports, limits on banking transactions, and UN aid. In 2023, the Afghan economy began seeing signs of revival. This has also been followed by stable exchange rates, low inflation, stable revenue collection, and the rise of trade in exports.[50] In the third quarter of 2023, the Afghani rose to be the best performing currency in the world, climbing over 9% against the US dollar.[51]

Agriculture and livestock

Further information: Almond production in Afghanistan, Opium production in Afghanistan, and Pomegranate production in Afghanistan

Agriculture remains Afghanistan's most important source of employment: 60-80 percent of Afghanistan's population works in this sector, although it accounts for less than a third of GDP due to insufficient irrigation, drought, lack of market access, and other structural impediments. Most Afghan farmers are primarily subsistence farmers.[52]

An agricultural show in Kabul, in 2009
Workers processing pomegranates (anaar), which Afghanistan is famous for in Asia
Afghan grapes

Afghanistan produced in 2018:

  • 3.6 million tons of wheat;
  • 984 thousand tons of grape (18th largest world producer);
  • 615 thousand tons of potato;
  • 591 thousand tons of vegetable;
  • 381 thousand tons of watermelon;
  • 352 thousand tons of rice;
  • 329 thousand tons of melon;
  • 217 thousand tons of apple;
  • 150 thousand tons of onion;
  • 106 thousand tons of maize;
  • 56 thousand tons of barley;
  • 47 thousand tons of peach;

In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products.[53]

Afghanistan produces around 1.5 million tons of fresh fruits annually, which could be increased significantly.[54] It is known for producing some of the finest fruits, especially pomegranates and grapes as well as sweet melons and mulberries.[55][56][57] Other fruits grown in the country include apples, apricots, cherries, figs, kiwi, oranges, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, and strawberries.[58][59][60][61][62] As of 2022, farming is entirely organic and steadily increasing.[22][63][64] There are over 5,000 greenhouses in the country.[65][66][67][68][69]

The northern and western Afghan provinces are long known for pistachio cultivation.[70][71][72] In recent years, farmers in the southern provinces began growing American pistachio trees.[73] Provinces in the east of the country, particularly Khost and Paktia, are famous for pine nuts.[74][75][76] The northern and central provinces are also famous for almonds and walnuts, as well as for kangina, a method of storing grapes in mud.[77][78] The Bamyan Province in central Afghanistan is known for growing superior quality potatoes, which produced 370,000 tons in 2020. Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman are the only provinces in the country where large farms of grapefruits, lemons, limes, and oranges can be found.[79][80][81][82] Nangarhar also has farms of dates, peanuts, olives, and sugarcane.[83][84][85][86] Cultivation of these products have spread to other provinces of the country.[87][88] Other agricultural products such as avocados, bananas and pineapples have recently been planted in the provinces of Balkh, Helmand, Nangarhar, and Paktia.[89][90][91]

Afghanistan is listed as the 54th largest vegetables producing country. Most of its vegetables are for domestic consumption and include beans, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, chickpeas, coriander, corns, cucumbers, eggplants, leeks, lettuces, okras, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, tomatoes, turnips, and zucchinis. Wheat and cereal production is Afghanistan's traditional agricultural mainstay.[92] The nation is nearing self-sufficiency in grain production. It requires an additional 1 to 3 million tons of wheat to become self-sufficient, which is predicted to be accomplished in the near future.[93][94]

Samples of Afghan fresh and dried fruits
Kabul River near Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province

Livestock in Afghanistan mainly include cattle, sheep, and goats.[95] Poultry farming is widespread in the warmer parts of the country.[96][97][98] The Habib Hassam Poultry Complex is located in Jalalabad.[99]

Arable land in Afghanistan was reported to be over 7.5 million hectares.[100][101] Wheat production had stood at about 5 million tonnes in 2015,[102] nurseries held 119,000 hectares of land, and grape production is at 615,000 tonnes. It was reported that cotton production has jumped to 500,000 tons.[103] Around 3,200 ha (7,900 acres) of farm land in Afghanistan is used to cultivate saffron,[104] mostly in the west, north and south of the country.[105][106][107] Sugarcane is currently grown on 1,750 ha (4,300 acres) of land,[86] and asafoetida on nearly 980 ha (2,400 acres) of land.[108]

Forestry

Further information: Environmental issues in Afghanistan

According to a 2010 report, only about 2.1% (or 1,350,000 ha (3,300,000 acres)) of Afghanistan is forested.[109] This can be significantly increased by planting trees, including in the non-rocky hills and mountains which trap underground water.[110] Some steps have been taken in recent years in planting trees in the urban areas all across Afghanistan.[111][112][113] Even the Taliban spiritual leader has recently called for planting more trees.[114][115] Felling has been made illegal nationally.[116][117]

Fishing

Further information: List of rivers of Afghanistan and List of dams and reservoirs in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is landlocked with its citizens having no direct access to an ocean. The country has many lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, springs, streams, etc.,[118] which make it a suitable climate for fish farming.[119] Historically, fish constituted a smaller part of the Afghan diet because of the unavailability of modern fish farms. Fishing only took place in the lakes and rivers, particularly in the Amu, Helmand and Kabul rivers.[120] Consumption of fish has increased sharply due to the establishment of many fish farms.[121] There are over 2,600 of them in the country.[122] The largest ones are at the national reservoirs, which supply fish eggs to smaller fish farms.[123]

Trade and industry

Further information: Transport in Afghanistan and Mining in Afghanistan
Map of the Lapis Lazuli Route

Afghanistan's geographical location makes it economically secured.[124][125][20][126][127][128][129][130] The Lapis Lazuli corridor connects Afghanistan with Turkmenistan and ultimately ends somewhere in Europe.[131] Other such trade routes connect Afghanistan with neighboring Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.[132] The country also has direct trade with China and India via air corridor.[133] It has four international airports, which include: Kabul International Airport in the capital city; Mazar-e Sharif International Airport in the north of the country; Herat International Airport in the west; and the Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport in Kandahar.[134] It also has about 24 domestic airports.[135] The major airlines of the country include Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air. Its national rail network is slowly expanding to connect Central Asia with Pakistan and Iran.[136][137][138] In addition to Central Asia, imported goods also enter by rail from neighboring Iran and China.[139][140]

