Afghanistan (Islamic State of Afghanistan)

Afghanistan Islamic State of Afghanistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	191st best
Capital	Kabul
Land Area	652 230km21
Location	Asia
Population	37.2m2
Life Expectancy	61.98yrs (2017)3
GNI	$1 824 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	AF, AFG, 45
Internet Domain	.af6
Currency	Afghani (AFN)7
Telephone	+938

1. Overview
2. Afghanistan National and Social Development
3. Afghanistan's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Afghanistan's Health
6. Afghanistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Afghanistan's Modernity and Learning
8. Afghanistan's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#afghanistan #buddhism

“Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December. KARZAI was re-elected in August 2009 for a second term. Despite gains toward building a stable central government, a resurgent Taliban and continuing provincial instability - particularly in the south and the east - remain serious challenges for the Afghan Government.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A battered, but beautiful and proud country, Afghanistan´s road to recovery remains uncertain, yet the resilience of its people and beauty of its landscapes endures. [...] Throughout its history, Afghanistan has been a country united against invaders but divided against itself. ... Its allure, spread by Great Game romantics and travel literature alike, has only been heightened by its inaccessibility over the last 30 years. ... Old Silk Road oases recall a rich history of Buddhist and Islamic empires, while the mightily rugged Hindu Kush Mountains that bisect the country are as beautiful as Afghan hospitality is famously warm. [...] For hardy travellers with a taste for adventures, these charms still beckon.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Afghanistan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
178	Liberia	0.481
179	Congo, DR	0.479
180	Afghanistan	0.478
181	Sierra Leone	0.477
182	Guinea	0.465
183	Yemen	0.455
184	Burkina Faso	0.449
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
176	Mali	$2 133
177	Burkina Faso	$2 118
178	Guinea-Bissau	$1 908
179	Afghanistan	$1 824
180	Eritrea	$1 729
181	Sierra Leone	$1 622
182	Madagascar	$1 484
183	Malawi	$1 466
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.7
2	Norway	33.6
3	Switzerland	35.2
	...
188	Marshall Islands	126.4
189	Central African Rep.	126.4
190	Nauru	126.7
191	Afghanistan	131.0
192	Sudan	131.3
193	Equatorial Guinea	132.5
194	Angola	132.7
195	Eritrea	138.3
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Afghanistan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Afghanistan's population is predicted to rise to 53.27 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 4.52. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
35	Sudan	41.8m
36	Iraq	38.4m
37	Poland	37.9m
38	Afghanistan	37.2m
39	Canada	37.1m
40	Morocco	36.0m
41	Saudi Arabia	33.7m
42	Uzbekistan	32.5m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
171	Niger	61.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
191	Cameroon	4.38
192	Sudan	4.38
193	Uganda	4.47
194	Afghanistan	4.52
195	Mozambique	4.56
196	Gambia	4.59
197	Tanzania	4.66
198	Burkina Faso	4.67
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
7	Eritrea	04.9
8=	Gambia	04.9
9	Angola	05.0
10=	Afghanistan	05.0
10=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12	Nigeria	05.1
13=	Qatar	05.1
14	Somalia	05.4
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
175	Solomon Islands	0.4%
176	Papua New Guinea	0.4%
177	India	0.4%
178	Afghanistan	0.4%
179	Haiti	0.4%
180	Brazil	0.4%
181	Eritrea	0.3%
182	Somalia	0.3%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
77	Kuwait	8.5%
78	Ecuador	8.3%
79	Poland	8.3%
80	Afghanistan	8.1%
81	Paraguay	7.9%
82	Russia	7.9%
83	Mali	7.6%
84	UK	7.5%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#afghanistan_human_rights #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
194	Equatorial Guinea	146.0
195	Sudan	150.2
196	Eritrea	153.3
197	Afghanistan	155.8
198	N. Korea	162.3
199	Somalia	165.8
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Afghanistan is amongst the very worst places in the world at ensuring any human rights and freedoms, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Afghanistan does worse than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights₁₉ and in LGBT equality₂₀. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁, opposing gender inequality₂₂ (one of the worst in Asia), eliminating modern slavery₂₃ (amongst the highest in Asia), supporting press freedom₂₄, its average Freedom in the World rating and in freethought₂₅ (amongst the worst in Asia). Kandahar province in particular is noteworthy for the use of truly horrible methods of torture and violence by police officials, and over half of the (many) cases of violence against journalists involve government officials and security staff₂₆. Since the withdrawal of coalition troops led by the US in 2021, the Taliban re-instated Sharia Law, any concept of Human Rights has been abandoned; with women and religious minorities being notable victims of a modern wave of oppression₂₇.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Afghanistan

