Urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Urban area over the long-term was 947.56 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
947.56 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
96th
of 202 countries
All-time high
947.56 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0005 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
In 2025, urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan stood at 947.56 km² per grid cell. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan peaked at 947.56 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0005 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Afghanistan 96th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | +216.7% |
| 1200 | 0.0046 km² per grid cell | +215.8% |
| 1300 | 0.0097 km² per grid cell | +110.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0312 km² per grid cell | +221.4% |
| 1500 | 0.0999 km² per grid cell | +220.0% |
| 1600 | 0.3746 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1700 | 1.12 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 2.08 km² per grid cell | +85.0% |
| 1720 | 2.39 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1730 | 2.75 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1740 | 3.17 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1750 | 3.64 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1760 | 4.19 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1770 | 4.82 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1780 | 5.55 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1790 | 6.38 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1800 | 7.35 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1810 | 8.45 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1820 | 9.72 km² per grid cell | +15.1% |
| 1830 | 11.3 km² per grid cell | +16.2% |
| 1840 | 13.42 km² per grid cell | +18.8% |
| 1850 | 15.94 km² per grid cell | +18.8% |
| 1860 | 18.93 km² per grid cell | +18.7% |
| 1870 | 22.48 km² per grid cell | +18.8% |
| 1880 | 27.09 km² per grid cell | +20.5% |
| 1890 | 33.01 km² per grid cell | +21.9% |
| 1900 | 40.24 km² per grid cell | +21.9% |
| 1910 | 49.03 km² per grid cell | +21.9% |
| 1920 | 60 km² per grid cell | +22.4% |
| 1930 | 72.73 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1940 | 86.64 km² per grid cell | +19.1% |
| 1950 | 98.86 km² per grid cell | +14.1% |
| 1951 | 102.67 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 106.56 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 110.54 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 114.59 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 1955 | 118.71 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1956 | 122.89 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1957 | 127.12 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1958 | 131.41 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 135.71 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 140.05 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 144.38 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1962 | 148.72 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 153.07 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 157.44 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 161.81 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 166.15 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 170.69 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 175.55 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 180.56 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 185.81 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 191.26 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 197.38 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 203.99 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 210.37 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 216.31 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 221.91 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 227.1 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 231.32 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 233.66 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 233.66 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 222.12 km² per grid cell | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 213.7 km² per grid cell | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 204.61 km² per grid cell | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 196.03 km² per grid cell | -4.2% |
| 1985 | 188.87 km² per grid cell | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 183.05 km² per grid cell | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 183.05 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 183.05 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 183.05 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 184.52 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 195.75 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 1992 | 211.4 km² per grid cell | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 229.26 km² per grid cell | +8.4% |
| 1994 | 246.33 km² per grid cell | +7.4% |
| 1995 | 260.51 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 271.03 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 278.65 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 284.78 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 291.57 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 300.6 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 316.56 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 333.24 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 350.73 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 369.1 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 388.45 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 405.85 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 423.74 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 442.14 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 461.06 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 480.51 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 507.78 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 535.98 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 565.13 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 595.27 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 623.17 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 651.56 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 680.89 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 711.19 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 742.48 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 758.73 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 794.07 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 830.6 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 868.33 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 907.31 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 947.56 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 947.56 km² per grid cell is above the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 947.56 km² per grid cell is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,501 km² per grid cell, 63% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +275.0% | 0.0999 km² per grid cell | 0.3746 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +221.4% | 0.0097 km² per grid cell | 0.0312 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +220.0% | 0.0312 km² per grid cell | 0.0999 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +216.7% | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +215.8% | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0046 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +200.0% | 0.3746 km² per grid cell | 1.12 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 0.0015 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0046 km² per grid cell | 0.0046 km² per grid cell | 0.0046 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0097 km² per grid cell | 0.0097 km² per grid cell | 0.0097 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0312 km² per grid cell | 0.0312 km² per grid cell | 0.0312 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0999 km² per grid cell | 0.0999 km² per grid cell | 0.0999 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.3746 km² per grid cell | 0.3746 km² per grid cell | 0.3746 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.12 km² per grid cell | 1.12 km² per grid cell | 1.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.08 km² per grid cell | 2.08 km² per grid cell | 2.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.39 km² per grid cell | 2.39 km² per grid cell | 2.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.75 km² per grid cell | 2.75 km² per grid cell | 2.75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 3.17 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.64 km² per grid cell | 3.64 km² per grid cell | 3.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.19 km² per grid cell | 4.19 km² per grid cell | 4.19 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 4.82 km² per grid cell | 4.82 km² per grid cell | 4.82 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.55 km² per grid cell | 5.55 km² per grid cell | 5.55 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.38 km² per grid cell | 6.38 km² per grid cell | 6.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.35 km² per grid cell | 7.35 km² per grid cell | 7.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 8.45 km² per grid cell | 8.45 km² per grid cell | 8.45 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 9.72 km² per grid cell | 9.72 km² per grid cell | 9.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 11.3 km² per grid cell | 11.3 km² per grid cell | 11.3 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 13.42 km² per grid cell | 13.42 km² per grid cell | 13.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 15.94 km² per grid cell | 15.94 km² per grid cell | 15.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 18.93 km² per grid cell | 18.93 km² per grid cell | 18.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 22.48 km² per grid cell | 22.48 km² per grid cell | 22.48 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 27.09 km² per grid cell | 27.09 km² per grid cell | 27.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 33.01 km² per grid cell | 33.01 km² per grid cell | 33.01 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 40.24 km² per grid cell | 40.24 km² per grid cell | 40.24 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 49.03 km² per grid cell | 49.03 km² per grid cell | 49.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 60 km² per grid cell | 60 km² per grid cell | 60 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 72.73 km² per grid cell | 72.73 km² per grid cell | 72.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 86.64 km² per grid cell | 86.64 km² per grid cell | 86.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 116.91 km² per grid cell | 98.86 km² per grid cell | 135.71 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 159.84 km² per grid cell | 140.05 km² per grid cell | 180.56 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 211.91 km² per grid cell | 185.81 km² per grid cell | 233.66 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 199.12 km² per grid cell | 183.05 km² per grid cell | 233.66 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 245.38 km² per grid cell | 184.52 km² per grid cell | 291.57 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 379.15 km² per grid cell | 300.6 km² per grid cell | 461.06 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 609.39 km² per grid cell | 480.51 km² per grid cell | 742.48 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 851.1 km² per grid cell | 758.73 km² per grid cell | 947.56 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 93 Costa Rica 1,053 km² per grid cell compare
- 94 Bulgaria 960.21 km² per grid cell compare
- 95 North Korea 954.94 km² per grid cell compare
- 97 Greece 894.56 km² per grid cell compare
- 98 Dominican Republic 881.77 km² per grid cell compare
- 99 Kuwait 849.6 km² per grid cell compare
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 urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan?
- Urban area over the long-term in Afghanistan was 947.56 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 947.56 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0005 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Afghanistan rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Afghanistan ranks 96th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.