Afghanistan
Countdown Indicators Breakdown
The Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI) is a collaborative interdisciplinary effort to monitor global food systems. The Countdown developed a framework that includes five themes: (1) diets, nutrition, and health; (2) environment, natural resources, and production; (3) livelihoods, poverty, and equity; (4) governance; and (5) resilience and identified 50 indicators across these themes. This page presents national level data for these 50 indicators for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan income group: Low Income
Comparison
Afghanistan
Southern Asia
World
Diets, Nutrition, and Health
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Southern Asia
4.57
World
4.44
PPP dollar/capita/day
Cost of a healthy diet
No Data
Per-person cost of the least expensive locally available foods to meet daily needs, based on food-based dietary guidelines
Source FAOSTAT
Southern Asia
28%
World
32%
Percent of the population who cannot afford a healthy diet
No Data
Share of the population whose food budget is less than the cost of a healthy diet
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
95.3
Southern Asia
195.1
World
267.3
g/capita/day
Availability of fruits
95.3 g/capita/day
Amount of fruits—an underconsumed yet highly nutritious food group—available in a country’s food supply per capita per day
2022
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
165.0
Southern Asia
246.0
World
300.0
g/capita/day
Availability of vegetables
165.0 g/capita/day
Amount of vegetables—an underconsumed yet highly nutritious food group—available in a country’s food supply per capita per day
2022
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
28%
Southern Asia
62%
World
68%
Percent of the population using safely managed drinking water services (SDG 6.1.1)
28%
Share of the population that gets drinking water from an improved source, providing the clean water essential for food security (SDG 6.1.1)
2022
Afghanistan
25.2
Southern Asia
58.1
World
342.8
USD/capita
Retail value (total sales) of ultra-processed foods per capita
25.2 USD/capita
Annual perperson sales of ultra-processed foods, which are known to be associated with poor health outcomes
2023
Afghanistan
30%
Southern Asia
46%
World
65%
MDD-W: Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (SDG 2.2.4)
30%
Share of women who consumed at least the minimum recommended food groups the previous day, which makes it more likely they consume adequate micronutrients
2022
Afghanistan
20%
Southern Asia
28%
World
32%
All-5: Consumption of all five food groups
20%
Share of the adult population consuming all five food groups typically recommended for daily consumption
2022
Afghanistan
8%
Southern Asia
14%
World
26%
Age 15+: Soft drink consumption
8%
Share of adults who consumed a sugar-sweetened soft drink, which are generally known to be unhealthy, during the previous day
2022
Afghanistan
2.2
Southern Asia
3.3
World
3.4
Age 15+: NCD-Protect
2.2
Average score for adults on an indicator of dietary practices protective against noncommunicable diseases, like eating enough fiber, on a scale from 0 to 9
2022
Afghanistan
1.1
Southern Asia
1.5
World
2.2
Age 15+: NCD-Risk
1.1
Average score for adults on an indicator of dietary practices known to raise the risk of noncommunicable diseases, like eating too much sugar, on a scale from 0 to 9
2022
Afghanistan
15%
Southern Asia
19%
World
11%
Age 15+: Zero vegetable or fruit consumption
15%
Share of adults who did not consume any fruits or vegetables the previous day
2022
Afghanistan
28%
Southern Asia
12%
World
9%
Prevalence of undernourishment (SDG 2.1.1)
28%
Share of the population that goes hungry—that is, lacks enough calories for a healthy, active life (SDG 2.1.1)
2024
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
81%
Southern Asia
37%
World
31%
Percent of the population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (SDG 2.1.2)
81%
Share of the population experiencing food insecurity, measured according to the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) (SDG 2.1.2)
2024
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
15%
Southern Asia
27%
World
39%
MDD-C: Minimum Dietary Diversity for Children (SDG 2.2.4)
15%
Share of young children who consumed at least the minimum recommended food groups the previous day, which makes it more likely they consume adequate micronutrients
2022
Source UNICEF
Afghanistan
61
Southern Asia
43
World
32
% population 6-23 months
Children (6-23 months): Zero vegetable or fruit consumption
61% population 6-23 months
Share of young children who did not consume any fruits or vegetables the previous day
2022
Source UNICEF
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Environment, Natural Resources, and Production
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Afghanistan
84%
Southern Asia
40%
World
65%
Cropland nitrogen use efficiency
84%
Afghanistan
0.229540
Southern Asia
0.366027
World
0.378862
tonnes/ha
Cereals yield
0.229540 tonnes/ha
Yield, or production per unit area (tonnes per hectare)—an indicator of how efficient production is
2023
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
1.093580
Southern Asia
1.451249
World
1.396111
tonnes/ha
Fruit yield
1.093580 tonnes/ha
Yield, or production per unit area (tonnes per hectare)—an indicator of how efficient production is
2023
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
1.142140
Southern Asia
1.570577
World
2.006731
tonnes/ha
Vegetable yield
1.142140 tonnes/ha
Yield, or production per unit area (tonnes per hectare)—an indicator of how efficient production is
2023
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
5,259
Southern Asia
19,301
World
30,820
100 g/animal
Cow's milk yield
5,259 100 g/animal
Yield, or production per animal (100 g per animal)—an indicator of how efficient production is
2023
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
14.5
Southern Asia
12.2
World
20.1
kg/animal
Beef yield
14.5 kg/animal
Yield, or production per animal (100 g per animal)—an indicator of how efficient production is
2023
Source FAOSTAT
Southern Asia
27.2
World
21.2
Fishery health index progress score
No Data
An indicator summarizing the availability and sustainability of fish, which are at risk of overfishing or environmental degradation
Source Minderoo Foundation
Afghanistan
22,630.3
Southern Asia
217,918.1
World
83,757.2
kT CO2eq
Agri-food systems greenhouse gas emissions
22,630.3 kT CO2eq
Afghanistan
0.1
Southern Asia
0.2
World
0.2
kg CO2eq/kg product
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity for cereals (excluding rice)
0.1 kg CO2eq/kg product
Greenhouse gas emissions (kg CO2 equivalents) per kilogram produced of cereals (excluding rice)
2022
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
0.9
Southern Asia
0.8
World
1.1
kg CO2eq/kg product
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity for rice
0.9 kg CO2eq/kg product
Afghanistan
3.9
Southern Asia
1.2
World
0.9
kg CO2eq/kg product
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity for cow's milk
3.9 kg CO2eq/kg product
Afghanistan
20.8
Southern Asia
29.0
World
28.3
kg CO2eq/kg product
Greenhouse gas emissions intensity for beef
20.8 kg CO2eq/kg product
Afghanistan
0
Southern Asia
-0
World
0
% change
Cropland area change
0% change
Average percentage change in cropland over the previous five years; expanding cropland is a major driver of biodiversity and ecosystem service loss and greenhouse gas emissions
2022
Source FSCI
Afghanistan
77
Southern Asia
25
World
46
% agricultural land
Functional integrity: Agricultural land with minimum level of natural habitat
77% agricultural land
Percentage of agricultural land area with enough semi-natural or natural habitat, relative to the amount of cropland or rangeland, to maintain biodiversity and functioning ecosystems
2015
Source DeClerck et al. 2021
Afghanistan
31%
Southern Asia
40%
World
17%
Agriculture water withdrawal as percent of total renewable water resources
31%
Water withdrawn for irrigation each year, as a percentage of the total renewable water resources available
2020
Source AQUASTAT
Southern Asia
3.7
World
4.8
kg/ha
Pesticide use per area of cropland
No Data
The use of pesticides per area of cropland (kg active ingredient per hectare); pesticide use can cause pollution and harm health
Source FAOSTAT
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Livelihoods, Poverty, and Equity
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Afghanistan
34
Southern Asia
16
World
11
% GDP
Share of agriculture in GDP (SDG 2.a.1)
34% GDP
Percentage of a country’s GDP derived from agriculture, a measure of the level of economic development of the country
2022
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
3
Southern Asia
4
World
6
% working age population
Unemployment rate (Rural)
3% working age population
Afghanistan
7
Southern Asia
3
World
5
% working age population
Underemployment rate (Rural)
7% working age population
Percentage of working-age people in rural areas who are underemployed (i.e., worked fewer hours than expected)
2021
Source ILO
Afghanistan
9
Southern Asia
73
World
58
% population
Social protection coverage
9% population
Percentage of people who live in households that benefit from social protection programs, like cash transfers and health insurance
2011
Source World Bank
Afghanistan
23
Southern Asia
8
World
23
% welfare of beneficiary households
Social protection adequacy
23% welfare of beneficiary households
An indicator showing the extent to which social protection is sufficient to meet household needs
2007
Source World Bank
Afghanistan
13
Southern Asia
8
World
11
% children 5-17
Percent of children 5-17 years engaged in child labor
13% children 5-17
Percentage of children ages 5–17 who are engaged in child labor, the majority of which is known to be in the food system and specifically in agriculture
2023
Source UNICEF
Afghanistan
15
Southern Asia
11
World
31
% female land owners
Share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land (SDG 5.a.1)
