Afghanistan (Islamic State of Afghanistan)

https://www.humantruth.info/afghanistan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Afghanistan Islamic State of Afghanistan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	196th 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

#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	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
193	Sudan	134.5
194	Equatorial Guinea	136.0
195	Angola	141.1
196	Afghanistan	141.4
197	Eritrea	146.1
198	S. Sudan	151.7
199	Western Sahara	151.9
200	Somalia	160.0
	Asia Avg	92.4
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
7=	Eritrea	04.9
7=	Gambia	04.9
9=	Angola	05.0
9=	Afghanistan	05.0
9=	Zimbabwe	05.0
12=	Nigeria	05.1
12=	Qatar	05.1
14=	Somalia	05.4
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
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.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
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)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
193	Sudan	153.0
194	Brunei	153.6
195	N. Korea	154.9
196	Afghanistan	155.9
197	Saudi Arabia	159.4
198	Eritrea	161.7
	Asia Avg	109.13
	World Avg	89.80
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 in terms of its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₀. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁, combatting modern slavery₂₂, opposing gender inequality₂₃ (amongst the worst in Asia), supporting press freedom₂₄, its average Freedom in the World rating, freethought₂₅ (amongst the worst in Asia) and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₆. 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 staff₂₇. 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 oppression₂₈.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Afghanistan

5. Afghanistan's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
42	India	111.6
43	Nepal	115.8
44	Syria	120.7
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	122.1
46	Pakistan	129.7
47	Iraq	130.4
48	Laos	133.1
49	Yemen	138.8
50	Afghanistan	149.5
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
199	Nigeria	146.7
200	Guinea	147.6
201	Mozambique	148.0
202	Afghanistan	149.5
203	Central African Rep.	151.5
204	Equatorial Guinea	153.5
205	S. Sudan	156.7
206	Somalia	161.3
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 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, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

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

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #afghanistan #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #niger #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #south_sudan #suicide

Afghanistan is a pretty unhealthy country. Afghanistan comes in the best 20 in terms of its alcohol consumption rate₃₁ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₂. It does better than average for its suicide rate₃₃. When it comes to most other metrics, Afghanistan does not do well. It does worse than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₄, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₅ (one of the highest in Asia), its adolescent birth rate₃₆ (the highest in Asia), its average life expectancy₁₁ (the worst in Asia) and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₈ (one of the worst in Asia), its fertility rate₁₅ (the highest in Asia) and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₉. The number 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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₁
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
9=	Pakistan	0.3
11=	Kiribati	0.4
11=	Iraq	0.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₄
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. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₃
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
29	Panama	3.33
30	Iraq	3.40
31	Sudan	3.54
32	Afghanistan	3.57
33	Bahamas	3.61
34	Morocco	3.63
35	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	3.66
36	Honduras	4.07
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
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 better₃₂
Pos.		1976 %₃₂
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 better₄₀
Pos.		2022 %₄₀
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#afghanistan #children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₆
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₉
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₃₉
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
202	Guinea	65.0
203	Haiti	64.5
204	Angola	64.2
205	Afghanistan	62.7
206	Venezuela	60.3
207	Azerbaijan	58.0
208	Yemen	57.0
209	Central African Rep.	42.6
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₈
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₈
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.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
169	Madagascar	66.96
170	Ethiopia	67.34
171	Burundi	71.23
172	Afghanistan	74.59
173	Haiti	76.58
174	Pakistan	76.85
175	Togo	77.13
176	Lesotho	77.29
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

From the 1990s to the 2000s, despite turmoil, Afghanistan reduced its infant mortality rate by more than any other country on average between those decades₃₇.

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 #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
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	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₁
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"₄₂. 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 rank is computed using 21 data sets. Afghanistan comes in the best 20 for reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₃ (amongst the lowest in Asia) and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₄ (one of the best in Asia). It does better than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₅. Afghanistan does not succeed in everything, however. Afghanistan does worse than average when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its environmental performance₄₇ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₅
Pos.		Total₄₅
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 better₄₇
Pos.		2018₄₇
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 better₄₄
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₄
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment 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. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2011 %₄₆
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 better₄₃
Pos.		2021 kg₄₃
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. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Afghanistan's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₈
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
43	Nepal	124.7
44	Bangladesh	127.5
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	139.8
46	Bhutan	142.5
47	Cambodia	144.2
48	Laos	146.1
49	Yemen	158.0
50	Afghanistan	162.4
51	Myanmar	164.3
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₈
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
189	Papua New Guinea	157.6
190	Yemen	158.0
191	Sierra Leone	159.4
192	Afghanistan	162.4
193	Myanmar	164.3
194	Liberia	165.1
195	Somalia	174.5
196	Eritrea	177.0
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

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, Iceland and Denmark₄₉. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₉. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₀.

