Afghanistan Unemployment Rate
Share of the labour force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Unemployment Rate in Afghanistan decreased to 13.35 percent in 2025 from 13.69 percent in 2024.
Afghanistan Unemployment Rate — History
Drag or pinch to zoom.
Afghanistan Unemployment Rate — analysis in simple words
Latest reading
Unemployment Rate in Afghanistan decreased to 13.35 percent in 2025 from 13.69 percent in 2024.
It has fallen in each of the last three years.
Recent trend
A year earlier (2024) it was 13.7%, so the latest figure is 0.3 percentage points lower.
Over the past five years the average was 13.4%, with a range from 12.0% to 14.1%. The latest value is below that five-year average.
Historical context
This data series starts in 1991 and has 35 annual observations. The latest reading is higher than 89% of all of them.
The highest value on record is 14.1% (2022) and the lowest is 7.8% (2004). The long-run average is 9.2%.
Compared with other countries
Among 192 economies with recent data, Afghanistan ranks 22nd from the top. The median across all these economies is 5.1%, so Afghanistan is above the typical country.
Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (23 economies with data) it ranks 9th; the regional median is 9.0%.
Statistics
- Latest
- 13.4%2025
- Previous
- 13.7%
- 5-year average
- 13.4%
- Long-run average
- 9.2%since 1991
- All-time high
- 14.1%2022
- All-time low
- 7.8%2004
- Observations
- 35Annual
Recent Data
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13.4% | ▼ −0.3 pp |
| 2024 | 13.7% | ▼ −0.3 pp |
| 2023 | 14.0% | ▼ −0.1 pp |
| 2022 | 14.1% | ▲ +2.1 pp |
| 2021 | 12.0% | ▲ +0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 11.7% | ▲ +0.5 pp |
| 2019 | 11.2% | ▼ −0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 11.2% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 11.2% | ▲ +1.1 pp |
| 2016 | 10.1% | ▲ +1.1 pp |
| 2015 | 9.0% | ▲ +1.1 pp |
| 2014 | 7.9% | ▼ −0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 7.8% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 7.8% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 7.8% | ▼ −0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 7.8% | ▼ −0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 7.8% | ▼ −0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 7.8% | ▼ −0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 7.9% | ▼ −0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 8.0% | ▲ +0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 7.9% | ▲ +0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 7.9% | ▼ −0.0 pp |
| 1996 | 7.9% |
Unemployment Rate — Afghanistan vs Peers
Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). Afghanistan highlighted.
More Afghanistan indicators
Understanding Unemployment Rate — a simple guide
What it measures
The share of the labour force that is without work but available for and actively seeking employment.
How it is calculated
Unemployment rate = number of unemployed people ÷ labour force × 100. The labour force includes everyone who is working or actively looking for work. People who are not looking for work (students, retirees) are not counted.
If 50 lakh people are looking for work out of a labour force of 10 crore, the unemployment rate is 5%.
A high or rising rate means more people cannot find jobs, which reduces household income and spending.
A low rate means most people who want a job have one. Very low unemployment can push wages and inflation higher.
Why it matters for the economy and markets
Unemployment reflects the health of the labour market, which drives household income and consumer spending. Central banks with employment mandates (such as the US Federal Reserve) watch it closely.
How to read it
Definitions differ by country; World Bank and IMF figures use harmonised ILO-based estimates for comparability. A low rate combined with rising wages can indicate a tight labour market.
What to look at alongside it
Labour force participation, wage growth, GDP growth and youth unemployment.
Key terms
- Labour force
- People who are employed plus those actively seeking work.
- ILO definition
- The International Labour Organization standard used to make figures comparable across countries.
- Participation rate
- Share of the working-age population in the labour force.
Data source
World Bank — World Development Indicators (series SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), annual data from 1991 to 2025. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.
How to use the chart
Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current unemployment rate of Afghanistan?
What is the highest and lowest unemployment rate of Afghanistan?
What does unemployment rate measure?
Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.