Afghanistan

Years of economic hardship, widespread displacement, climate crises and now the systematic exclusion of women and girls from public life have left millions of people in Afghanistan with little capacity to withstand further shocks. In 2026, around 21.9 million people — nearly half the population — require humanitarian assistance. 

Women and children face the gravest risks: Maternal vulnerability is deepening as movement restrictions prevent women and girls from safely accessing life-saving services for essential healthcare. Only one in four pregnant women receive the recommended four or more antenatal care visits, leaving the majority without essential support. In 2025, an estimated 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to be acutely malnourished in 2026 – a sharp rise on 2025 – posing serious risks to both mothers and babies.

Access to health services deteriorated in 2025, following deep funding cuts and restrictions on female health workers. More than 100 UNFPA-supported family health houses in hard-to-reach communities were forced to close, rendering life-saving maternal and reproductive health services increasingly out of reach in remote and conflict-affected areas. 

Gender-based violence, child marriage, child labour, trafficking, family separation and psychological distress remain widespread. Adolescent girls are particularly affected: One in four is married before the age of 18, heightening early pregnancy risks.

UNFPA is on the ground in Afghanistan, delivering reproductive healthcare and psychosocial support to the most vulnerable women and girls. UNFPA remains committed to ensuring that every pregnancy is safe, every birth is attended by skilled care, and every woman and girl is protected.

Updated 11 June 2026