Digital Payment Adoption Statistics in Afghanistan (2026)
As of the 2021 data, 7.9% of adults in Afghanistan made or received a digital payment, per World Bank Global Findex. Down from 10.8% in 2017 to 7.9% in 2021 (−2.9 percentage points). Afghanistan ranks #18 of 18 economies in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan on this measure, and #141 of 142 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2021)
- 7.9% (2021)
- Digital Payment Adoption in Afghanistan as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2017
- −2.9 pp (2021)
- Down from 10.8% in 2017 to 7.9% in 2021 (−2.9 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2014)
- 5.6% (2014)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 5.6% in 2014 to 7.9% in 2021.
- Peak value (2017)
- 10.8% (2017)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2021 value is 7.9%.
- Rank in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- #18 of 18 (2021)
- Afghanistan ranks 18 of 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #141 of 142 (2021)
- Afghanistan ranks 141 of 142 countries with data globally.
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan average
- 42% (2021)
- Afghanistan (7.9%) is below the average of 42% across the 18 countries in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with data.
- Made a digital payment (% age 15+) (2021)
- 4.7% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank Global Findex.
- Received digital payments (% age 15+) (2021)
- 4.3% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank Global Findex.
- Internet use in Afghanistan (2024)
- 16.1% (2024)
- 16.1% of the population in Afghanistan used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 42.6 million (2024)
- Afghanistan had a population of 42.6 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2014–2021
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7.9% | −2.9 pp |
| 2017 | 10.8% | +5.3 pp |
| 2014 | 5.6% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in Afghanistan made or received a digital payment?
7.9% of adults in Afghanistan made or received a digital payment in 2021, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
Where does Afghanistan rank globally on digital payment adoption?
Afghanistan ranks 141 of 142 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank Global Findex value for each country.
When did digital payment adoption in Afghanistan peak?
The highest value in the available series was 10.8% in 2017; the latest (2021) value is 7.9%.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
g20.any, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .