Afghanistan’s economy in the current year is facing multiple simultaneous shocks, including trade disruptions, regional tensions, demographic pressures and environmental crises.
While the World Bank projects economic growth of over three percent in 2026, analysts say the figure may appear positive but tells a different story in reality.
With rapid population growth and poverty affecting more than 70 percent of the population, Afghanistan would need growth of around 10 percent to see meaningful improvement.
In this context, the projected three percent growth is seen more as a slowdown in economic decline rather than the start of sustainable recovery.