5. Afghanistan's Health

#afghanistan #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #niger #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #south_sudan #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Japan	41.9
2	Hong Kong	47.0
3	Singapore	49.2
	...
42	Tajikistan	111.7
43	Pakistan	116.5
44	Laos	118.9
45	Jordan	119.4
46	Palestine	124.3
47	Syria	128.3
48	Yemen	128.5
49	Iraq	135.8
50	Afghanistan	139.9
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
202	Kiribati	138.7
203	Samoa	138.9
204	Mozambique	139.6
205	Afghanistan	139.9
206	Equatorial Guinea	144.8
207	Nauru	147.4
208	Somalia	149.4
209	Angola	152.2
	World Avg	96.49
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, The Cook Islands and S. Sudan₂₉.

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Melanesia and Australasia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Afghanistan is a pretty unhealthy country. Afghanistan comes in the best 20 in terms of its alcohol consumption rate₃₀ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₁. But unfortunately Afghanistan gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in its smoking rate₃₂, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₃ (amongst the worst in Asia), its adolescent birth rate₃₄ (the highest in Asia) and in its average life expectancy₁₁ (the lowest in Asia). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for its immunizations take-up₃₅ (one of the lowest in Asia) and in its fertility rate₁₄ (the worst in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Afghanistan in 1990 was 46yrs, much lower than the global average of 64.6. But it improved greatly, by +17.6yrs, in the 30 years from then, well over double the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. Afghanistan had the 3rd-highest average fertility rate in the world in the 1990s (after South Sudan and Niger). Its peak fertility rate was 7.72 in 1993.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
164	S. Africa	62.3
165	Djibouti	62.3
166	Gambia	62.1
167	Afghanistan	62.0
168	Burundi	61.7
169	Angola	61.6
170	Togo	61.6
171	Niger	61.6
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better30
Pos.		2016 Per Capita30
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7=	Afghanistan	0.2
7=	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9	Syria	0.3
10=	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12=	Iraq	0.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
191	Cameroon	4.38
192	Sudan	4.38
193	Uganda	4.47
194	Afghanistan	4.52
195	Mozambique	4.56
196	Gambia	4.59
197	Tanzania	4.66
198	Burkina Faso	4.67
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better32
Pos.		Total %32
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
103	Samoa	22.6%
104	Vietnam	22.6%
105	Sweden	22.7%
106	Afghanistan	22.7%
107	Luxembourg	23.0%
108	China	23.4%
109	Poland	23.6%
110	Argentina	23.8%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
128	Gabon	128
129	Ivory Coast	129
130	Mongolia	130
131	Afghanistan	131
132	Suriname	132
133	Grenada	133
134	Montenegro	134
135	Iraq	135
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better31
Pos.		1976 %31
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
4	India	5.5
5	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	5.7
6	Cambodia	5.9
7	Laos	6.2
8=	Bhutan	6.3
8=	Afghanistan	6.3
10	Indonesia	6.6
11	Burkina Faso	6.8
12	Maldives	7.2
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 %36
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
67	Equatorial Guinea	17.2%
68	Botswana	17.5%
69	Maldives	17.6%
70	Afghanistan	17.6%
71	Spain	19.2%
72	Lesotho	19.3%
73	Kazakhstan	19.3%
74	Mauritius	19.5%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better34
Pos.		2022 Per 100034
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
162	Togo	77.0
163	Sao Tome & Principe	77.4
164	Sudan	77.6
165	Afghanistan	79.7
166	Venezuela	82.0
167	Nicaragua	84.0
168	Guinea-Bissau	85.8
169	Lesotho	89.1
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
178	Iraq	70.7
179	Afghanistan	70.6
180	Niger	69.7
181	Samoa	68.1
182	Yemen	67.4
183	Papua New Guinea	66.3
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Afghanistan was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19); in the 2010s it made great improvements, but it was still amongst 27 countries that still fell into the same grouping.

6. Afghanistan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
15	Pakistan	72.0
16	Turkey	75.0
17	China	75.2
18	Afghanistan	75.7
19	Syria	77.4
20	Iran	79.0
21	UAE	81.8
22	Singapore	83.3
23	Georgia	83.6
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
73	China	75.2
74	Belgium	75.3
75	Cape Verde	75.6
76	Afghanistan	75.7
77	New Zealand	75.8
78	Bulgaria	75.8
79	Malawi	76.0
80	Benin	76.5
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₈. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Afghanistan ranks 76th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed using 21 data sets. Afghanistan comes in the best 20 in reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₉ (one of the best in Asia) and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₀ (amongst the best in Asia). It does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁. But, things still need to improve in Afghanistan. Afghanistan does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₂. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of its environmental performance₄₃ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better41
Pos.		Total41
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
95=	Turkmenistan	0.0%
95=	Bahamas	0.0%
95=	San Marino	0.0%
95=	Afghanistan	0.0%
95=	Vatican City	0.0%
95=	Vanuatu	0.0%
95=	Tuvalu	0.0%
95=	Nauru	0.0%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better43
Pos.		201843
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
165	Eritrea	39.3
166	Mauritania	39.2
167	Benin	38.2
168	Afghanistan	37.7
169	Pakistan	37.5
170	Angola	37.4
171	Central African Rep.	36.4
172	Niger	35.7
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 Avg40
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
9	Burundi	0.41
10	Central African Rep.	0.41
11	Ethiopia	0.42
12	Afghanistan	0.43
13	Guinea-Bissau	0.45
14	Niger	0.48
15	Congo, DR	0.49
16	Nigeria	0.49
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
179	Marshall Islands	42%
180	Serbia	41%
181	Grenada	41%
182	Afghanistan	41%
183	Tuvalu	40%
184	Sao Tome & Principe	40%
185	Brunei	39%
186	Nauru	39%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better42
Pos.		2011 %42
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
118	Russia	23.5%
119	Algeria	23.5%
120	Pakistan	23.2%
121	Liberia	23.1%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better39
Pos.		2021 kg39
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
8	Rwanda	07.6
9	Mali	07.8
10	Niger	08.1
11	Afghanistan	08.7
12	Uganda	09.4
13	Togo	09.4
14	Kenya	10.3
15	Mozambique	10.4
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Afghanistan's Modernity and Learning

#afghanistan #education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
41	Bhutan	123.9
42	Laos	124.4
43	Iraq	124.6
44	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	125.5
45	Syria	126.9
46	Myanmar (Burma)	137.3
47	Cambodia	140.0
48	Yemen	141.2
49	Afghanistan	147.7
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)44
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank44
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
173	Madagascar	146.6
174=	Comoros	147.0
174=	Mauritania	147.0
176	Afghanistan	147.7
177	Djibouti	148.0
178	Burundi	148.5
179	Solomon Islands	154.5
180=	Haiti	155.6
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₅. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₅. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₆.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₇

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₅, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₅.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

In 1990, education in Afghanistan was woefully short - the average person could expect just 2.5 years, a quarter of the global average.₄₈

