Afghanistan flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide

Public transit, airports, and getting around in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's transportation infrastructure is severely underdeveloped due to decades of conflict, with a low road density of 0.03 km per sq km and no operational national rail system. Key strengths include 79 airports (9 major) and ongoing reconstruction of highways like Kabul-Kandahar, alongside emerging regional rail links with neighbors. Challenges persist in road maintenance (85% poor condition), limited public transit, and rural access. Residents and visitors rely on buses, taxis, and air travel, driving on the right amid mountainous terrain serving 40 million people.
Public Transport
Poor
Road Infrastructure
Below Average
Public Transport
1.5/10

No metro, rail, or integrated systems exist. Basic buses operate in Kabul (e.g., Millie Bus on limited routes), but coverage is minimal, unreliable, with no intercity trains or mode integration. Rural areas lack service entirely.

Road Infrastructure
2.5/10

Low-density network (0.88 km/1,000 people) connects major centers like Kabul-Kandahar via Ring Road (2,210 km), but 85% in poor condition due to neglect. Limited highways, poor maintenance, inadequate urban traffic management, and safety features amid mountainous terrain.

Internet Speed
2.8/10

Afghanistan has very low average fixed broadband speeds around 10-15 Mbps, with mobile download at ~25 Mbps (Speedtest 2024 data). Limited fiber in urban areas like Kabul; vast rural-urban gap due to poor infrastructure investment and security issues.

Avg: 12.5+ Mbps • Very limited to Kabul and major cities; negligible rural coverage

Airport Connectivity
3.2/10

79 airports total, 9 major for domestic/international flights (e.g., Kabul Intl as primary hub). Limited global routes due to sanctions/security; basic domestic coverage to Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif. No major carrier hubs.

Hubs: Kabul International Airport (KBL)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
N/A (no metro system)
Bus Trip
N/A (informal buses ~50-100 AFN/ride in Kabul)
Taxi
N/A (~100 AFN start + 20-50 AFN/km shared taxis)
High-speed Train
N/A (no trains or high-speed rail)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: Very limited; pilot deployments in Kabul only, no widespread rollout as of 2026
4G Coverage: Urban coverage in major cities; patchy rural access, ~60-70% population coverage

Networks from Afghan Telecom, MTN, Roshan offer basic reliability in cities but frequent outages in remote/mountainous areas due to infrastructure damage and power issues.

Driving License

IDP requiredConversion needed

Foreign licenses valid short-term with IDP (required for non-local). Long-term residents must convert to Afghan license via exam/approval. Drive on right side. Security checks common.