IN

I.AFGHANISTAN

I.2. THE POPULATION

I.2.1. CHARACTERISTICS

Total population (July 2001 est.) was 26,813,057, composed approximately as:

0-14 years of age: 42.2% (male 5,775,921; female 5,538,836)
15-64 years: 55.01% (male 7,644,242; female 7,106,568)
65 years and over: 2.79% (male 394,444; female 353,046) (2001 est.)

Exact figure is unknown; a UN-supported census in 1999/2000 put the population at 23 million.

Population growth rate is high, at 3.48% (2001 est.), reflecting the continued return of refugees. Average lifespan has been reported as: total population 46.24 years; male 46.97 years; female 45.47 years (2001 est.). Another estimate of lifespan was 41 years. UNDP (2000) put life expectancy at 40 years; children under 5 years with a mortality rate of 25.7; and illiteracy at 64%.

One estimate of fertility rate, as it relates to family size, was 5.79 children born/woman (2001 est.).

Ethnic groups include Pashtun 38% of the population, Tajik 25%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others) 12%, Uzbek 6%.

Religions: Sunni Muslim 84% of the population, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%.

Languages are Pashtu 35% of the population, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%. There is much bilingualism; many persons were encountered who could speak English to some degree.

Because of intense poverty in rural areas and the long fighting period, the population has become quite mobile, with heavy migration to the cities, movement of refugees, etc. This has reportedly upset the "extended family" situation which ensured support for many people.

I.2.2. HEALTH

Health infrastructure was initially inadequate, and war devastation of what existed, has left the country with one of the worst health situations in the world. There are high rates of maternal, infant and child mortality, and high incidence of widows and orphans. Many children have infectious and parasitic diseases, including diarrhea and respiratory infection. Most medical professionals have fled the country. There is an estimated one health center for every 100,000 persons. In 1996, it was estimated that 1.5 million were physically disabled by war injuries (including amputation, blindness and paralysis) and debilitating infectious diseases such as polio and leprosy. Cholera is endemic. "A majority relies on indigenous healers such as traditional midwives, herbalists, bone setters and barbers who circumcise, let blood, pull teeth, and perform some curative procedures. Mullahs, sayyids and other specialists prepare curative and protective amulets".

I.2.3. EDUCATION

Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write) was: total population: 31.5% (other reports cite 34-35%); male: 47.2%; female: 15% (1999 est.). During years of war, the educational infrastructure has been all but demolished. Women have been excluded from education; quality of education for boys is rated poorly.

By law, all male children aged 7-15 must attend school. In 1998, there were about 4.4 million children (boys and girls) of this age. Some 250,000 boys attended externally supported schools and 750,000 boys were in government schools. The rest (2 million girls and 1.4 million boys) have never attended any school. Many would like to attend school, but there are not enough schools or teachers. 85% of the trained teachers were estimated to have been killed or fled the country.

There are two universities (Ningrahar University in Jalalabad, and Kabul University). Most higher education facilities were closed much of the time due to fighting and shelling, and have severely damaged physical facilities with few or no textbooks, libraries or laboratories, and under-qualified staff.

"Universities had not turned out graduates suitable to lead agricultural programs for the last 20 years" (an agricultural leader).

Seed-related evaluation: newly-established facilities and operations should be of the most basic nature which can fill the need. Staff will have to be selected to obtain the best, and then re-trained so they operate effectively. Farmers, who generally understand much of the importance of genetic materials without understanding the sciences involved, are largely illiterate and must be trained to understand the precise benefits of improved seed and varieties (although better farmers have a surprisingly good understanding). Such training can be effective only if demonstrations are generally used in local village/farm areas, under conditions that farmers see, understand, and relate to their own situations.

I.2.4. REFUGEE SITUATION

Of a total population of 26+ million (estimated), estimates of refugees range from 6 to 8 million, including refugees in neighboring countries and in refugee status within the country (IDP's, internally displaced persons).

There have also reportedly been large numbers of persons wounded/crippled not only by the conflict, but more importantly by land mines.

44% of the returning refugees reportedly go to the Kabul area. But, this is one of the most heavily-mined regions and they are thought to ultimately return to village areas.

Reportedly, some 140,000 refugees return each week.

I.2.5. SOCIAL PROBLEMS

ADB described these as: a variety of social ills are common, such as poverty, interethnic strife, gender inequality, and widespread thievery, kidnapping and banditry. The Taliban imposed order through intimidation, by imposing a strict centuries-old mountain-village social code on the entire population including cities.

Years of war have separated and impoverished extended families that traditionally cared for widows and fatherless children, many of whom now must fend for themselves. Diseases of malnutrition are being reported for the first time in decades. The World Bank described it as: "Afghanistan, which has always been at or near the bottom of most poverty and social indicator rankings, must now be considered the poorest, most miserable state in the world."

This is discussed in greater detail, with emphasis on rural populations, in a later section.

I.2.6. RURAL AND URBAN POPULATIONS

Information available for periods before the recent conflict/refugee situation is as follows.

Rural households reportedly make up 80% of the total national population, with only 20% urban.

Major urban provinces are Kabul (79% of its population is urban); Kandahar (35% urban); Mazar-i-Sharif (26% urban); Herat (24% urban) and Kunduz (21% urban). These provinces make up 33% of the total national population, but over 80% of the urban population.

The nine provinces with the most rural population make up 17% of the national population, but have virtually no urban population.

The estimated "settled" population in 1996, in terms of the province's % of urban population, was as follows. NOTE: population in this table is shown in '000's of persons).

Table 1
Estimated Classification of Population (1996) (PDF File 57Kb)

Seed-Related Evaluation: the general supply of higher-yielding seed and inputs will have a significant effect on the income and living standards of a major part of the population, in food supplies available for the family and possibly in excess production available for sale or barter.