RASC News Agency: The United Nations has reported that nearly 63 percent of Afghanistan’s population is under the age of 25. On Monday, August 12, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) marked International Youth Day by highlighting that nearly 63 percent of Afghanistan’s population is under 25. According to the agency, 9.2 million people reside in Afghanistan’s cities, while 25 million live in rural areas.
The Statistics and Information Department has estimated Afghanistan’s population in 2024 to be approximately 34.9 million. The organization noted that the majority of Afghanistan’s population comprises young people, teenagers, and children, with a smaller proportion of elderly individuals. However, Afghanistan is gripped by poverty and unemployment, leaving most of these young people without jobs. Since the Taliban’s takeover of the country, poverty and unemployment have surged, forcing a significant number of young people to seek refuge in countries like Iran, Pakistan, and various European nations.
These young individuals, most of whom are under the age of 25, have left the country and become displaced in foreign lands. Meanwhile, countries like Iran and Pakistan, where millions of Afghanistani youth have sought refuge, have intensified their deportation efforts. Afghanistani youth face humiliation and rejection at borders and in foreign countries but have no choice but to seek a means to earn a living. Afghanistan, with a population of nearly 34 million, continues to grapple with widespread unemployment.
Additionally, the incidence of suicide, often rooted in poverty, unemployment, and family problems, has increased among young people. Since the Taliban’s return to power, reports of suicide among the youth have become a weekly occurrence. Afghanistan’s youth are enduring lives marked by poverty, unemployment, and numerous challenges.
