Afghanistan now has the second-largest gender gap in the world, with eight in ten women denied access to education and employment, according to the 2024 Afghanistan Gender Index.
The UN women report released today, described as the most comprehensive assessment of women’s empowerment and gender equality in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power, states that Afghan women have fallen significantly behind global human development standards.
Afghanistan faces a 76 percent gender inequality rate in key areas such as health, education, financial access, and participation in decision-making, placing it just above Yemen on the Global Gender Inequality Index.
The report finds that Afghan women are realising only 17 percent of their full potential in terms of access to opportunities and personal choice, compared to the global average of 60.7 percent.
“Afghanistan’s greatest resource is its women and girls. Their potential continues to be untapped, yet they persevere,” said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. “Afghan women are supporting each other, running businesses, delivering humanitarian aid and speaking out against injustice.”
According to the index, 78 percent of young Afghan women are not in education, employment or training, while the secondary school completion rate for girls is expected to fall to zero due to ongoing bans on girls’ secondary and tertiary education, including medical training.
The report also highlights a deep gender disparity in the workforce. Only 24 percent of Afghan women participate in the job market, compared to 89 percent of men. The majority of women are engaged in unpaid domestic labour; 74 percent, versus only 3 percent of men.
Additionally, men are nearly three times more likely than women to have a bank account or use mobile money services.
Despite widespread restrictions, the report notes a significant rise in the number of unemployed Afghan women actively seeking work. By 2022, this figure had quadrupled compared to pre-Taliban levels.
UN Women also reported that there are currently no women in the Taliban’s cabinet or local administrative offices, underscoring the continued political exclusion of Afghan women.
