Country Profile: Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Total Population

38,739,889

Country Flag

Major Languages

Dari

Official Language
Pashto

Official Language

National Language
Many Regional Languages

Major Religion

Islam

Capital City

Kabul

Population 4,221,532

Major Cities

Kandahar

Population 614,118
Herat

Population 605,575

The breakdown of Afghanistan’s Stratus Index Ranking for each group, category, and subcategory:

Stratus Index

1 / 177

The lower the number, the greater the need

Spiritual

03 / 177

Developmental

12 / 177

- Childbirth
  Childbirth
  
  Infant and maternal mortality rates
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  15
- Disease
  Disease
  
  Prevalence of chronic, communicable, and infectious diseases and disease mortality
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  39
- Healthcare
  Healthcare
  
  Availability and quality of healthcare systems
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  28
- Nutrition (Food)
  Nutrition (Food)
  
  Food quality and malnutrition
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  14
- Sanitation (Water)
  Sanitation (Water)
  
  Water quality, sanitation services, and sanitation-related mortality
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  82
- Poverty
  Poverty
  
  Multidimensional poverty, poverty rates, and affordability
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  21
- Employment
  Employment
  
  Unemployment and opportunity for work
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  4
- Opportunity
  Opportunity
  
  Economic inequality and business freedom
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  36
- National Economy
  National Economy
  
  National levels of prosperity and development
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  9
- Attendance
  Attendance
  
  Expected years of schooling and completion rates
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  31
- Women's Education
  Women's Education
  
  Educational attendance and opportunity for women
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  8
- Higher Education
  Higher Education
  
  University opportunity, quality, and completion rates
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  64
- Education Quality
  Education Quality
  
  Access to quality education and trained educators
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  31
- Literacy
  Literacy
  
  Male and female literacy rates
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  8

Natural

02 / 177

- Globalization
  Globalization
  
  Opportunities for global trade, information, and connectedness
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  4
- Infrastructure
  Infrastructure
  
  Road, rail, and air infrastructure and quality
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  168
- Public Services
  Public Services
  
  Availability and quality of public services (i.e. electricity, trash collection, transportation, etc.)
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  30
- Technology
  Technology
  
  Access to technology and information infrastructure
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  43
- Climate Change
  Climate Change
  
  Performance on climate change issues
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  8
- Climate Risk
  Climate Risk
  
  Exposure to risk due to climate change
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  3
- Environmental Health
  Environmental Health
  
  Quality of the natural environment and performance on maintaining environmental health
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  22
- Resource Security
  Resource Security
  
  Availability of food, water, and natural resources
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  5
- Agriculture
  Agriculture
  
  Land available for agriculture and agricultural production
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  128
- Elevation
  Elevation
  
  High and low elevations, and elevation ranges
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  6
- Ruggedness
  Ruggedness
  
  Ruggedness of the terrain and suitability for habitation and agriculture
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  11

Political

04 / 177

- Civil Liberties
  Civil Liberties
  
  Academic freedom, business freedom, and freedom of the press
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  56
- Equality
  Equality
  
  Social and gender equality, and equal opportunity under the law
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  11
- Personal Freedom
  Personal Freedom
  
  Freedom of expression, mobility, and ownership
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  26
- Imprisonment
  Imprisonment
  
  Prison capacity, occupancy, incarceration, and deaths in prison
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  80
- Technological Freedom
  Technological Freedom
  
  Surveillance and access to information
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
- Political Rights
  Political Rights
  
  Opportunity for free and fair elections and political oppression
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  50
- Corruption
  Corruption
  
  Perception of corruption and safeguards against corruption
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  22
- Representation
  Representation
  
  Legitimacy of government and quality of governance in meeting the needs of its citizens
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  28
- Organized Crime
  Organized Crime
  
  Money laundering, kidnapping, and extortion
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
- War
  War
  
  Internal and external conflicts, militarization, and the cost of violence
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  6
- Law and Order
  Law and Order
  
  Civil safety, rule of law, and police reliability
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  7
- Security
  Security
  
  National security and the effectiveness of the security apparatus
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  1
- Terrorism
  Terrorism
  
  Terrorism incidents, fatalities, and damage
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  1

Social

02 / 177

- Demographic Pressures
  Demographic Pressures
  
  Pressures from gender and age imbalances
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  22
- Diversity
  Diversity
  
  Pressures from ethnic and linguistic fractionalization
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  33
- Life Expectancy
  Life Expectancy
  
  Male and female life expectancy
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  36
- Population
  Population
  
  Pressures from population and population growth
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  22
- Urbanization
  Urbanization
  
  Urban population and pressures from urban growth
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  36
- Ethnic Tension
  Ethnic Tension
  
  Oppression, inequality, and violence stemming from ethnic diversity
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  19
- Religious Persecution
  Religious Persecution
  
  Oppression and violence as a result of religious expression
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  2
- Violent Crime
  Violent Crime
  
  Incidents and rates of homicide and assault
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  35
- Sexual Violence
  Sexual Violence
  
  Incidents and rates of sexual violence
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
- Theft
  Theft
  
  Incidents and rates of burglary and robbery
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
- Domestic
  Domestic
  
  Domestic abuse, child labor, and early marriage
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  4
- Drug Use
  Drug Use
  
  Incidents and rates of drug abuse
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  17
- Suicide
  Suicide
  
  Male and female suicide rates
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  149
- Trafficking
  Trafficking
  
  Sexual exploitation and prevalence of trafficking incidents to and from this country
  
  The lower the number, the greater the need
  
  26

Dive Deeper Into The Data

People Groups

Bubbles are sized according to their relative population size within the country.

