Air passengers in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Air passengers was 1.03 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Afghanistan, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 1.03 million for air passengers in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.9% on the previous year and down 49.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Afghanistan peaked at 2.28 million in 2011 and was at its lowest, 52,700, in 1998.
That places Afghanistan 100th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 84,700 | — |
| 1971 | 97,400 | +15.0% |
| 1972 | 104,900 | +7.7% |
| 1973 | 96,600 | -7.9% |
| 1974 | 96,100 | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 99,000 | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 101,700 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 111,200 | +9.3% |
| 1978 | 100,400 | -9.7% |
| 1979 | 93,000 | -7.4% |
| 1980 | 76,200 | -18.1% |
| 1981 | 129,100 | +69.4% |
| 1982 | 181,000 | +40.2% |
| 1983 | 200,200 | +10.6% |
| 1984 | 220,400 | +10.1% |
| 1985 | 225,500 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 184,400 | -18.2% |
| 1987 | 217,900 | +18.2% |
| 1988 | 201,000 | -7.8% |
| 1989 | 220,000 | +9.5% |
| 1990 | 241,400 | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 212,300 | -12.1% |
| 1992 | 212,300 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 197,000 | -7.2% |
| 1994 | 238,400 | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 250,400 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 255,600 | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 89,600 | -64.9% |
| 1998 | 52,700 | -41.2% |
| 1999 | 140,200 | +166.0% |
| 2000 | 149,705 | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 2.00 million | +1235.4% |
| 2011 | 2.28 million | +14.0% |
| 2012 | 1.74 million | -23.8% |
| 2013 | 2.04 million | +17.6% |
| 2014 | 2.21 million | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 1.93 million | -12.7% |
| 2016 | 1.92 million | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.65 million | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 1.13 million | -31.7% |
| 2019 | 1.07 million | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 449,041 | -57.9% |
| 2021 | 293,213 | -34.7% |
| 2022 | 1.16 million | +294.7% |
| 2023 | 1.03 million | -10.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 1.03 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 48,278, 21.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 1.03 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.44 million, 16% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1235.4% | 149,705 | 2.00 million |
| 2022 | +294.7% | 293,213 | 1.16 million |
| 1999 | +166.0% | 52,700 | 140,200 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 98,500 | 84,700 | 111,200 | 10 |
| 1980s | 185,570 | 76,200 | 225,500 | 10 |
| 1990s | 188,990 | 52,700 | 255,600 | 10 |
| 2000s | 149,705 | 149,705 | 149,705 | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.80 million | 1.07 million | 2.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 732,764 | 293,213 | 1.16 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Afghanistan?
- Air passengers in Afghanistan was 1.03 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.28 million in 2011.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,700 in 1998.
- How does Afghanistan rank for air passengers?
- Afghanistan ranks 100th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.