Afghanistan’s Reliance on Imports Grows Sharply Over Five Years
Data compiled from reports by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank shows that Afghanistan’s dependence on imported goods has steadily increased over the past five years, widening the gap between imports and exports.
According to a May report by UNDP, the value of Afghanistan’s imports rose from $5.3 billion in 2021 to $13.1 billion at the end of 2025. The figures show that import value increased by nearly $8 billion over this period.
Afghanistan’s import value for 2021 to 2025 was recorded at $5.3 billion, $6.5 billion, $8.3 billion, $11.2 billion and $13.1 billion, respectively. The trend points to the country’s growing and sustained reliance on imported goods.
By contrast, Afghanistan’s exports followed a fluctuating pattern over the same period. According to UNDP figures, exports rose from $900 million in 2021 to $1.8 billion in 2022 and $1.9 billion in 2023, but fell to $1.6 billion in 2024 before reaching $1.8 billion in 2025.
At the same time, the suspension of trade with Pakistan and tensions in the Middle East have made access to several major markets and export routes more difficult for Afghanistan. In its latest report in July 2026, the World Bank also said Afghanistan’s exports in the first seven months of the current year fell by 29% compared with the same period last year.
The United Nations Development Programme is one of the UN’s main bodies in the field of development and the assessment of countries’ economic and social indicators, while World Bank reports are among the most widely cited sources for examining trade conditions and economic growth.
