AGUACYCLE
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Afghanistan

Capital: Kabul · Low income · Pop. 42.6 million

30.55%
Safely managed drinking water
24.78%
Safely managed sanitation
1,162
m³ freshwater / person / yr
43%
Water stress · Medium

Source: World Bank Open Data (WHO/UNICEF JMP & FAO AQUASTAT) · drinking water 2024

In Afghanistan, 30.55% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2024 estimate). That leaves roughly 29.6 million people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Sanitation tracks closely: 24.78% use safely managed sanitation services and 54.5% have at least a basic service (2024).

Afghanistan has about 1,162 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year. It withdraws the equivalent of 43% of those internal resources annually (medium water stress).

Agriculture accounts for about 98% of Afghanistan's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Afghanistan have safe drinking water?

30.55% of Afghanistan's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 29.6 million people do not.

Does Afghanistan have enough freshwater?

Afghanistan has roughly 1,162 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 43% of it annually (medium stress).

Elsewhere in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan