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Economy & Innovation

131st

of 176 countries placed

Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Afghanistan on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    GDP per Capita (PPP)

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    No reading

    GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)

    Higher is better

    World Bank Group publishes no 2025 figure for Afghanistan, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.

    World median
    17,265
    Best in Southern Asia
    24,401 Maldives
    Land neighbours
    China 25,067 · Iran 16,834 · Pakistan 5,617 · Tajikistan 5,062 · Turkmenistan 19,314 · Uzbekistan 11,623
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Afghanistan’s is from 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    21.54

    Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)

    Higher is better

    Afghanistan: 21.54. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.

    World median
    35.95
    Best in Southern Asia
    57.85 Nepal
    Land neighbours
    China 29.49 · Pakistan 2.113 · Tajikistan 14.7 · Turkmenistan 13.7 · Uzbekistan 12.26
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Economic Complexity Index

    Growth Lab at Harvard University

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0

    -0.818

    ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 108th of 145 by Growth Lab at Harvard University

    Afghanistan: -0.818. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.

    World median
    0.131
    Best in Southern Asia
    0.705 India
    Land neighbours
    China 1.271 · Iran -0.071 · Pakistan -0.233 · Tajikistan -1.399 · Turkmenistan -1.202 · Uzbekistan 0.22
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Account Ownership at a Financial Institution

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    No reading

    Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)

    Higher is better

    World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Afghanistan, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.

    World median
    72.83
    Best in Southern Asia
    91.06 Iran
    Land neighbours
    China 89.38 · Iran 91.06 · Pakistan 27.3 · Tajikistan 54.52 · Uzbekistan 59.66

03In context

Afghanistan beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.

Southern Asia
1st176thNot placed · 48 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on economy & innovation

Afghanistan and the countries it borders

Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
China=46th25,06729.491.27189.38
Iran=73rd16,834—-0.07191.06
Uzbekistan118th11,62312.260.2259.66
Turkmenistan130th19,31413.7-1.202—
Afghanistan131st—21.54-0.818—
Tajikistan154th5,06214.7-1.39954.52
Pakistancompare159th5,6172.113-0.23327.3

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Southern Asia

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.

Placed either side on economy & innovation

The countries immediately above and below Afghanistan in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Afghanistan is ahead of the world, and behind

21 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median2

Statistics on which Afghanistan does better than the middle country measured.

  • Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23121.34▲ Improved since 2012

    Afghanistan: 121.34 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.

    Position 44th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08111.43▼ Worsened since 2012

    Afghanistan: 111.43 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.

    Position 79th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

Behind the world median11

Statistics on which Afghanistan does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8143.76No earlier reading

    Afghanistan: 43.76 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.

    Position 85th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.48.504No earlier reading

    Afghanistan: 8.504 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3950.17No earlier reading

    Afghanistan: 50.17 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.

    Position 102nd of 169 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.0695.4▼ Worsened since 2012

    Afghanistan: 95.4 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.

    Position 157th of 194 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6725.75▼ Worsened since 2012

    Afghanistan: 25.75 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.

    Position 180th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-1.437▼ Worsened since 2015

    Afghanistan: -1.437 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.

    Position 195th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,8901,358▼ Worsened since 2012

    Afghanistan: 1,358 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.

    Position 159th of 166 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1915.72No real change since 2020

    Afghanistan: 15.72 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.

    Ranked 188th of 195 by Oxford Insights.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.108▼ Worsened since 2013

    Afghanistan: 0.108 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.

    Position 166th of 170 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.10.61No real change since 2013

    Afghanistan: 0.61 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.91.9No real change since 2014

    Afghanistan: 1.9 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.

    Ranked 139th of 139 by World Bank Group.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

No better end8

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1795.23Moved since 2014

    Afghanistan: 95.23 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.371No real change since 2015

    Afghanistan: 0.371 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2402,686Moved since 2022

    Afghanistan: 2,686 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.2396.75Moved since 2015

    Afghanistan: 96.75 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7080.429No real change since 2011

    Afghanistan: 0.429 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.

