United Nations: Taliban Restrictions on Women Have Weakened Afghanistan’s Economy

Photo: © Wakil Kohsar / AFP

The United Nations said in a new report that the Taliban’s continued restrictions on women and girls have further weakened Afghanistan’s economy and labour force.

The report, published on Thursday (14 May), states that nearly 100 decrees issued by the Taliban since 2021 remain in effect and continue to restrict women and girls’ access to education, work and freedom of movement across Afghanistan.

The United Nations said that millions of families in Afghanistan continue to face severe difficulties in accessing basic needs such as food, clean water, healthcare services, housing, heating and clothing.

According to the report, more than 80 percent of families in Afghanistan are in debt, and nearly three quarters of them are using harmful coping mechanisms to survive.

The United Nations said these methods include reducing food consumption, borrowing money and removing children from school.

According to the report, around 28 million people in Afghanistan were living in poverty in 2025. The United Nations said that large scale returns of migrants, worsening drought and declining international aid have made the situation more difficult.

The report states that Afghanistan’s real gross domestic product grew by only 1.9 percent in 2025, while population growth reached 6.5 percent. According to the United Nations, this situation has led to a decline in per capita income.

The United Nations also said that international assistance to Afghanistan declined by around 16.5 percent in 2025, while humanitarian needs continued to rise.

The report comes as the World Food Programme had previously warned that 13.8 million people in Afghanistan are facing severe food insecurity, with women and children among the most vulnerable groups.