“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)₅₁

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, 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 Europe₄₉, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₉.

For more, see:

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

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
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.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₂
Pos.		2025 %₅₂
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
176=	Belize	85
176=	Somalia	85
176=	Bahamas	85
176=	Afghanistan	85
176=	Yemen	85
176=	Laos	85
182	S. Sudan	80
183=	Myanmar	50
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Afghanistan officially adopted metric in 1923₅₃. Progression:

1960 (40%): Traditional units dominant; metric limited to administration/science.
1970 (55%): Standardization grows; dual use common.
1980 (70%): Metric in official sectors; everyday legacy persists.
2000 (80%): Metric dominant in formal domains.
2025 (85%): High metric usage; informal legacy remains.

Religiosity Lower is better₅₄
Pos.		2018 %₅₄
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 better₅₅
Pos.		2006₅₅
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.

7.2. Education Datasets

#afghanistan #education

In 1990, education in Afghanistan was woefully short - the average person could expect just 2.5 years, a quarter of the global average.₅₆

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2018₅₇
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	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 better₅₈
Pos.		2021 Years₅₈
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#it_security #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
176	Sierra Leone	19%
177	Eritrea	18%
178	Mozambique	17%
179	Afghanistan	17%
180	Malawi	17%
181	Ethiopia	16%
182	Madagascar	16%
183	Yemen	14%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IT Security Lower is better₅₉
Pos.		2013₅₉
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

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)₆₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₀
1	Singapore	18.1
2	Hong Kong	36.9
3	Japan	38.5
	...
43	Turkmenistan	111.5
44	Pakistan	111.8
45	Iraq	115.2
46	Cambodia	119.5
47	Myanmar	119.8
48	Syria	120.9
49	Yemen	132.0
50	Afghanistan	149.0
51	N. Korea	159.5
	Asia Avg	84.83
q=51.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₆₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₀
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
180	Chad	135.4
181	Central African Rep.	138.4
182	Congo, DR	140.3
183	S. Sudan	148.3
184	Afghanistan	149.0
185	Eritrea	153.2
186	N. Korea	159.5
187	Somalia	163.7
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, 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).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#afghanistan #charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #north_korea #politics #somalia

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2022 %₆₁
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2022 Points₆₂
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
152=	Guatemala	24.0
152=	Nigeria	24.0
152=	Cambodia	24.0
152=	Afghanistan	24.0
152=	Tajikistan	24.0
157=	Zimbabwe	23.0
157=	Myanmar	23.0
157=	Azerbaijan	23.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

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 better₆₃
Pos.		2024 Score₆₃
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. Also scored for 2010s.

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 better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
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.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₆₄
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
188	Palestine	38.3
189	Nepal	38.0
190	Somalia	34.2
191	Yemen	33.3
192	Pakistan	32.0
193	Iraq	29.0
194	Syria	28.8
195	Afghanistan	26.3
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
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.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#afghanistan #extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

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 2018₆₅. 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 better₆₆
Pos.		2023 Score₆₆
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
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 better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
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 better₆₇
Pos.		2019 Score₆₇
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.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2019₆₈
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 better₆₉
Pos.		2018 Severity₆₉
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 #buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_afghanistan #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)₅₄
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₄
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95=	Morocco	91
95=	Guinea-Bissau	91
95=	Philippines	91
95=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103=	Mali	94
103=	Pakistan	94
105=	Ethiopia	98
105=	Senegal	98
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₀:

	2010	2020
Muslim	99.7%	99.9%
Other	0.121%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Christian	0.1%	<0.1%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%₇₁.

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.₂₈

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 it₇₂.

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)₇₃. The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₇₄, 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)₇₅

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