Highest Poverty in Afghanistan

Top 97 cities ranked by highest poverty

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

Highest Poverty — Afghanistan

1 Rustāq 26 54.5%

2 Asadābād 34 54.5%

3 Aībak 32 54.5%

4 Fayzabad 01 54.5%

5 Lashkar Gāh 10 54.5%

6 Gereshk 10 54.5%

7 Farah 06 54.5%

8 Istālif 13 54.5%

9 Andkhōy 07 54.5%

10 Bahārak 01 54.5%

11 Nīlī 41 54.5%

12 Ghormach 02 54.5%

13 Shīnḏanḏ 11 54.5%

14 Paghmān 13 54.5%

15 Khān Neshīn 10 54.5%

16 Qarāwul 24 54.5%

17 Jurm 01 54.5%

18 Nahrīn 03 54.5%

19 Baraki Barak 17 54.5%

20 Ārt Khwājah 26 54.5%

21 Eslam Qaleh 11 54.5%

22 Karukh 11 54.5%

23 Mehtar Lām 35 54.5%

24 Kushk 11 54.5%

25 Shahrak 09 54.5%

26 Maymana 07 54.5%

27 Kabul 13 54.5%

28 Herāt 11 54.5%

29 Kandahār 23 54.5%

30 Mazār-e Sharīf 30 54.5%

31 Jalālābād 18 54.5%

32 Kunduz 24 54.5%

33 Ghazni 08 54.5%

34 Balkh 30 54.5%

35 Baghlān 03 54.5%

36 Gardez 36 54.5%

37 Khōst 37 54.5%

38 Āsmār 34 54.5%

39 Khanabad 24 54.5%

40 Bāzārak 42 54.5%

41 Bāzār-e Yakāwlang 05 54.5%

42 Khulm 30 54.5%

43 Taloqan 26 54.5%

44 Bāmyān 05 54.5%

45 Pul-e Khumrī 03 54.5%

46 Shibirghān 31 54.5%

47 Charikar 40 54.5%

48 Sar-e Pul 33 54.5%

49 Zaranj 19 54.5%

50 Qarchī Gak 30 54.5%

51 Rūdbār 19 54.5%

52 Farkhār 26 54.5%

53 Zindah Jān 11 54.5%

54 Anār Darah 06 54.5%

55 Tarinkot 39 54.5%

56 Imām Şāḩib 24 54.5%

57 Darzāb 31 54.5%

58 ‘Alāqahdārī Dīshū 10 54.5%

59 Tagāw-Bāy 33 54.5%

60 Markaz-e Ḩukūmat-e Darwēshān 10 54.5%

61 Qala i Naw 02 54.5%

62 Yangī Qal‘ah 26 54.5%

63 Chīchkah 24 54.5%

64 Dasht-e Archī 24 54.5%

65 Qal‘ah-ye Shahr 33 54.5%

66 Sidqābād 14 54.5%

67 Zaṟah Sharan 29 54.5%

68 Markaz-e Sayyidābād 27 54.5%

69 Tīr Pul 11 54.5%

70 Muhmand Dara 18 54.5%

71 Tagāb 14 54.5%

72 Dowlatābād 30 54.5%

73 Khandūd 01 54.5%

74 Uruzgān 39 54.5%

75 Sang-e Chārak 33 54.5%

76 Khāsh 19 54.5%

77 Markaz-e Woluswalī-ye Āchīn 18 54.5%

78 Jabal os Saraj 40 54.5%

79 Qarqīn 31 54.5%

80 Barakī 17 54.5%

81 Fayrōz Kōh 09 54.5%

82 Mīrābād 19 54.5%

83 Zarghūn Shahr 29 54.5%

84 Sangīn 10 54.5%

85 Panjāb 05 54.5%

86 Mīr Bachah Kōṯ 13 54.5%

87 Pul-e ‘Alam 17 54.5%

88 Chīras 33 54.5%

89 Ḩukūmatī Azrah 17 54.5%

90 Qarah Bāgh 11 54.5%

91 Ghōriyān 11 54.5%

92 Qalāt 28 54.5%

93 Ashkāsham 01 54.5%

94 Kuhsān 11 54.5%

95 Tukzār 33 54.5%

96 Chahār Burj 11 54.5%

97 Larkird 33 54.5%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Afghanistan face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Rustāq has a poverty rate of 54.5%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Rustāq, 54.5% of residents — roughly 1 in 2 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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