Secondary Education Higher is better49
Pos.		201849
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
147	Benin	26.5%
148	Sierra Leone	26.3%
149	Ivory Coast	26.1%
150	Afghanistan	26.1%
151	Myanmar (Burma)	25.8%
152	Central African Rep.	22.1%
153	Malawi	21.8%
154	Cambodia	21.3%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better50
Pos.		2021 Years50
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
160	Liberia	10.4
161	Papua New Guinea	10.4
162	Solomon Islands	10.3
163	Afghanistan	10.3
164	Marshall Islands	10.2
165	Mozambique	10.2
166	Uganda	10.1
167	Laos	10.1
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
156	Tanzania	156
157	Equatorial Guinea	157
158	Guyana	158
159	Afghanistan	159
160	Indonesia	160
161	Bolivia	161
162	Iraq	162
163	Angola	163
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better51
Pos.		2018 %51
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
96=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better52
Pos.		200652
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
76=	Venezuela	84
76=	Colombia	84
76=	Jordan	84
76=	Afghanistan	84
76=	UAE	84
76=	Iran	84
76=	Pakistan	84
76=	Panama	84
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better53
Pos.		201653
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
180	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8%
181=	Togo	7%
181=	Comoros	7%
183	Afghanistan	7%
184	Malawi	7%
185	Mozambique	6%
186	Benin	6%
187	Tanzania	5%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better54
Pos.		201354
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
63	Uganda	1.44
64	Ukraine	1.44
65	Nepal	1.45
66	Afghanistan	1.45
67	Germany	1.46
68	Netherlands	1.47
69	Rwanda	1.50
70	Tanzania	1.50
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

8. Afghanistan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#afghanistan #capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #north_korea #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #somalia #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)55
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank55
1	Singapore	20.2
2	Taiwan	37.2
3	Hong Kong	40.5
	...
41	Russia	103.2
42=	Iran	103.4
43	Lebanon	105.4
44	Myanmar (Burma)	105.7
45	Cambodia	110.5
46	Iraq	116.6
47	Syria	124.9
48	Yemen	130.3
49	Afghanistan	140.3
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=49.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)55
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank55
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
173	Yemen	130.3
174	Comoros	130.7
175	Chad	132.1
176	Congo, DR	133.7
177	Central African Rep.	137.1
178	S. Sudan	137.8
179	Afghanistan	140.3
180	Somalia	152.9
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

World Giving Index Higher is better56
Pos.		2022 %56
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
118	Portugal	26.0
119	Lebanon	24.0
120	Egypt	23.0
121	S. Korea	22.0
122=	Afghanistan	21.0
122=	Belgium	21.0
124	Japan	20.0
125	Cambodia	19.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better57
Pos.		2022 Points57
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
152	Guatemala	24.0
153=	Nigeria	24.0
153=	Cambodia	24.0
153=	Afghanistan	24.0
153=	Tajikistan	24.0
157	Zimbabwe	23.0
158=	Myanmar (Burma)	23.0
158=	Azerbaijan	23.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Afghanistan has a poor long-term record on corruption. It declined in particular in the 2000s, becoming the 2nd-worst country in the world in terms of perceived corruption in 2009, and throughout the 2010s scored 3rd-worst on average, after Somalia and North Korea.

Happiness Higher is better58
Pos.		2024 Score58
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
140	Yemen	3.6
141	Congo, DR	3.5
142	Botswana	3.4
143	Zimbabwe	3.4
144	Malawi	3.3
145	Lebanon	3.2
146	Sierra Leone	3.0
147	Afghanistan	1.4
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

After declining in almost every year in the 2010s, in 2019 Afghanistan became unhappiest country in the world, the only non-African country to attain that status in the 2010s. It descended even deeper into misery in the 2020s; in 2024, it attained the worst score ever seen by the World Happiness Index (1.364).

Creativity & Culture Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
112	Swaziland	112
113	Argentina	113
114	Qatar	114
115	Afghanistan	115
116	Ivory Coast	116
117	Panama	117
118	Colombia	118
119	Brazil	119
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
137	Yemen	137
138	Cambodia	138
139	Antigua & Barbuda	139
140	Afghanistan	140
141	Belize	141
142	Slovakia	142
143	Tanzania	143
144	St Vincent & Grenadines	144
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Afghanistan's situation is worsening; since 2008 terrorism-related deaths have increased by over six times, taking it to the bottom of the Global Terrorism Index in 2018₅₉. Over the past few decades, it has transformed from an accessible and fascinating place into a battered and troubled country₁₀ at odds with the international community.

