Five years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, poverty and unemployment continue to worsen across the country. The latest reports from international organizations indicate that the unemployment rate has reached approximately 75 percent, while more than 90 percent of the population is living under severe economic hardship and below the poverty line.

According to AnsarPress, as five years have passed since the Taliban`s return to power and global humanitarian assistance has declined, poverty and unemployment have risen to unprecedented levels, leaving many families struggling to meet their most basic needs. Reports from international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), indicate that nearly 28 million people in Afghanistan are facing poverty and extreme economic vulnerability.

These organizations state that declining humanitarian assistance, persistent drought, and the return of millions of migrants from neighboring countries have further intensified Afghanistan`s economic crisis.

In its latest report, the World Food Programme (WFP) also stated that Afghanistan remains in a state of "low economic growth and high vulnerability," with millions of people relying on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs.

Poverty and Unemployment: Everyday Life Under Economic Pressure

The decline in employment opportunities across the country has placed severe strain on household economies and contributed to the expansion of poverty. Many daily wage laborers, speaking to Afghan media outlets, have complained about rising unemployment, saying that they are able to find work only one or two days a week.

Meanwhile, the latest reports from international organizations show that the consequences of unemployment extend far beyond the loss of jobs, directly affecting the daily lives of millions of families. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that millions of Afghan households, lacking sufficient income, have been forced to reduce their food consumption, forgo healthcare and their children`s education, and rely on borrowing money, selling their limited assets, or taking out loans to cover their basic living expenses.

At the same time, Reuters, citing United Nations assessments, reported that nine out of every ten Afghan families have been forced to reduce their meals, incur debt, or sell their assets to survive. The report indicates that a large portion of the population can no longer afford three adequate meals a day, with many families surviving primarily on bread, tea, and inexpensive food items.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned that the continued economic downturn, declining international assistance, the large-scale return of migrants, and ongoing drought have placed greater pressure on people`s livelihoods than ever before. According to the agency, millions of Afghans now live under conditions where even a minor economic shock-such as the illness of a family member or the loss of a few days` income-could trigger a serious livelihood crisis.

Similarly, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that millions of people in Afghanistan remain dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet even their most basic needs. However, reductions in humanitarian funding have left many vulnerable families without support.

Drought Crisis: A Key Driver of Economic Hardship

Alongside unemployment and economic stagnation, drought has become one of the primary factors worsening Afghanistan`s livelihood crisis. Afghanistan is a country where a large share of the population depends on agriculture and livestock for their income. However, declining rainfall and water shortages in recent years have significantly reduced the earnings of thousands of families.

Reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) show that drought has led to reduced agricultural production, dried-up farmland and water wells, and severe damage to livestock farming across many provinces. As a result, many families whose only source of income was agriculture have fallen into even greater economic hardship.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also warned that continued drought, declining global assistance, and the large-scale return of migrants have placed additional pressure on Afghanistan`s economy. According to the agency, the persistence of these conditions has significantly weakened many families` ability to meet their basic needs.

United Nations reports further indicate that drought has not only reduced agricultural production but has also diminished seasonal employment opportunities, pushing even more families into dependence on humanitarian assistance. If this trend continues, Afghanistan`s economic and livelihood crisis is likely to deepen further.

Migration Crisis: Millions Returning to a Fragile Economy

Alongside poverty, unemployment, and drought, the large-scale return of migrants from neighboring countries has placed additional pressure on Afghanistan. In 2025, large numbers of Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan despite Afghanistan`s continuing economic difficulties and shortage of employment opportunities.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 2.9 million Afghan nationals returned from neighboring countries in 2025. These returns accelerated following tighter migration restrictions, changes in residency documentation policies, and increased security measures in Iran and Pakistan.

Many returning families now face new challenges, including unemployment, the absence of stable income, inadequate shelter, and difficulty meeting their basic needs. These mass returns have occurred at a time when Afghanistan`s economy remains incapable of absorbing a significant influx of new workers.

United Nations reports indicate that the growing number of returnees has placed additional strain on the labor market, public services, and humanitarian assistance programs. While many families depend on humanitarian aid to survive, declining financial resources among relief organizations have made it increasingly difficult to meet these needs.

The return of millions of migrants has now become another major economic and social challenge for Afghanistan, increasing the burden on families that were already struggling to make ends meet.

Taliban`s Failure to Contain the Crisis: Limited Resources and an Economy Without a Clear Strategy

Five years after the Taliban`s return to power, Afghanistan`s economic crisis continues, with no signs of sustained improvement in the lives of ordinary citizens. Declining foreign assistance, international restrictions, limited investment, and the failure to create sufficient employment opportunities have left the country`s economy in a fragile state.

Since taking power, the Taliban have repeatedly pledged to improve Afghanistan`s economy, increase domestic revenues, and create conditions conducive to employment and investment. Nevertheless, reports from international organizations show that millions of Afghans continue to suffer from poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity, while a large portion of the population remains dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.

During this period, the Taliban have primarily focused on increasing domestic revenue collection, strengthening customs administration, and combating administrative corruption. However, higher government revenues have not translated into widespread improvements in people`s living conditions. The absence of a comprehensive strategy to generate employment, support the private sector, develop industries, and attract investment has been identified as one of the principal reasons for the continuation of the economic crisis.

At the same time, restrictions imposed on education-particularly the exclusion of girls and women from universities and large segments of the labor market-have had a direct impact on Afghanistan`s economic capacity. International organizations have repeatedly warned that excluding women from education and economic participation is not only a social issue but also a significant obstacle to the country`s economic growth.

Furthermore, a substantial portion of Afghanistan`s financial resources remains subject to international restrictions, and the country`s access to the global financial system continues to face significant challenges. Combined with declining foreign assistance, these constraints have limited the Taliban administration`s ability to implement major economic projects and create large-scale employment opportunities.

Despite the Taliban`s emphasis on infrastructure projects and increasing domestic revenues, the daily lives of many Afghan citizens remain under severe economic pressure. Millions continue to face unemployment, declining purchasing power, and rising living costs, demonstrating that the Taliban`s current economic policies have yet to provide an effective response to the country`s widespread economic crisis.

Five years into Taliban rule, the central question remains whether increasing government revenues and strengthening administrative control can substitute for a comprehensive economic strategy aimed at creating jobs and reducing poverty. The experience of recent years suggests that without fundamental reforms, broader participation from all segments of society, and the effective utilization of the country`s human and economic resources, containing Afghanistan`s economic crisis will remain an extremely difficult challenge.