The Port of entry at Sher Khan Bandar in Kunduz Province, near the border with Tajikistan (2011)

The Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) allows Afghan and Pakistani cargo trucks to transit goods within both nations. This revised US-sponsored APTTA agreement also allows Afghan trucks to transport exports to India via Pakistan up to the Wagah crossing point. There are over a dozen official border crossing points all around Afghanistan. They include Abu Nasir Port in Farah Province, Ai-Khanoum in Takhar Province, Angur Ada in Paktika Province, Aqina in Faryab Province, Dand-aw-Patan in Paktia Province, Ghulam Khan in Khost Province, Hairatan in Balkh Province, Ishkashim in Badakhshan Province, Islam Qala in Herat Province, Sher Khan Bandar in Kunduz Province, Torghundi in Herat Province, Torkham in Nangarhar Province, Spin Boldak in Kandahar Province, and Zaranj in Nimruz Province.[141][142] The country also has legal access to two major seaports in Pakistan, the Gwadar Port in Balochistan and the Port Qasim in Sindh.[143] Afghanistan also has legal access to major seaports in Iran, which include the one in Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf and the Chabahar Port in the Gulf of Oman.[144]

Due to lack of major rail service, transport in Afghanistan is mostly done by road and air.

Afghanistan is endowed with a wealth of natural resources, which include extensive deposits of barites, chromite, coal, copper, gold, gemstone, iron ore, lead, lithium, marble, natural gas, petroleum, salt, sulfur, talc, uranium, and zinc.[145][146][147][21][148][149][150] Rare-earth elements can be found all over the country.[151] In 2006, a U.S. Geological Survey estimated that Afghanistan has as much as 1,000×10^6 m3 (36×10^9 cu ft) of natural gas, 570×10^6 m3 (3.6 Gbbl) of oil and condensate reserves.[152] According to a 2007 assessment, Afghanistan has significant amounts of undiscovered non-fuel mineral resources. Geologists also found indications of abundant deposits of colored stones and gemstones, including emerald, garnet, kunzite, lapis lazuli, peridot, ruby, sapphire, spinel, and tourmaline.[153][154]

It is claimed that Afghanistan has at least $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits.[155] A memo from the Pentagon stated that Afghanistan could become the "Saudi Arabia of lithium".[156] Some believe that the untapped minerals are worth up to $3 trillion.[157][158][159] The Khanashin carbonatites in the Helmand Province of the country have an estimated 1 million metric tonnes of rare earth elements.[160]

Afghanistan currently has a copper mining deal with China Metallurgical Group Corporation,[161] which involves the investment of $2.8 billion by China and an annual income of about $400 million to the Afghan government. The country's Ainak copper mine, located in Logar Province, is one of the biggest in the world. It is estimated to hold at least 11 million tonnes or US$33 billion worth of copper.[162]

The previous government has signed a 30-year contract with investment group Centar and its operating company, Afghan Gold and Minerals Co., to explore and develop a copper mining operation in Balkhab District in Sar-e Pol Province, including a gold mining operation in Badakhshan Province. The copper contract involved a $56 million investment and the gold contract a $22 million investment.[163]

The country's other recently announced treasure is the Hajigak iron mine, located 210 km (130 mi) west of Kabul and is believed to hold an estimated 1.8 billion to 2 billion metric tons of the mineral used to make steel.[164] The country also has a number of coal mines.[165][166][167]

Afghanistan's important resource in the past has been natural gas, which was first tapped in 1967. During the 1980s, gas sales accounted for $300 million a year in export revenues (56% of the total). About 90% of these exports went to the Soviet Union to pay for imports and debts. However, during the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989, the natural gas fields were capped to prevent sabotage by criminals. Gas production has dropped from a high of 8.2×10^6 m3 (290×10^6 cu ft) per day in the 1980s to a low of about 600,000 m3 (21×10^6 cu ft) in 2001. Production of natural gas was restored during the Karzai administration in 2010.[168]

It is predicted that by pumping-out its own oil reserves,[169][170][171] Afghanistan will no longer be importing oil products after 2026.[172] Originally, the Karzai administration and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a contract for the development of three oil fields in the northern provinces of Sar-e Pol, Jowzjan and Faryab.[173][174] It was later reported that CNPC began extracting 240,000 m3 (1.5×10^6 bbl) of oil annually.[175] In early 2023, the Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Company signed a similar contract with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.[176] Russia had also found interest in oil and gas supply to Afghanistan.[177][178]

Economic development and recovery

Further information: List of companies of Afghanistan and List of exports of Afghanistan
From left to right: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, during the signing of the Chabahar Port transit agreement in May 2016

Afghanistan embarked on a modest economic development program in the 1930s. The government founded banks; introduced paper money; established a university; expanded primary, secondary, and technical schools; and sent students abroad for education. In 1952 it created the Helmand Valley Authority to manage the economic development of the Helmand and Arghandab valleys through irrigation and land development,[39] a scheme which remains one of the country's most important capital resources.[179]

In 1956, the government promulgated the first in a long series of ambitious development plans.[36] By the late 1970s, these had achieved only mixed results due to flaws in the planning process as well as inadequate funding and a shortage of the skilled managers and technicians needed for implementation.[180]

Afghan United Bank

Da Afghanistan Bank serves as the central bank of the nation. The "afghani" (AFN) is the national currency, which has an exchange rate of around 70 afghanis to 1 US dollar.[33][34][35] There are over a dozen different banks operating in the country, including Afghanistan International Bank, Kabul Bank, Azizi Bank, Pashtany Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and First Micro Finance Bank. Cash is still widely used for most transactions. A new law on private investment provides three to seven-year tax holidays to eligible companies and a four-year exemption from exports tariffs and duties. Improvements to the business-enabling environment have resulted in more than $1.5 billion in telecom investment and created more than 100,000 jobs since 2003.[181]

Afghanistan is a member of ECO, OIC, SAARC, and WTO. It has an observer status in the SCO. It seeks to complete the so-called New Silk Road trade project, which is aimed to connecting South Asia with Central Asia and the Middle East. This way Afghanistan will be able to collect large fees from trade passing through the country, including from the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline.

