Share of the population using the Internet in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of the population using the Internet was 16.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population using the Internet in Afghanistan, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
In 2024, share of the population using the internet in Afghanistan stood at 16.1%.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 129.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using the internet in Afghanistan peaked at 17.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
Afghanistan ranks 200th of 208 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population using the Internet in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2002 | 0.0% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | +1826.8% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | +20.4% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | +1056.9% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | +72.1% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -9.8% |
| 2008 | 1.8% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | +92.9% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +25.0% |
| 2012 | 5.5% | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 7.0% | +18.6% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +18.0% |
| 2016 | 11.0% | +33.2% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | +22.7% |
| 2018 | 16.8% | +24.4% |
| 2019 | 17.6% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 17.0% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 15.9% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 16.1% | +1.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 16.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.0%, 85% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 16.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 85.3%, 19% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population using the Internet 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +1826.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2005 | +1056.9% | 0.1% | 1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.0% | 3.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 4.0% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 15.9% | 17.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More science & technology data for Afghanistan
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 60.1 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 0.601 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0014 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 25.63 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 35.31 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 8.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 11.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 168.85 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using the internet in Afghanistan?
- Share of the population using the internet in Afghanistan was 16.1% in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population using the internet recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 17.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of the population using the internet recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of the population using the internet?
- Afghanistan ranks 200th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population using the internet rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 129.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population who used the Internet in the last three months.