In 2025, Afghan women face intensifying poverty and oppression under Taliban rule. As the country’s economy crumbles and aid dries up, survival, not freedom, defines daily life for millions of women and girls.
KABUL, Afghanistan. Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, Afghanistan has spiralled into one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. International sanctions, a frozen financial system, and the loss of foreign aid, which previously funded 75% of public spending, have consequently devastated the economy. As of 2024, over 28 million Afghans, or two-thirds of the population, rely on humanitarian aid, according to UN OCHA.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected. With education bans, job restrictions, and reduced legal protections, poverty has deepened their vulnerability. Here are seven ways poverty is uniquely impacting women in Afghanistan:
- Restricted Access to Healthcare
In rural provinces, healthcare facilities are scarce and often inaccessible due to poverty and movement restrictions on women. Many cannot afford transportation or medical fees. According to UNICEF, Afghanistan recorded 50.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 among the world’s highest. Maternal mortality remains equally concerning, with minimal reproductive health support available for impoverished women.
- Increase in Child Marriage
Economic desperation has led to a surge in child marriages. Families often marry off daughters to reduce household expenses or receive dowries. A 2022 Save the Children report found a 20% increase in child marriages since the Taliban takeover. Early marriage ends education, leads to early pregnancies, and limits future opportunities for girls.
- Barriers to Education
Afghanistan is now the only country where girls are banned from secondary and university education. Even before the bans, poverty prevented many families from affording school supplies or transportation. Illiteracy among Afghan women remains high, limiting their access to information, jobs, and autonomy.
(Source: Human Rights Watch)
- Economic Dependence and Joblessness
Under Taliban restrictions, women have been barred from most forms of employment, including in NGOs and the public sector. Without income, many women are economically dependent on male relatives, increasing vulnerability to abuse and deepening cycles of poverty. The World Bank reported female labour force participation dropped to 6% in 2023.
- Gender-Based Violence
Displacement, economic strain, and lack of legal support have fuelled gender-based violence (GBV). With the Taliban dismantling many protections for women, reporting abuse is risky and often futile. Poverty exacerbates this danger by leaving women without shelter or resources to escape unsafe environments.
- Political and Legal Exclusion
Women are now excluded from government roles, lawmaking, and civic engagement. For impoverished women, especially those without education, this exclusion ensures continued invisibility in shaping the country’s future and addressing their needs.
- Loss of Aid and Public Services
International funding once supported schools, hospitals, and women’s programs. With most of that aid halted, over 15 million women and girls are at increased risk of hunger, disease, and exploitation. UN Women emphasizes the need for gender-responsive aid efforts to prevent further deterioration.
Poverty in Afghanistan is not only an economic crisis, but it is a human rights emergency for women. Tackling it requires global action: restoring education access, lifting restrictions, and reintroducing aid that prioritizes gender equality.