Shopping district in the Khair Khana neighborhood of Kabul

Some of the ongoing national mega projects include the Qosh Tepa Canal project in the north of the country and the New Kabul City.[182] Other smaller development projects include the Qatar Township in Kabul,[183] Aino Mena in Kandahar and the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Town east of Jalalabad. Similar projects are also found in Herat in the west, Mazar-e-Sharif in the north, Khost in the east, and in other cities.

There are as much as 5,000 factories in Afghanistan.[184] Most are locally owned,[185][186][187][188][189] while others involve foreign investors.[190][191][192] They produce construction materials, furniture, household items, apparel, food, beverages, pharmaceutical products, etc.[193][194][195][196] The country imports roughly $500 million of textile goods from other countries.[197] It exported about $168 million worth of cotton in 2022.[198] Afghan handwoven rugs are one of the most popular products for exportation. Other products include hand crafted antique replicas as well as leather and furs. Afghanistan is the third largest exporter of cashmere.[199]

After the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan returned to power, the country suffered from a major liquidity crisis and lack of banknotes.[200] Because outside donors have severely cut funding to support Afghanistan's health, education, and other essential sectors, many Afghans lost their incomes. Under the assessment system of the World Food Programme (WFP), almost 20 million people suffered either level-3 “crisis” or level-4 “emergency” levels of food insecurity. The crisis’ impact on women and girls was especially severe.[201] Officials under the new Islamic Emirate continue to provide communication services to areas that lacked them.[202] The government collected 61 billion afghanis in tariffs in 2022,[203] which increased to 76 billion in 2023.[204] It continues to attract foreign investors.[205][206][207][208][209]

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Afghanistan

Tourism in Afghanistan was at its peak in 1977. Many tourists from around the world visited Afghanistan, including from as far away as Europe and North America. All of that ended with the start of the April 1978 Saur Revolution. However, it is again gradually increasing despite having reputation as one of the most dangerous countries in the world.[210] Between 4,000 and 20,000 foreign tourists visit Afghanistan every year.[211][212][213] As many as 371,000 Afghans have visited different parts of the country in 2022.[214] Tourists are advised to avoid areas where armed criminals may operate.[215]

Ariana, Flydubai and Kam Air all provide flight services between Dubai International Airport and Kabul International Airport.[216][217] The city of Kabul has many guest houses and hotels, which include the Kabul Serena Hotel, the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul, the Safi Landmark Hotel, and the Kabul Star Hotel. Small number of guest houses and hotels are also available in other cities such Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Bamyan, Fayezabad, etc.[218] For those wanting to travel by road, there are bus terminals with mosques, Afghan style restaurants and small shops in the major cities.[219][220][221][222][223]

Badakhshan Province
The Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif
Band-e Amir National Park in the Bamyan Province
Sarda Dam in Ghazni Province
Herat Citadel in Herat
The Dahla Dam in Kandahar Province

The following are some of the notable places in Afghanistan that tourists visit:

National data

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 2002–2020 (with IMF staff estimates in 2021–2026).[226] Inflation below 5% is in green. The annual unemployment rate is extracted from the World Bank, although the International Monetary Fund find them unreliable.[227]

Year GDP

(in Bil. US$PPP)

GDP per capita

(in US$ PPP)

GDP

(in Bil. US$nominal)

GDP per capita

(in US$ nominal)

GDP growth

(real)

Inflation rate

(in Percent)

Unemployment[227]

(in Percent)

Government debt

(in % of GDP)

2002 19.68 1,051.82 4.37 233.43 n/a n/a 11.3% 346.0%
2003 Increase21.8 Increase1,118.5 Increase4.6 Increase233.8 Increase8.7% Negative increase35.7% Positive decrease11.1% Positive decrease270.6%
2004 Increase22.5 Decrease1,112.8 Increase5.1 Increase254.3 Increase0.7% Negative increase16.4% Positive decrease11.0% Positive decrease245.0%
2005 Increase26.0 Increase1,239.8 Increase6.2 Increase294.4 Increase11.8% Negative increase10.6% Negative increase11.2% Positive decrease206.4%
2006 Increase28.2 Increase1,305.3 Increase6.9 Increase320.7 Increase5.4% Negative increase6.8% Positive decrease11.1% Positive decrease23.0%
2007 Increase32.8 Increase1,462.9 Increase8.6 Increase381.5 Increase13.3% Negative increase8.7% Negative increase11.3% Positive decrease20.1%
2008 Increase34.7 Increase1,510.6 Increase10.3 Increase447.7 Increase3.9% Negative increase26.4% Positive decrease11.1% Positive decrease19.1%
2009 Increase42.2 Increase1,788.8 Increase12.1 Increase511.4 Increase20.6% Increase-6.8% Negative increase11.3% Positive decrease16.2%
2010 Increase46.3 Increase1,908.0 Increase15.3 Increase631.5 Increase8.4% Increase2.2% Negative increase11.4% Positive decrease7.7%
2011 Increase50.3 Increase2,010.8 Increase17.9 Increase714.7 Increase6.5% Negative increase11.8% Positive decrease11.1% Positive decrease7.5%
2012 Increase59.9 Increase2,317.7 Increase20.3 Increase784.6 Increase14.0% Negative increase6.4% Negative increase11.3% Positive decrease6.8%
2013 Increase63.8 Increase2,385.7 Decrease20.2 Decrease754.4 Increase5.7% Negative increase7.4% Positive decrease11.2% Negative increase6.9%
2014 Increase69.4 Increase2,516.0 Increase20.6 Decrease747.6 Increase2.7% Increase4.7% Positive decrease11.1% Negative increase8.7%
2015 Increase72.1 Increase2,534.9 Decrease20.2 Decrease711.3 Increase1.0% Increase-0.7% Steady11.1% Negative increase9.2%
2016 Decrease70.1 Decrease2,400.6 Decrease18.0 Decrease616.2 Increase2.2% Increase4.4% Negative increase11.2% Positive decrease8.4%
2017 Increase74.7 Increase2,515.6 Increase18.9 Increase636.7 Increase2.6% Increase5.0% Steady11.2% Positive decrease8.0%
2018 Increase77.4 Decrease2,449.9 Decrease18.4 Decrease582.3 Increase1.2% Increase0.6% Steady11.2% Positive decrease7.4%
2019 Increase81.9 Increase2,542.9 Increase18.9 Increase586.2 Increase3.9% Increase2.3% Steady11.2% Positive decrease6.1%
2020 Decrease78.7 Decrease2,390.0 Increase19.1 Decrease580.8 Decrease-5.0% Negative increase5.6% Negative increase11.7% Negative increase7.8%
2021 Increase83.4 Increase2,474.0 Increase19.9 Increase591.7 Increase4.0% Negative increase5.1% n/a Negative increase8.8%
2022 Increase89.1 Increase2,585.0 Increase21.2 Increase615.0 Increase4.5% Increase4.5% n/a Negative increase9.6%
2023 Increase95.2 Increase2,700.3 Increase22.0 Increase624.1 Increase4.5% Increase4.0% n/a Negative increase10.3%
2024 Increase101.1 Increase2,802.9 Increase22.8 Increase630.7 Increase4.0% Increase4.0% n/a Negative increase11.0%
2025 Increase107.2 Increase2,905.8 Increase23.9 Increase647.5 Increase4.0% Increase4.0% n/a Negative increase11.6%
2026 Increase113.6 Increase3,009.6 Increase24.6 Increase650.3 Increase4.0% Increase4.0% n/a Negative increase12.3%
Countries by 2019 GDP (nominal) per capita.[228]

