People and Society of Afghanistan

Afghanistan has one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the world, with an estimated population of approximately 41–43 million people as of the mid-2020s. The population is characterized by a high fertility rate, historically around 4.5 to 5 births per woman, though ongoing conflict, displacement, and deteriorating healthcare access continue to affect demographic trends. Life expectancy at birth hovers around 63–65 years, reflecting persistent challenges in healthcare infrastructure, nutrition, and security. The country is ethnically diverse, with Pashtuns forming the largest group at roughly 42 percent of the population. Tajiks account for approximately 27 percent, Hazaras around 9 percent, and Uzbeks roughly 9 percent, with smaller communities of Aimaks, Turkmens, Balochs, and others making up the remainder. This ethnic diversity is closely tied to linguistic diversity: Dari (a variety of Persian) and Pashto are both official languages and are spoken as first languages by the majority of the population. Afghanistan remains overwhelmingly rural, with only about 26–30 percent of the population living in urban areas. Kabul is by far the largest city, with a metropolitan population exceeding 4 million, followed by Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif. Decades of conflict have driven massive internal and external displacement, with millions of Afghans living as refugees or displaced persons in Pakistan, Iran, and elsewhere. The collapse of the internationally recognized government in August 2021 triggered a new wave of displacement and emigration. The population is predominantly Muslim, with Sunni Islam practiced by an estimated 80–90 percent of the population and Shia Islam followed by roughly 10–15 percent, primarily among the Hazara and some other communities. Literacy rates remain among the lowest in the world, particularly for women. Male literacy stands at roughly 55 percent, while female literacy has historically lagged significantly behind, though gains were made between 2000 and 2021. Since the Taliban's return to power, restrictions on girls' education beyond sixth grade have threatened to reverse those improvements substantially.

Nationality

noun: Afghan(s) adjective: Afghan

Ethnic Groups

current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups

Population

43,884,000

Population (Male / Female)

male: 20,301,066 female: 19,820,486

Population Distribution

populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated

Urban Population

urban population: 26.9% of total population rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

4.589 million KABUL (capital)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 39.6% (male 8,062,407/female 7,818,897) 15-64 years: 57.5% (male 11,702,734/female 11,372,249) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 535,925/female 629,340)

Median Age

total: 20 years male: 20 years female: 20.1 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female