15% female land owners
A measure of the share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land
2015
Source SDG Indicators Data Portal
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Governance
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Afghanistan
0.1
Southern Asia
0.6
World
0.6
Civil society participation index
0.1
An indicator capturing the level of participation in civil society organizations
2023
Source Varieties of Democracy
Afghanistan
0%
Southern Asia
1%
World
14%
Percent of the urban population living in cities signed onto the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
0%
Percentage of the urban population that lives in cities signed on to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, suggesting prioritization of food issues in urban planning
2024
Afghanistan
Southern Asia
World
Degree of legal recognition of the right to food
Some other implicit recognition, codification of international statutes, or other pertinent provisions
Afghanistan
Southern Asia
World
Presence of a national food system transformation pathway
No
Afghanistan
-2.0
Southern Asia
0.1
World
0.1
Government effectiveness index
-2.0
An index capturing the perception of how effective the government is in making and enforcing policies and providing services
2023
Source World Governance Indicators
Afghanistan
20.0
Southern Asia
57.2
World
69.3
Food safety capacity
20.0
Whether functioning mechanisms exist to detect and respond to foodborne disease issues, measured as the percentage of a set of criteria met
2020
Afghanistan
Southern Asia
World
Presence of national health-related food environment policies
None
Whether the country has any health-related food environment policies, which are used to discourage consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages or encourage the consumption of healthy foods and beverages.
2025
Afghanistan
-1.4
Southern Asia
0.3
World
0.2
V-Dem accountability index
-1.4
An index capturing the extent to which the government is seen as being accountable for its actions
2023
Source Varieties of Democracy
Afghanistan
0.0
Southern Asia
46.1
World
45.1
Open budget index score
0.0
A score based on how easily the public can access information about how the government raises and spends money
2023
Afghanistan
Southern Asia
World
Guarantees for public access to information (SDG 16.10.2)
Yes
Whether the country has and implements guarantees for access to information (SDG 16.10.2)
2023
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Resilience
Less Desirable
More Desirable
Afghanistan
0.000
Southern Asia
0.000
World
0.000
Ratio of total damages from all disasters to GDP
0.000
Afghanistan
0.6
Southern Asia
0.7
World
0.7
Dietary sourcing flexibility index
0.6
An index capturing the diversity of pathways through which food reaches consumers, indicating how difficult it is to disrupt the food supply
2020
Source FAO
Afghanistan
56.6
Southern Asia
110.1
World
110.1
Number per 100 people
Mobile cellular subscriptions
56.6 Number per 100 people
Number of mobile phone subscriptions as a percentage of the population, indicating the level of infrastructure and access to information to respond to shocks
2021
Afghanistan
0.247186
Southern Asia
0.448025
World
0.486813
Social capital index
0.247186
An index for the social capital in the country—how much people feel they can trust and can rely on their government and one another
2021
Source Legatum Institute , FSCI
Afghanistan
27
Southern Asia
62
World
25
% agricultural land
Proportion of agricultural land with minimum level of species diversity (crop and pasture)
27% agricultural land
Percentage of agricultural land (crop and pasture) containing a sufficient diversity of species, which helps cope with shocks and changes
2020
Source Jones et al. 2021
Afghanistan
953.0
Southern Asia
279,885.9
World
166,534.7
Number of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in either medium- or long-term conservation facilities (SDG 2.5.1a)
953.0
Number of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in medium- or long-term conservation facilities (SDG 2.5.1)
2022
Source FAOSTAT
Southern Asia
25.0
World
3.2
Number of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in either medium- or long-term conservation facilities (SDG 2.5.1b)
No Data
Number of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in medium- or long-term conservation facilities (SDG 2.5.1)
Source FAOSTAT
Afghanistan
0.6
Southern Asia
0.4
World
0.3
Prevalence of severe coping strategies
0.6
Percentage of high-risk populations who need to rely on extreme strategies to cope with food insecurity
2024
Source WFP
Afghanistan
0.8
Southern Asia
0.7
World
0.7
Food price volatility
0.8
Afghanistan
26.0
Southern Asia
23.1
World
31.3
kcal/capita/day
Food supply variability
26.0 kcal/capita/day
How much the food supply (in calories per person per day) varies over time, indicating how well the food system can respond to shocks
2023
Source FAOSTAT
Less Desirable
More Desirable