    Position 131st of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2021 dataset

  • Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95393.19Moved since 2014

    Afghanistan: 393.19 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Complexity Outlook IndexGrowth Lab at Harvard University · 2024 · world median -0.225-1.036Moved since 2014

    Afghanistan: -1.036 · world median -0.225 · Complexity Outlook Index (standardised; roughly −2.5 to +3). Growth Lab at Harvard University, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from -1.682 to 2.878.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.6023.319Moved since 2015

    Afghanistan: 3.319 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No current reading for Afghanistan

Account Ownership at a Financial Institution (last 2021), Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Adjusted Net Savings, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2020), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic, Creative Goods Exports (last 2019), Creative Services Exports (last 2018), Debt Service on External Debt (last 2020), Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports (last 2020), Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI) (last 2023), Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (last 2021), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, GDP Growth (last 2024), GDP per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), General Government Consumption (last 2024), Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2017), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Gross Savings (% of GDP) (last 2020), Household Consumption (last 2024), ICT Goods Exports (last 2019), ICT Services Exports (last 2020), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) (last 2024), Inflation, GDP Deflator (last 2024), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Interest Payments on External Debt (last 2023), Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Merchant Fleet by Country of Ownership, New Business Density (last 2018), Palma Ratio, Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products (last 2018), Tax Revenue (% of GDP), Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024) and World Energy Trilemma Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

05Country Index 2026

Economy & Innovation among Afghanistan’s 13 topics

Economy & Innovation is Afghanistan’s 3rd best-placed topic of 13. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Energy16th of 165
  2. Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 97th of 186
  3. Economy & Innovation131st of 176
  4. Food & Agriculture155th of 184
  5. Peace & Securityjoint 160th of 177
  6. Risk & Resilience178th of 193
  7. Governance & Institutions179th of 194
  8. Health & Wellbeing190th of 200
  9. Gender & Equality175th of 183
  10. Democracy & Civil Liberties190th of 198
  11. Development & Human Capital189th of 196
  12. Digital & Technology194th of 198
  13. Work & Labour182nd of 182

No standing on Education & Knowledge, Mobility & Trade, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.

06The top of the list

Who leads on economy & innovation

The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Afghanistan can most readily be measured against.

All 176 countries
  1. 1

    Austria

    Western Europe

    1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Japan

    Eastern Asia

    2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Germany

    Western Europe

    3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Asia

    Japan2nd4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Southern Asia

    Bhutan68th2/4 keys
  3. This page

    Afghanistan131st2/4 keys

Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

08Questions

Afghanistan on economy & innovation: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Afghanistan rank on economy & innovation?

Afghanistan is placed 131st of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit and Economic Complexity Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Afghanistan?

21.54 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.

What is the latest Economic Complexity Index figure for Afghanistan?

-0.818 in 2024 (eCI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)), according to Growth Lab at Harvard University. The world median in the same edition was 0.131.

How does Afghanistan compare with China on economy & innovation?

China is placed joint 46th of 176, and Afghanistan 131st. Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit: China 29.49, Afghanistan 21.54; Economic Complexity Index: China 1.271, Afghanistan -0.818.

How have Afghanistan’s economy & innovation figures changed?

GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 1,618 in 2000 to 1,964 in 2024; Economic Complexity Index fell from -0.453 in 2000 to -0.818 in 2024; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution rose from 9.005 in 2011 to 9.654 in 2021.

Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Afghanistan?

No current reading is published for Afghanistan on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Adjusted Net Savings, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic, Creative Goods Exports, Creative Services Exports, Debt Service on External Debt, Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Foreign Direct Investment Inflows, Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, GDP Growth, GDP per Capita (PPP), General Government Consumption, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Gross Savings (% of GDP), Household Consumption, ICT Goods Exports, ICT Services Exports, Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP), Inflation, GDP Deflator, Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Interest Payments on External Debt, Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Merchant Fleet by Country of Ownership, New Business Density, Palma Ratio, Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All Products, Tax Revenue (% of GDP), Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP) and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.

About economy & innovation, in full

How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 21 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Afghanistan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Afghanistan: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/afghanistan/economy

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