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تصویر بندانگشتی

Afghan Population Growing Rapidly, 57% Increase in Two Decades

Afghanistan’s population has grown by 57 percent in the last two decades, according to statistics by the National Statistic and Information Authority, and there was a 13.8 million increase in the last 20 years.

According to NSIA, in 1399 (2020), Afghanistan’s population was around 32.9 million while in 1380 (2001), Afghanistan had only 19.9 million population.

Statistics by international organizations reveal that if Afghanistan’s population growth rates increase with the same percentage, in 2050, the country will have a population of 64 million.

During these years, Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital and the most congested city in the country, has become more populous than any other part of the country. Kabul has over five million while it had a population of 500,000 two decades ago.

“This further adds to the issues that we have today in the areas of underground waters, environment, drainage and weather,” NSIA spokesperson Roeena Shahabi said.

The Ministry of Public Health said it has launched a public awareness campaign to help families get acquaintance with family planning strategy as part of efforts to control the population.

Based on the program, the ministry will undertake the establishment of clinics in remote regions of Afghanistan.

“This is a serious problem for the Afghan health system. We continue our efforts to formulate a family planning program for our citizens,” the Public Health Ministry’s spokesman Dastagir Nazari said.

Recent reports say that almost 40 percent of Afghans are facing unemployment these days and the trend continues to be on the rise.

“This percentage will likely slump by 20 percent. It means there is a possibility that the unemployment rate gets down,” Labor and Social Affairs Minister Bashir Ahmad Tahyanj said.

“We do not have any credible figure about the scale and level of unemployment. There are figures about the number of educated people and the overall population,” said Mir Jalaluddin Husham, head of Afghan-Korea Institute.

Afghanistan is now the 37th most populous country in the world; but by the year 2050, the Afghan population is projected to be 31st in world rankings.

Afghan families are usually high in number. Mohammad Sadiq, head of a family in Kabul, said they spent many years in Iran and Pakistan, but their economic condition is not good.

“We don’t have access to electricity and water, to school and to training,” Sadiq said.

“Things are getting worse for us. I borrowed 1000 Afs from my neighbors to enroll my child at school,” said Najiba, a Kabul resident. 

Afghan Population Growing Rapidly, 57% Increase in Two Decades

Figures show that there was a 13.8 million increase in Afghanistan’s population in the past 20 years.

تصویر بندانگشتی

Afghanistan’s population has grown by 57 percent in the last two decades, according to statistics by the National Statistic and Information Authority, and there was a 13.8 million increase in the last 20 years.

According to NSIA, in 1399 (2020), Afghanistan’s population was around 32.9 million while in 1380 (2001), Afghanistan had only 19.9 million population.

Statistics by international organizations reveal that if Afghanistan’s population growth rates increase with the same percentage, in 2050, the country will have a population of 64 million.

During these years, Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital and the most congested city in the country, has become more populous than any other part of the country. Kabul has over five million while it had a population of 500,000 two decades ago.

“This further adds to the issues that we have today in the areas of underground waters, environment, drainage and weather,” NSIA spokesperson Roeena Shahabi said.

The Ministry of Public Health said it has launched a public awareness campaign to help families get acquaintance with family planning strategy as part of efforts to control the population.

Based on the program, the ministry will undertake the establishment of clinics in remote regions of Afghanistan.

“This is a serious problem for the Afghan health system. We continue our efforts to formulate a family planning program for our citizens,” the Public Health Ministry’s spokesman Dastagir Nazari said.

Recent reports say that almost 40 percent of Afghans are facing unemployment these days and the trend continues to be on the rise.

“This percentage will likely slump by 20 percent. It means there is a possibility that the unemployment rate gets down,” Labor and Social Affairs Minister Bashir Ahmad Tahyanj said.

“We do not have any credible figure about the scale and level of unemployment. There are figures about the number of educated people and the overall population,” said Mir Jalaluddin Husham, head of Afghan-Korea Institute.

Afghanistan is now the 37th most populous country in the world; but by the year 2050, the Afghan population is projected to be 31st in world rankings.

Afghan families are usually high in number. Mohammad Sadiq, head of a family in Kabul, said they spent many years in Iran and Pakistan, but their economic condition is not good.

“We don’t have access to electricity and water, to school and to training,” Sadiq said.

“Things are getting worse for us. I borrowed 1000 Afs from my neighbors to enroll my child at school,” said Najiba, a Kabul resident. 

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