The Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached $16 billion in the solar year 1403 (corresponding to 2024–2025 Gregorian calendar).
Kabul 24: According to ministry officials, this figure, along with an increase in per capita income surpassing $446, reflects a relative improvement in the country’s economic activities despite ongoing international challenges.Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs, stated:
“In solar year 1403, Afghanistan’s GDP stood at $16 billion, with per capita income at approximately $446.56. Given the economic growth observed in the current year 1404, we expect both GDP and per capita income to rise further.”The ministry highlighted that the main drivers of this progress include:Implementation of development programs
Strong support for the private sector
Expansion of domestic and regional investment
Strengthening of local production
Officials emphasized that these achievements have been realized through reliance on internal capacities, increased regional trade (especially with neighboring countries such as Iran, Pakistan, China, and Central Asian states), control of inflation, and revival of key sectors like agriculture, small-scale industry, and services — even in the face of frozen foreign assets and reduced international aid.
While international organizations such as the World Bank and IMF have estimated Afghanistan’s nominal GDP in recent years at around $17–18 billion (for 2023–2024), with modest annual growth of 2.5–4.3%, the ministry’s figures appear broadly consistent when considering different calculation methods (nominal vs.
real, PPP adjustments) and population estimates (roughly 40–42 million people).The announcement comes at a time when Afghanistan continues to face significant challenges, including high unemployment, limited access to global banking, and the need for large-scale infrastructure investment.
Nevertheless, the Ministry of Economy remains optimistic that continued policies of self-reliance, regional economic integration, and private-sector growth will accelerate positive trends in the coming years.