Gross national saving: 22.7% of GDP (2017)

GDP - composition by sector:

  • agriculture: 23% (2016)
  • industry: 21.1% (2016)
  • services: 55.9% (2016)

note: data excludes opium production

GDP - composition by end use:

  • household consumption: 81.6% (2016)
  • government consumption: 12% (2016)
  • investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2016)
  • investment in inventories: 30% (2016)
  • exports of goods and services: 6.7% (2016)
  • imports of goods and services: -47.6% (2016)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

  • lowest 10%: 3.8%
  • highest 10%: 24% (2008)

Agriculture - products: wheat, milk, grapes, vegetables, potatoes, watermelons, melons, rice, onions, apples

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: -1.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 181

Labor force: 8.478 million (2017)
country comparison to the world: 58

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 44.3%, industry 18.1%, services 37.6% (2017)

Population below poverty line: 54.5% (2017)

Budget:

  • revenues: 2.276 billion (2017)
  • expenditures: 5.328 billion

Taxes and other revenues: 11.2% (of GDP) (2017)
country comparison to the world: 210

Exports: $2 billion (2022)[11]
country comparison to the world: 164

Exports - commodities: gold, grapes, opium, fruits and nuts, insect resins, cotton, handwoven carpets, soapstone, scrap metal (2019)

Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 45%, Pakistan 24%, India 22%, China 1% (2019)

Imports: $7 billion (2022)[11]
country comparison to the world: 125

Imports - commodities: wheat flours, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, rolled tobacco, aircraft parts, synthetic fabrics (2019)

Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 23%, Pakistan 17%, India 13%, China 9%, United States 9%, Uzbekistan 7%, Kazakhstan 6% (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.187 billion (2017)
country comparison to the world: 85

Current account balance: $1.014 billion (2017)
country comparison to the world: 49

Currency: Afghani (AFN)

Exchange rates: 67 afghanis to 1 US dollar (2023)[229][33][34][35]

Fiscal year: 21 December - 20 December

Energy in Afghanistan

Main article: Energy in Afghanistan
Aerial photography of Kandahar at night in 2011. Its electricity is provided mainly by two sources, the Kajaki power station in neighboring Helmand Province and solar farms on the outskirts of the city.[230]

Energy in Afghanistan is provided by hydropower followed by fossil fuel and solar power.[5] The nation currently generates over 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity from its several hydroelectric plants as well as using fossil fuel and solar panels.[5][231] Over 670 MW more is imported from neighboring Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.[232][233] Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) is the national electricity provider.[234]

Price of electricity is 2.5 afghanis per kw in Kabul Province, 4 afghanis in Herat Province, and around 6 afghanis in Balkh Province.[235] The government wants to use the nation's coal reserves to produce extra electricity.[236] The CASA-1000 project will also add 300 MW of electricity to the national grid.[237]

Due to large influx of expats from neighboring Pakistan and Iran, the nation may require as much as 7,000 MW of electricity in the coming years.[238] The Afghan National Development Strategy has identified renewable energy alternatives, such as wind and solar energy, as a high value power source to develop.[239][240] A number of major solar and wind farms already exist in the country,[241][242][243] with more under development.[244][245]