Show only indigenous people groups

100%

Less Reached

More Reached

Population

38,739,889

Number of People Groups

Christian

0.05%

Evangelical

0.02%

Unreached Groups

99.9%

Population Unreached

38,722,985

Frontier Groups

96.9%

Population Frontier

37,527,700

Number of People Groups

Unreached Groups

Frontier Groups

1.2%

of the World’s Unreached Population

Largest People Groups (by Population)

Population

10,585,000

27.32%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

4,358,000

11.25%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

New Testament

Indigenous

Yes
Population

2,749,000

7.1%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

1,595,000

4.12%

Christian

0%

Evangelical

0%

Scripture Access

Unspecified

Indigenous

Yes
Population

547,000

1.41%

Christian

0%

Evangelical

0%

Scripture Access

Unspecified

Indigenous

Yes

Population

9,656,000

24.92%

Christian

0.02%

Evangelical

0.02%

Scripture Access

Portions

Indigenous

Yes
Population

3,891,000

10.04%

Christian

0.03%

Evangelical

0.03%

Scripture Access

Portions

Indigenous

Yes
Population

2,171,000

5.6%

Christian

0%

Evangelical

0%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

663,000

1.71%

Christian

0.11%

Evangelical

0.1%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

467,000

1.21%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

Portions

Indigenous

Yes

Explore Raw People Groups Data

TERMS

A People Group is an ethno-linguistic group of people (one that shares the same language and ethnicity) within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance. For the Gospel to spread between People Groups, the carriers of language (understanding) and acceptance (culture) must be overcome. In order to use available Christian numerical data, Stratus defers to the definitions provided by Joshua Project.
‘Unreached’ doesn’t just mean “Non-Christian”, but refers to the level of Gospel access people in a specific People Group have. An Unreached People Group does not have adequate access to the Gospel. A People Group is technically considered Unreached when both the number of Evangelical Believers is <=2%, and the number of Professing Christian <= 5%. The majority of people in an Unreached People Group would not have the opportunity to hear the Gospel in a way they might understand or accept, even if they might want to. This is due to the lack of believers, churches, and Gospel resources available to them. Missionary assistance is essential to providing Gospel Access to the Unreached.
A Frontier People Group is one in which less than 0.1% of the population identifies as a Christian of any kind, with no evidence of a self-sustaining Gospel movement. In order to use available Christian numerical data, Stratus defers to the definitions provided by Joshua Project.
Those who identify or are identified with the Christian tradition in any form, including Orthodox, devout Catholic, nominal, and fringe sect adherents. This is the broadest possible general definition, primarily displaying a population’s familiarity with the Christian tradition. In order to use available Christian numerical data, Stratus defers to the definitions provided by Joshua Project.
Those who align themselves theologically with churches that adhere to a set of core evangelical doctrines, emphasizing salvation solely through faith in Jesus, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, the Bible as the rule of faith, and Gospel-centered preaching and evangelism. In order to use available Christian numerical data, Stratus defers to the definitions provided by Joshua Project.

Language Groups

Bubbles are sized according to their relative population size within the country.

Show only indigenous language groups

Number of Languages

Full Bible

Population Full Bible

16,638,600

New Testament

Population New Testament

4,720,200

Portion of Bible

Population Portion

14,101,400

No Scripture Access

Population No Scripture Access

3,280,700

Languages with less than 2% Christian

92.86%

Languages with less than 0.1% Christian

80.36%

100%

Less Reached

More Reached

Highest Spoken Languages

Population

10,927,500

28.21%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

4,358,000

11.25%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

New Testament

Indigenous

Yes
Population

2,752,500

7.1%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

1,595,000

4.12%

Christian

0%

Evangelical

0%

Scripture Access

Unspecified

Indigenous

Yes
Population

547,000

1.41%

Christian

0%

Evangelical

0%

Scripture Access

Unspecified

Indigenous

Yes

Population

9,664,900

24.95%

Christian

0.02%

Evangelical

0.02%

Scripture Access

Portions

Indigenous

Yes
Population

3,891,000

10.04%

Christian

0.03%

Evangelical

0.03%

Scripture Access

Portions

Indigenous

Yes
Population

2,171,000

5.6%

Christian

0%

Evangelical

0%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

663,000

1.71%

Christian

0.11%

Evangelical

0.1%

Scripture Access

Full Bible

Indigenous

Yes
Population

467,000

1.21%

Christian

0.01%

Evangelical

0.01%

Scripture Access

Portions

Indigenous

Yes

Explore Raw Language Data

Prayercast Video

Prayer Points

Safety and protection

Pray for the safety and protection of Christians in Afghanistan. Ask God to provide them with courage, strength, and wisdom to navigate difficult situations and to shield them from harm.

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Provision of resources

Pray for the provision of resources, including Bibles, discipleship resources, and other materials, for the church in Afghanistan.

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Fellowship among Christians

Pray for fellowship among Christians in Afghanistan, that they may support and encourage one another in their faith. Pray that they may find ways to connect with other believers, even in the midst of challenges and isolation.

Boldness and wisdom

Pray for Christians in Afghanistan to have boldness and wisdom in sharing their faith with others, despite the risks involved. Pray that they may have discernment to know when and how to share the gospel and that their witness may draw others to Christ.

Spiritual growth and discipleship

Pray for the spiritual growth and discipleship of Christians in Afghanistan, that they may mature in their faith and become strong disciples of Jesus Christ. Pray for access to sound biblical teaching and discipleship resources that will help them grow in their relationship with God.