Overview of Afghanistan

Population:  43,372,950 (2024)

GDP:  Expected to reach 13.90 USD Billion by the end of 2024

Economic Overview

‍Afghanistan’s economy suffered a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, various financial models and experts suggest that the economy will witness a rebound of 3% in 2021 and 4% in 2022. According to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021, inflation is supposed to come down to 5% in 2021 from 5.6% in 2020.

Market Size

‍Frequent war and turmoil disrupted the country’s economy. It is difficult to present any definite data of Afghanistan’s demography. Most statistics and models use an average value/figure to predict and form various models. The country has one of the lowest GDP per capita and has lower exports than imports, resulting in a trade balance deficit. Most of the natural mineral resources of Afghanistan have not been tapped. The estimated growth in GDP is a good sign for companies looking to invest in Afghanistan. The high unemployment growth shows that the country looks forward to furthering industrialization. However, the country needs to set up vocational institutes and contribute more to education to bridge the existing talent gap.

A Brief Glimpse of Industries

• Afghanistan holds unexploited mineral deposits estimated at 1 trillion USD. However, it is one of the most underdeveloped countries worldwide.

• The unemployment rate is expected to reach 12.70% by the end of 2021. The same for 2020 was around 11.16%. The pandemic has highly contributed to this decline.

• The country’s economy is fragile and depends largely on foreign aid. The war and conflicts have adversely affected the same.

• Nearly 60% of households are involved in farming. Hence, the private sector is extremely under-developed (with only a 3% contribution to the GDP).

• The country’s low economic freedom, restrictive property rights, widespread corruption, and inadequate infrastructure are the prime hindrances to the development and diversification of the private sector.

• The inefficient and limited property rights hinder access to finance.

• Foreign financial aid has led to rapid economic growth since 2002. However, after 2012, the growth slowed down and even reversed in some cases.

• The modernization of the country’s agriculture sector and the establishment of trade routes helped boost the economy significantly.

• The average Internet speed in Afghanistan is 7.26 Mbps. The average download speed is 0.60 Mbps, whereas the average upload speed is 1.49 Mbps.

Cost Of Living

Before a company extends its services and employment scenario to a country, the cost of living is significantly important. The cost of living index provides an idea of the average expenses of a person that is needed to survive in a specific country. This cost takes into consideration a variety of expenses, such as food, shelter, transportation, childcare, clothing, healthcare, entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses. Comparing the cost index before moving or expanding is a good idea. The price of a commodity or a service varies from place to place. Accounting for such expenses is necessary before any major decision.

For an idea of the average cost of living in Afghanistan, refer to the table below.

Breakdown Of Average Living Expenses In Categories

From the data and statistics available, the estimated average cost of living in Afghanistan is USD 375 and is ranked 195th out of 197 nations based on the same.

Cost Of Renting

The average monthly renting cost for a 900 sq ft. furnished accommodation is USD 401.36. The renting cost may vary depending on the area. The estimated figure is 1.96 times less expensive than the world average. However, the estimated cost of living is higher than the average salary after taxes.

Top Skills In Afghanistan

Experts and analysts say that the economy of Afghanistan is dynamic and is a developing low-income economy. The country has followed the foundations of a traditional economy for decades. Due to the constant war and turmoil, Afghanistan’s economy has a high long-term economic risk. However, the economic risk is lower than other conflicted states, such as South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The unemployment rate of Afghanistan is considered to be on the broader spectrum. According to the official data of the ministry of labor and social affairs, more than 1.8 million eligible workers in Afghanistan are unemployed. Thus, the country is open to industrialization, and companies can benefit from the situation. The major industries contributing to the GDP of Afghanistan are mentioned in the table below, along with their respective contribution to the GDP.

Top Skills Based On the City and Occupation

Most of the notable companies of Afghanistan are located in the capital city of Kabul. The city hosts large companies in the finance, entertainment, telecommunication, airline, construction, production, publishing, and transportation sectors.

Most of the agricultural and trade activities of Afghanistan are based in Jalalabad. The location of the city and the connectivity are prime reasons for the same. Papermaking is a major contributor to the economy of Afghanistan, and most of it is based in Jalalabad.

Hiring Cost

It is wise to calculate the average hiring cost per employee before starting the process. It might seem that hiring does not have any additional costs. However, there are some major expenses tied to the process. Some companies have an in-house HR department, whereas others outsource the HR talent. The former can prove to be expensive. According to MIT Sloan’s research, an average company loses anywhere between 1% to 2.5% of its total revenue.

When this expense is charted and calculated, it amounts to a lot. Most companies prefer to spend the additional cost towards the company’s workings. Hence, they outsource their HR team from global firms like Skuad to handle the complete recruitment process.

Salary Structures For Various Industries In Afghanistan

The table below depicts the average salary a person can expect in Afghanistan based on their industry.

Employment Laws In Afghanistan

• The Afghan Labor Law prohibits discrimination in the workplace.

• The hired workers work at a fixed pay and fixed time (based on the contract).

• The labor law applies to all government employees. However, in the case of the private sector employees, additional laws have been formed.

• The executive and management staff are treated the same as the other employees.

• The average working time should not exceed 40 hours per week over a reference period of 12 months.

• Young, pregnant, and night-shift employees may work for a maximum of 35 hours each week.

• Nursing women are bound to get thirty minutes to break every three hours.

• Every employee is entitled to compensation for overtime work.

How Can Skuad Help You With Hiring In Afghanistan?

Before any hiring process, a company needs to set up an HR department and be well-versed with the employment laws, minimum wage, living costs, and other regulations. The hiring process comes with additional costs. The expenses can incur a loss and need to be controlled. To save time and money, outsourcing HR services proves to be a good solution. Doing so helps you save time and focus on your company’s primary workings and services. Connect with Skuad experts to save time, effort, and money today!