Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in Central Asia, strategically positioned at the crossroads of South and Central Asian geopolitical regions. Characterized by rugged mountainous terrain, the country is dominated by the Hindu Kush mountain...
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With a safety index of 26/100, Afghanistan offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.
All foreign nationals, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most other countries, require an advance visa to enter Afghanistan. There is no visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival option available, and visas must be obtained from Taliban-recognized Afghan embassies or consulates prior to travel.[1][2][4] Reliable locations include Dubai (UAE), Islamabad and Peshawar (Pakistan), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey), and Tehran (Iran). Visas from former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan embassies are no longer valid following the Taliban takeover in...
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53% below EU avg
61% below EU avg
42% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Kabul
Timezone
UTC+04:30
Area
652,230 km²
Population
40,218,234
Afghanistan shows a purchasing power index of 41/100, indicating moderate economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$20.50B
HDI
0.5
Quality of Life
N/A
NYC baseline: 43
Purchasing Power
17/100
-25 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Afghanistan. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable with CPI of 21.4 (NYC=100). Groceries index 18.4 and restaurant prices 15.1 are among the lowest globally, making daily expenses minimal.
Housing Market
Property prices average 9.1 years of household income. Rent index of 2.3 is extremely low, but property affordability remains moderate due to income constraints.
Average Income Levels
Purchasing power index of 41.4 indicates very low income levels. GDP per capita of $413.8 (2023) reflects severe economic constraints and limited earning capacity.
Tax System
Limited tax infrastructure under Islamic Emirate governance. Income tax exists but enforcement is inconsistent; VAT and property taxes are underdeveloped with unclear rates and administration.
Business Environment
Severe constraints including international sanctions, banking sector challenges, and regulatory uncertainty. Limited foreign investment, weak rule of law, and political instability severely hamper business operations.
Social Security
Minimal social safety net with fragmented healthcare and no formal pension system. 33% of population faces humanitarian needs; social programs are inadequate and heavily dependent on international aid.
Afghanistan features an arid continental climate dominated by mid-latitude steppe conditions (Köppen BSk), with extreme temperature variations and low precipitation across most regions. Winters are cold, especially in highlands and mountains, while summers are intensely hot in lowlands and deserts.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
63.7
Population
40,218,234
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Afghanistan. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Afghanistan is governed by the Taliban as an Islamic Emirate under Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, who has centralized power through parallel institutions while marginalizing pragmatist voices within the regime. The government faces severe economic challenges with over 90% of the population in poverty, while maintaining firm control despite international isolation and intensifying restrictions on human rights, particularly affecting women and girls.
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Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.