World Bank Reports Afghanistan’s Security Spending and Budget Deficit in Fiscal Year 2025
The World Bank’s latest report reveals that the Taliban administration spent approximately 96.9 billion Afghanis on security expenses during the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, a figure significantly higher than development expenditures in the same period. According to the report, development costs during this timeframe amounted to only 15.7 billion Afghanis, while over 106 billion Afghanis were allocated to civilian sectors and public services. These figures indicate that budget priorities have been largely directed towards security expenditures, with economic development receiving a limited share.
The World Bank added that Afghanistan faced a budget deficit of about two billion Afghanis during this period, as total revenues recorded were 200.9 billion Afghanis, slightly less than total expenditures of 202.9 billion Afghanis.
The World Bank’s monthly report on Afghanistan’s economic situation for December states that the country continues to face pressure from the large-scale return of Afghan refugees and the continued closure of borders with Pakistan. Despite low inflation and a relative increase in government revenues, weak investment and a lack of transparent economic policies by the Taliban administration have hindered sustainable growth and productivity improvements.
The World Bank warned that per capita income is forecasted to decline by around four percent in fiscal year 2025, with widespread poverty persisting—a situation that requires greater focus on development, employment, and improving the livelihoods of the country’s residents.