See also

References

  1. ^ "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  2. ^ "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". World Bank. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  3. ^ a b c d "World Bank Database, 2021". World Bank. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  4. ^ Global Economic Prospects, June 2020. World Bank. 2020. p. 98. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1553-9. ISBN 978-1-4648-1553-9. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Afghanistan". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  6. ^ "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  7. ^ "Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population)". World Bank. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  8. ^ "Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) - Afghanistan". World Bank. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  9. ^ "Labor force, total - Afghanistan". World Bank. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
  10. ^ "Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (national estimate)". World Bank. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Exports Reached $2 Billion in 1401 Solar Year: MoIC". TOLOnews. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  12. ^ "Afghanistan". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  13. ^ a b "Foreign trade partners of Afghanistan". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  14. ^ a b "Afghanistan $1.4B in Debt to Foreign Countries, Organizations". TOLOnews. August 30, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  15. ^ a b "Afghanistan Faces $1.4 Billion in Foreign Debt amid Economic Downturn". Khaama Press. August 31, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  16. ^ "Central Bank Reports Increase In Foreign Exchange Reserves". TOLOnews. 30 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  17. ^ "Afghanistan". The World Bank. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  18. ^ "Afghanistan Economic Monitor". World Bank. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  19. ^ a b "Over 193.9 billion afs revenue collected last year: MoF". Pajhwok Afghan News. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  20. ^ a b "Kazakhstan's deputy PM visits Kabul, calls for expansion of trade ties". Arian News. April 15, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  21. ^ a b "Chinese firm offers IEA $10 billion investment in lithium reserves". Ariana News. April 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  22. ^ a b c "Officials: 25% of 1st Phase of Qosh Tepa Canal Construction Completed". TOLOnews. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  23. ^ "Economic Impact of 20-Year Intl Presence in Afghanistan". TOLOnews. September 1, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  24. ^ "1.3 Million Afghan Refugees Return Home in Past 20 Months". Khaama Press. May 29, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  25. ^ "Afghanistan receives $3.3b remittances from expats". Pajhwok Afghan News. October 19, 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  26. ^ "Afghanistan Unemployment rate - data, chart". TheGlobalEconomy.com. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  27. ^ "200,000 Afghans Face Moderate to Severe Malnutrition in Past Month". TOLOnews. August 26, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  28. ^ "Ministry Puts Up 8 Mines for Tender, Says '200' Investors Interested". TOLOnews. August 25, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  29. ^ Coll, Steve (2019). Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Penguin Group. pp. 661–662. ISBN 9780143132509. cf. "Population, total–Afghanistan". World Bank. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  30. ^ "The US and Taliban are negotiating the release of part of the $9.5 billion in frozen Afghan government assets, report says". Business Insider. July 26, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  31. ^ "US freezes Afghan central bank's assets of $9.5bn". Al Jazeera. August 18, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  32. ^ "U.S. Freezes Nearly $9.5 Billion Afghanistan Central Bank Assets". Bloomberg News. August 17, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  33. ^ a b c "Afghani reverses to 7-year old value against US dollar". Pajhwok Afghan News. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  34. ^ a b c "Business". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  35. ^ a b c "Today's Currency Rate". Ariana News. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  36. ^ a b c "Helmand's Golden Age". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 August 2014. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  37. ^ Asian Affairs Journal, Making Money in Afghanistan: The First Western Entrepreneurs 1880-1919, Vol 3, 2012.
  38. ^ Castillo, Graciana del (2014-04-02). Guilty Party: the International Community in Afghanistan: With 2016 Epilogue. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1-4931-8570-2.
  39. ^ a b Report on Development of Helmand Valley, Afghanistan, 1956, Tudor Engineering Company
  40. ^ Afghanistan in the 1950s: Back to the Future [Full Documentary] - BBC News on YouTube (at 5:24)
  41. ^ "The Opium Economy in Afghanistan: An International Problem" (PDF). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-12-19.
  42. ^ "Self-sufficiency in wheat, dairy, rice in 4 years: Ahadi". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  43. ^ "UN Aid Chief Pushes for Restart of Afghanistan Development Aid". TOLOnews. August 30, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  44. ^ "'Countdown to catastrophe': half of Afghans face hunger this winter – UN". The Guardian. 25 October 2021.
  45. ^ "China urges World Bank, IMF to help Afghanistan". News24. 28 October 2021.
  46. ^ "Kabul hosts major domestic and international expo". Ariana Television Network. December 1, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  47. ^ "Taliban blames U.S. as 1 million Afghan kids face death by starvation". CBS News. 20 October 2021.
  48. ^ "Afghanistan's hunger crisis is a problem the U.S. can fix". MSNBC. 10 November 2021.
  49. ^ "Afghanistan Facing Famine: UN, World Bank, US Should Adjust Sanctions, Economic Policies". Human Rights Watch. 11 November 2021.
  50. ^ "Two Years into Taliban Rule, New Shocks Weaken Afghan Economy". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  51. ^ "Taliban Controls the World's Best Performing Currency This Quarter". Bloomberg.com. 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  52. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "2019 Investment Climate Statements: Afghanistan". U.S. State Department. 2022-08-09.
  53. ^ "Afghanistan production in 2018, by FAO".
  54. ^ "Afghanistan Produces 1.5 Million Tons Of Fresh Fruit A Year". TOLOnews. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  55. ^ "Fruits, Grain, Wheat Harvests Increase in Kunduz". Ariana News. June 8, 2019. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  56. ^ "Kandahar reports rise in melon yield". Ariana News. July 8, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  57. ^ "Melons: Afghan riches at the surface level". Afghanistan Analysts Network. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  58. ^ "MoF: Export Facilities Have Been Provided for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables". TOLOnews. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  59. ^ "Process of exporting fresh fruit to world markets kicks off: MoIC". Ariana News. May 29, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  60. ^ "Persimmon orchards yield good harvest in Nangarhar this year". Ariana News. November 13, 2020. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  61. ^ "Plentiful Peach Harvest in Balkh Needs Markets, Cold Storage". TOLOnews. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  62. ^ "Afghanistan: Peaches and nectarines, production quantity (tons)". www.factfish.com. 2017. Archived from the original on 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  63. ^ "Qush Tepa Canal to be completed before scheduled date". Pajhwok Afghan News. August 9, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  64. ^ "Commercial Farming Limited by Lack of Land, Water". TOLOnews. April 5, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  65. ^ "Greenhouse Farming Paying Off For Local Farmers". TOLOnews. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  66. ^ "Kandahar farmers want construction of green houses resumed". Pajhwok Afghan News. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  67. ^ "Greenhouses set to meet local vegetable demand". Pajhwok Afghan News. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  68. ^ "2 greenhouses worth $1m inaugurated in Parwan". Pajhwok Afghan News. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  69. ^ Green house in Khost VOA Ashna on YouTube (Jan. 15, 2017)
