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Largest Cities in Afghanistan

Top 97 cities ranked by largest cities

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities
All Countries  ·  Afghanistan

Largest Cities — Afghanistan

1 Kabul 13 4,434,550
2 Herāt 11 574,300
3 Kandahār 23 523,300
4 Mazār-e Sharīf 30 523,300
5 Jalālābād 18 271,900
6 Kunduz 24 161,902
7 Ghazni 08 141,000
8 Balkh 30 114,883
9 Baghlān 03 108,449
10 Gardez 36 103,601
11 Khōst 37 96,123
12 Maymana 07 75,900
13 Khanabad 24 71,531
14 Bāzārak 42 65,000
15 Bāzār-e Yakāwlang 05 65,000
16 Khulm 30 64,933
17 Taloqan 26 64,256
18 Bāmyān 05 61,863
19 Pul-e Khumrī 03 56,369
20 Shibirghān 31 55,641
21 Charikar 40 53,676
22 Sar-e Pul 33 52,121
23 Zaranj 19 49,851
24 Paghmān 13 49,157
25 Asadābād 34 48,400
26 Aībak 32 47,823
27 Fayzabad 01 44,421
28 Lashkar Gāh 10 43,934
29 Gereshk 10 43,588
30 Farah 06 43,561
31 Istālif 13 41,413
32 Andkhōy 07 37,900
33 Bahārak 01 32,551
34 Nīlī 41 30,058
35 Ghormach 02 30,000
36 Shīnḏanḏ 11 29,264
37 Rustāq 26 25,636
38 Khān Neshīn 10 25,600
39 Qarāwul 24 24,544
40 Jurm 01 23,064
41 Nahrīn 03 22,363
42 Baraki Barak 17 22,305
43 Ārt Khwājah 26 18,623
44 Eslam Qaleh 11 18,086
45 Karukh 11 17,484
46 Mehtar Lām 35 17,345
47 Kushk 11 16,952
48 Shahrak 09 15,967
49 Āsmār 34 15,708
50 Sang-e Chārak 33 15,377
51 Khāsh 19 15,133
52 Markaz-e Woluswalī-ye Āchīn 18 15,098
53 Jabal os Saraj 40 15,032
54 Qarqīn 31 15,018
55 Barakī 17 15,000
56 Fayrōz Kōh 09 15,000
57 Mīrābād 19 14,160
58 Zarghūn Shahr 29 13,737
59 Sangīn 10 13,579
60 Panjāb 05 13,471
61 Uruzgān 39 13,388
62 Pul-e ‘Alam 17 13,247
63 Chīras 33 12,779
64 Ḩukūmatī Azrah 17 12,526
65 Qarah Bāgh 11 12,412
66 Ghōriyān 11 12,404
67 Qalāt 28 12,191
68 Ashkāsham 01 12,120
69 Kuhsān 11 12,087
70 Tukzār 33 12,021
71 Chahār Burj 11 11,935
72 Larkird 33 11,635
73 Yangī Qal‘ah 26 11,100
74 Rūdbār 19 11,034
75 Farkhār 26 10,480
76 Zindah Jān 11 10,418
77 Anār Darah 06 10,023
78 Tarinkot 39 10,000
79 Imām Şāḩib 24 9,659
80 Darzāb 31 9,642
81 ‘Alāqahdārī Dīshū 10 9,196
82 Tagāw-Bāy 33 9,096
83 Markaz-e Ḩukūmat-e Darwēshān 10 9,012
84 Qala i Naw 02 9,000
85 Qarchī Gak 30 8,942
86 Chīchkah 24 8,792
87 Dasht-e Archī 24 8,263
88 Qal‘ah-ye Shahr 33 7,756
89 Sidqābād 14 7,407
90 Zaṟah Sharan 29 7,366
91 Markaz-e Sayyidābād 27 7,301
92 Tīr Pul 11 6,979
93 Muhmand Dara 18 6,835
94 Tagāb 14 6,400
95 Dowlatābād 30 6,111
96 Khandūd 01 5,521
97 Mīr Bachah Kōṯ 13 5,405

The largest cities in Afghanistan represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Kabul leads with a population of 4,434,550, followed by Herāt and Kandahār. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. 30 dominates the top 10 with 2 cities on the list, reflecting the state's strong economic pull and quality of life.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

  • 1. Kabul's population is larger than that of several U.S. states.
  • 2. 30 has 2 cities in the top 10, more than any other state.
  • 3. The 50th largest city still has a population of 15,377 — larger than most cities worldwide.
  • 4. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 6,327,350.

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Afghanistan — By Region

Badakhshan Balkh Helmand Herat Kunduz Sar-e Pol Province Takhar

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