Global Peace Index Lower is better60
Pos.		2023 Score60
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
159	Congo, DR	3.21
160	S. Sudan	3.22
161	Syria	3.29
162	Yemen	3.35
163	Afghanistan	3.45
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
149	Bosnia & Herzegovina	149
150	Seychelles	150
151	Sierra Leone	151
152	Afghanistan	152
153	Lebanon	153
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
132	Azerbaijan	132
133	Togo	133
134	St Vincent & Grenadines	134
135	Afghanistan	135
136	Trinidad & Tobago	136
137	Nigeria	137
138	Cambodia	138
139	Mali	139
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better61
Pos.		2019 Score61
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
146	Pakistan	7.89
147	Syria	8.01
148	Nigeria	8.60
149	Iraq	9.24
150	Afghanistan	9.60
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better62
Pos.		201962
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
154	Zambia	26.50
155	Uganda	27.20
156	Sudan	27.40
157	Afghanistan	28.30
158=	Gambia	28.50
158=	Burundi	28.50
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better63
Pos.		2018 Severity63
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
76	Mauritania	.261
77	Zambia	.261
78	Uganda	.269
79	Afghanistan	.272
80	Tanzania	.273
81	Sudan	.279
82	Angola	.282
83	Gambia	.286
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#afghanistan #atheism #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_afghanistan #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)51
Pos.		Lower is better %51
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95	Morocco	91
96=	Guinea-Bissau	91
96=	Philippines	91
96=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103	Mali	94
104=	Pakistan	94
105	Ethiopia	98
106=	Senegal	98
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)64
Pos.		Higher is better %64
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
113=	Gambia	0
113=	Kenya	0
113=	Ethiopia	0
113=	Afghanistan	0
113=	Egypt	0
113=	Liberia	0
113=	Libya	0
113=	Ivory Coast	0
113=	Pakistan	0
113=	Niger	0
113=	Saudi Arabia	0
113=	Rwanda	0
113=	Cameroon	0
113=	Philippines	0
113=	Kuwait	0
113=	Madagascar	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₆₅:

Christian	0.1%
Muslim	99%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%₆₆.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: There has been no freedom of religious beliefs since the Taliban took comprehensive control in 1996, excepting some areas nominally under the control of coalition forces during the Afghan war 2001-2014. Almost anyone who is not a Muslim has either fled, or now hides their identity, else they face violent persecution.₂₇

Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh (2011) argues that the problems in Afghanistan cannot be fixed by Westerners attempting to create top-down democratic institutions, nor by those proposing the addition of liberal values at a political or grassroots level; the religious-based culture simply won't allow it₆₇.

When it comes to religious freedom and persecution, sociologists Grim & Finke place Afghanistan into the worst category, along with just 13 other countries. In this category, severe restrictions on religious freedom and freedom of belief stem simultaneously from top-down pressure from government and institutionalized religion, and from bottom-up grassroots movements that often go even further than the government in harrassing those who do not believe the right things (2011)₆₈. The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₆₉, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Afghanistan states:

“The constitution states that Islam is the "religion of the state" and that "no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam." The constitution and other laws and policies restrict freedom of religion or belief and, in practice, the government enforces these restrictions. Afghanistan's constitutional reliance on Sharia mandates the government to punish alleged blasphemers and apostates with sentences as serious as death by hanging. Non-Muslim minority groups, which together constitute approximately 1 percent of the population, are frequent targets of discrimination and persecution. The constitution requires that the president and vice president be Muslim.

Cases of Discrimination

In January 2008, the Afghan Senate supported the death penalty for the 23-year old journalist Sayed Pervez Kambaksh for blasphemy. He downloaded and distributed an article (written by Arash "The Atheist" Bikhoda) that critically discussed certain Qur'an verses about women. In October 2008, Kambaksh's sentence was commuted to 20 years imprisonment. In August 2009, Kambaksh left Afghanistan after a grant of amnesty by President Hamid Karzai.

”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₇₀

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?
• Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Afghanistan: 4.2. Freedom of Thought