  70. ^ Pistachio Groves Change Lives of Farmers in Afghanistan. World Bank. February 20, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  71. ^ Herat Pistachios products grown (in Dari). Voice of America. April 25, 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  72. ^ Taliban makes millions of dollars from pistachio gardens in Badghis (in Dari). Salaam Times. September 6, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  73. ^ Pistachio orchards in Kandahar (in Pashto). Voice of America. July 3, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  74. ^ "Over 5,000 tons of pine nuts exported abroad in last nine months: MoIC". Ariana Television Network. January 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  75. ^ "China's love of pine nuts helps Afghan exporters". Xinhua. The News International. January 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  76. ^ "Afghanistan Opens $6 Million Pine-Nut Factory As Sales To China Boom". RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. January 19, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  77. ^ Hejazi, Ziaurrahman; Nawakht, Noor Agha; Hedayat, Yar Mohammad; Giordani, Edgardo (2023-03-01). "Styrofoam Packaging as Alternative of the Afghan Traditional "Gangina" Container to Extend Quality of 'Taifi' Grapes in Room Temperature Storage". Journal of Packaging Technology and Research. 7 (1): 35–41. doi:10.1007/s41783-022-00148-1. ISSN 2520-1042. S2CID 255079194.
  78. ^ "Afghanistan: Walnuts, production quantity (tons)". www.factfish.com. 2017. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  79. ^ "Afghanistan produces over 13,000 tonnes of citrus fruits". Pajhwok Afghan News. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  80. ^ "Batikot set to produce 2,100 tonnes of tangerine". Pajhwok Afghan News. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  81. ^ "Citrus yield up by 10 percent in Kunar this year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  82. ^ "Nangarhar to plant sweet orange on 3,000 acres land". Pajhwok Afghan News. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  83. ^ "Farm-i-Hada date orchard yield estimated 22 tonnes this year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  84. ^ "Nangarhar peanuts yield increases 3-fold this year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  85. ^ "Nangarhar to produce 300 tonnes of olive oil, pickle". Pajhwok Afghan News. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  86. ^ a b "Last year, more than 58 thousand metric tons of sugarcane were harvested in the country". Afghan Voice Agency. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  87. ^ "Peanut Farmers in Helmand Estimate 23,000 Metric Ton Yield". TOLOnews. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  88. ^ "Afghan province begins push to discourage poppy cultivation". Arab News. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  89. ^ "Agriculture ministry tests viability of farming avocados in Nangarhar". Ariana News. July 6, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  90. ^ "Afghan Province Grows Bananas To Replace Opium Poppies". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. August 14, 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  91. ^ "Afghan Embassy Colombo". July 20, 2019.
  92. ^ "Bumper harvest: Wheat prices fall by 50pc in Farah". Pajhwok Afghan News. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  93. ^ "Afghan Government Bans Export of Wheat". TOLOnews. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  94. ^ "Self-sufficiency in wheat production". Afghanistan Times. December 27, 2015. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  95. ^ ښاري انځور خپرونه کندهار ملي راډیو ټلوېزیون (in Pashto). Kandahar Mili Television. February 8, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  96. ^ "Afghanistan nears chicken meat self-sufficiency: MAIL". Pajhwok Afghan News. April 12, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  97. ^ Poultry Value Chain in Afghanistan. Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development-Facility (CARD-F). November 11, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  98. ^ "Chinese Family in Kandahar Supporting Local Business". TOLOnews. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  99. ^ در این فارم در یک روز بیشتر از مصرف افغانستان تخم مرغ تولید می شود on YouTube
  100. ^ "Millions of Hectares of Land Remain Uncultivated In Afghanistan". Bakhtar News Agency. September 17, 2017. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  101. ^ "Millions Of Hectares Of Land Remain Uncultivated In Afghanistan". TOLOnews. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  102. ^ "AFGHANISTAN: 2015/2016 Wheat Production above Average but Down from Last Year". U.S. Department of Agriculture. July 17, 2015. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-16..
  103. ^ "ACCI: Nearly 500,000 Tons of Cotton Cultivated in Current Solar Year". TOLOnews. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  104. ^ "Afghan Saffron Yield Reaches 21 Tons: Agriculture Ministry". TOLOnews. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  105. ^ "25 tonnes saffron produced in Herat this year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  106. ^ "Saffron Yield Increases in Balkh Province". TOLOnews. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  107. ^ "Saffron cultivation yields positive results in Kandahar". Ariana News. December 30, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  108. ^ "Hing Cultivation Increases in Afghanistan". TOLOnews. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  109. ^ "Afghanistan Forest Information and Data". Mongabay. 2010. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  110. ^ "Changing the Afghan landscape, one tree at a time". United Nations Environment Programme. May 4, 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  111. ^ "Nationwide Tree-Planting Campaign Begins In Kabul". TOLOnews. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  112. ^ "Kabul Municipality launches tree planting campaign". Ariana News. February 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  113. ^ "Over 20 million saplings planted countrywide last year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  114. ^ "Taliban leader urges Afghans to plant more trees". BBC News. February 26, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  115. ^ "Taliban Leaders Wants Afghans to Plant More Trees". Voice of America. February 26, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  116. ^ "3 men arrested for cutting down trees in Nangarhar forest". Pajhwok Afghan News. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  117. ^ "Unit established in Kunduz to prevent illegal tree felling". Pajhwok Afghan News. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  118. ^ "Afghanistan and Pakistan's Looming Water Conflict". The Diplomat. December 15, 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-23. Afghanistan has abundant water resources. It produces 80 billion cubic meters of water a year, pumping 60 billion cubic meters of it to the neighbors — particularly Pakistan.
  119. ^ "Fish farming booms in S. Afghan province". Xinhua. July 14, 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  120. ^ "Livestock and Fish Farming Bring Self-Sufficiency to Rural Afghans". The World Bank. October 28, 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  121. ^ "In Kandahar, fish farming surges by 40pc". Pajhwok Afghan News. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  122. ^ "More than 2,600 fish farms operating in Afghanistan". Ariana News. April 7, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  123. ^ "Afghanistan launches fish farming in mega $300m Salma Dam built by India". Khaama Press. October 29, 2016. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  124. ^ "IEA hoping to top $10 billion in trade volume with Iran over next few years". Arian News. November 8, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  125. ^ "Russian PM says Moscow ready to expand transport routes to Afghanistan, South Asia". Arian News. September 19, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  126. ^ "Turkmenistan, Afghanistan Discuss Development of Co-op in Transit Cargo Transportation". Khaama Press. May 30, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  127. ^ "Islamic Emirate Seeks China's Cooperation for Wakhan Trade Route". TOLOnews. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  128. ^ "Afghanistan Ready to Facilitate Transit of Regional Goods: Baradar". TOLOnews. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  129. ^ "The Afghanistan-China Belt & Road Initiative". Silk Road Briefing. September 16, 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  130. ^ "Set in concrete: In a first, Kabul builds $5m road via tough terrain to access China". Arab News. May 23, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  131. ^ "Afghanistan's commercial goods arrived in Turkey through Lapis Lazuli route". Pajhwok Afghan News. December 29, 2018. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  132. ^ Common market to be established between Afghan-Uzbek. Ariana Television Network. August 25, 2023. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  133. ^ "Afghan Trade Via Air Corridor Has Increased: MoF". TOLOnews. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  134. ^ "GAAC to Uplift Afghanistan's Airports to the Modern Era". Khaama Press. May 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  135. ^ "Over 25,000 flights recorded across Afghanistan in past year". Arian News. August 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  136. ^ "Uzbekistan, Pakistan Agree to Balkh-Paktia Route for Railway: ARA". TOLOnews. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  137. ^ "Mazar-Herat-Kandahar railway project to begin this year". Ariana News. May 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  138. ^ Latif, Aamir (May 1, 2023). "Afghanistan seeks regional connectivity with home-built rail project". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  139. ^ "First freight from Iran arrives in Herat by rail". Ariana News. May 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  140. ^ "Freight train from China arrives in Afghanistan". Ariana News. October 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  141. ^ "Afghan border crossings gain more importance amid Taliban's advance". Anadolu Agency. July 13, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  142. ^ "Afghanistan: How many refugees are there and where will they go?". BBC News. August 31, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  143. ^ "Gwadar port offers new opportunity for Afghan economy". January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  144. ^ "IEA's deputy prime minister visits Chabahar Port in Iran". Ariana News. November 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  145. ^ "Five companies win bids for Herat and Ghor mines". Ariana News. August 7, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  146. ^ "Contract for Lead Mining Project in Kandahar Awarded to Private Firm". TOLOnews. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  147. ^ "China And Qatar Seek to Invest in Gas, Oil Sectors: MoMP". TOLOnews. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  148. ^ "Chinese investment in Afghanistan's lithium sector: A long shot in the short term". Brookings Institution. August 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  149. ^ "Rare Earth: Afghanistan Sits on $1 Trillion in Minerals". NBC. September 5, 2014. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  150. ^ "Govt's Agreement with Australian Company Sparks Controversy". TOLOnews. March 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  151. ^ "Mapping Afghanistan's untapped natural resources". Al Jazeera English. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  152. ^ Eurasianet.org - Eurasia Insight, Afghanistan's Energy Future and its Potential Implications
  153. ^ "200 Licenses Awarded to Mine Emeralds in Panjshir: Officials". TOLOnews. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  154. ^ "Delawar: 90% of Panjshir mining revenues to be used in reconstruction of the province". Ariana News. August 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  155. ^ James Risen, ed. (June 13, 2010). "U.S. Identifies Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  156. ^ "Afghanistan: The Saudi Arabia of Lithium?". News.discovery.com. 2010-06-14. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  157. ^ "Afghanistan says its untapped mineral wealth is at least $3 trillion _ triple US estimate". Chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  158. ^ "Afghanistan is suddenly wealthy: US finds $1 trillion in mineral deposits". Ksdk.com. 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  159. ^ Sengupta, Kim (2010-06-15). "Afghanistan's resources could make it the richest mining region on earth". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  160. ^ "Geologic Map of the Khanneshin Carbonatite Complex, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Modified From the 1976 Original Map Compilation of V.G. Cheremytsin" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  161. ^ "Mining at Mes Aynak Ready to Resume: Ministry". TOLOnews. April 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  162. ^ "China Wooed Taliban With Investment Promises That Haven't Panned Out". Bloomberg News. September 26, 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  163. ^ "Afghanistan signs major mining deals in development push". Reuters. October 7, 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  164. ^ "Indian, Canadian firms to invest $ 14.6b in Hajigak iron mine". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 31, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  165. ^ "Cash-Strapped Taliban 'Exploiting' Afghanistan's Natural Resources To Boost Revenue". RFE/RL. July 15, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  166. ^ "Taliban Wage War Over Coal in Northern Afghanistan". Foreign Policy. July 5, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  167. ^ "Desperate for Cash, Afghans Toil in Mines That Are Deadlier Than Ever". The New York Times. March 29, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  168. ^ "Gas well inaugurated in Shiberghan". Pajhwok Afghan News. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  169. ^ "Ministry: Extraction Ongoing in Qashqari Oil Fields". TOLOnews. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  170. ^ "Taliban-led Afghanistan begins extracting oil". Anadolu Agency. July 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  171. ^ "Start of raw oil extraction to boost economic development". Kabul Times. July 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  172. ^ "Afghanistan to reach oil self-sufficiency in 3 years: Official". Pajhwok Afghan News. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  173. ^ "China wins $700 million Afghan oil and gas deal. Why didn't the US bid?". The Christian Science Monitor. December 28, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  174. ^ "UPDATE 1-Afghanistan signs major oil deal with China's CNPC". Associated Press. December 28, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  175. ^ "China's CNPC begins oil production in Afghanistan". Reuters. October 21, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  176. ^ "IEA signs Amu River basin oil extraction contract with Chinese company". Ariana News. January 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  177. ^ "IEA sign deal for Russian oil products, gas and wheat". Ariana News. September 28, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  178. ^ "Russia Ready to Sign Agreement on Oil, Gas: Ministry". TOLOnews. August 27, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  179. ^ Haack, Barry (1998). "Remote sensing change detection of irrigated agriculture in Afghanistan". Geocarto International. 13 (2): 65–75. Bibcode:1998GeoIn..13...65H. doi:10.1080/10106049809354643.
  180. ^ [1] Archived 2015-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, Socio-Economic Overview of Afghanistan, Strategic Outlook
  181. ^ "Economic Growth". USAID. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  182. ^ "Second phase of construction of Qosh Tepa canal inaugurated". Ariana News. October 11, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  183. ^ "Qatar Township's construction works resume in Kabul". Pajhwok Afghan News. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  184. ^ "Govt to Provide Land for Factories: MoCI". TOLOnews. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  185. ^ "Afghan company to invest $142 million in Herat cement factory". Ariana News. October 16, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  186. ^ "Iron Smelting Plant Opens in Kabul". TOLOnews. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  187. ^ "Factory in Kandahar to produce 3,600 tons of cement daily: minister". Ariana News. March 15, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  188. ^ "Flour mill opens in Herat province". Ariana News. February 25, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  189. ^ "Smelting Plant to Be Built in Logar". TOLOnews. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  190. ^ "Exploration of Major Iron Mine Begun in Herat". TOLOnews. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  191. ^ "Recent Chinese Investment, Contracts Worth $2 Billion: MoIC". TOLOnews. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  192. ^ "150 foreign investors obtain licenses in15 months: MoCI". Pajhwok Afghan News. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  193. ^ "Kandahar officials inaugurate $50 million pharmaceutical company". Arian News. June 6, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  194. ^ "Pakistan Increases Tariffs on Afghan Steel: Union". TOLOnews. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  195. ^ "With Affordable Coal, Baghlan Cement Factory Resumes Work". TOLOnews. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  196. ^ "Alokozay Group of Companies (AGC)". devex.com. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  197. ^ "Afghanistan Imports $500m Worth Of Textiles Annually". TOLOnews. October 7, 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  198. ^ "Cotton Yield Increases in 17 Provinces of Afghanistan". TOLOnews. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  199. ^ Cashmere Fibres Afghan. USAID. May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  200. ^ "Newly-printed afghani banknotes reach Kabul". Pajhwok Afghan News. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  201. ^ "Afghanistan: Economic Crisis Underlies Mass Hunger". Human Rights Watch. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  202. ^ "Roads Into Panjshir Reopen, Telecom Services Resume". TOLOnews. September 17, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  203. ^ "Finance Ministry: About 61 Billion Afs in Customs Taxes Collected". TOLOnews. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  204. ^ "World Bank reports 8 percent rise in Afghanistan revenue collection". Ariana News. October 29, 2022. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  205. ^ "Contract Signed for 7 Mines Worth More Than $6.5 Billion: Ministry". TOLOnews. August 31, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  206. ^ "ACCI: Turkish Businessmen Coming to Afghanistan to Consider Investment". TOLOnews. August 26, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  207. ^ "Russian traders keen to invest in Afghan energy, agri sectors". Pajhwok Afghan News. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  208. ^ "Afghan-Kazak private sectors seal deals worth $100 million". Ariana News. August 3, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  209. ^ "120 Chinese companies held investment talks with IEA since takeover". Ariana News. May 26, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  210. ^ "350 new tourism companies granted license last year". Pajhwok Afghan News. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  211. ^ "NSIA: Over 2100 Foreign Tourists Visited Afghanistan in Past Month". TOLOnews. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  212. ^ "Over 1,000 foreigners visit Afghanistan in past 3-month". Pajhwok Afghan News. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  213. ^ "20,000 foreign tourists visit Afghanistan annually". Pajhwok Afghan News. September 27, 2016. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  214. ^ "MoIC: 371,000 Afghans Traveled to Domestic Tourist Sites Last Year". TOLOnews. August 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  215. ^ "Afghanistan Travel Advisory". U.S. Dept. of State. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  216. ^ "Fly Dubai Flights to Kabul Resume". TOLOnews. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  217. ^ "Flydubai resumes flights to Afghanistan after two years". Ariana News. November 15, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  218. ^ Bamyan's interesting hotels in the Bamyan TV special report on YouTube, Nov. 22, 2018, Bamyam TV.
  219. ^ New VIP Bus in Kabul Afghanistan on YouTube (July 29, 2023)
  220. ^ Creation of the first ever bus terminal in Dasht Barchi / ساخت اولین ترمینال مسافربری دشت برچی on YouTube (Ariana News, Jan. 5, 2023)
  221. ^ Kabul bus station & Terminal Kandahar 9/8/2022 on YouTube
  222. ^ Herat bus station & terminal Kandahar 08 September 2022 on YouTube
  223. ^ Afghanistan, Pakistan to establish cross-border bus services on YouTube
  224. ^ Afghan Frame.
  225. ^ Voice of Jaghori.
  226. ^ "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2021". IMF. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  227. ^ a b "Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) - Afghanistan | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  228. ^ Based on the IMF data. If no data was available for a country from IMF, data from the World Bank is used.
  229. ^ "Afghan Currency Rises Against US Dollar". TOLOnews. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  230. ^ Kandahar residents benefit from 24-hour electricity on YouTube (Ariana News, June 9, 2023)
  231. ^ "Bayat Power set to launch phase two of its gas to electricity power generating project". Ariana News. November 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  232. ^ "Afghanistan Annually Pays $280M for Imported Power". TOLOnews. September 1, 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  233. ^ "Turkmenistan delegation meets with DABS to discuss issues around electricity". Ariana News. May 10, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  234. ^ "DABS Says It Collected 37 Billion Afs in Past Year". TOLOnews. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  235. ^ "Balkh residents complain about high electricity tariffs". Pajhwok Afghan News. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  236. ^ "China Interested in Investment in Coal-Fired Power: DABS". TOLOnews. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  237. ^ "DABS says agreement reached with World Bank to finish CASA-1000 project". Ariana News. July 26, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  238. ^ "Naghlo Dam Turbines Up And Running". TOLOnews. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  239. ^ "ADB to provide $44.76m for construction of solar power plant". Pajhwok Afghan News. November 26, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  240. ^ "Fifty-two investors interested in Afghanistan's 2,000 MW solar energy plan". 1TV (Afghan TV channel). April 16, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  241. ^ "First-ever Kabul solar energy plant goes functional". Pajhwok Afghan News. May 22, 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  242. ^ "First-ever solar-wind power plant goes functional in Herat". Pajhwok Afghan News. September 17, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  243. ^ "Eastern Provinces To Get Solar Energy Boost". TOLOnews. April 14, 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  244. ^ "Afghanistan signs memo of cooperation with Turkish firm to generate power locally". Ariana News. May 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  245. ^ "Turkish company ready to invest in 200MW wind power project". Pajhwok Afghan News. May 7, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Economy of Afghanistan.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Economy_of_Afghanistan&oldid=1255943153#Forestry"