View source for Provinces of Afghanistan

{{Short description|First-level administrative territorial entity of Afghanistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name = Provinces of [[Afghanistan]]
| alt_name = [[Wilayat]]
| map = [[File:Afghanistan adm location map.svg|250px]]
| category = [[Unitary state]]
| territory = [[Afghanistan]]
| start_date = 
| current_number = 34 provinces
| number_date = 
| population_range = 167,425 ([[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]]) – 5,211,452 ([[Kabul Province|Kabul]])
| area_range = {{Convert|1908|km2|sqmi|order=flip|abbr=on}} ([[Kapisa Province|Kapisa]]) – {{Convert|58305|km2|sqmi|order=flip|abbr=on}} ([[Helmand Province|Helmand]])
| government = Provincial governments
| subdivision = [[Districts of Afghanistan|District]]
}}
{{Politics of Afghanistan}}

The '''provinces of Afghanistan''' ({{langx|prs|ولايت}} ''[[Wilayah|wilāyat]]'') are the primary [[administrative division]]s of the [[Afghanistan|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]. There are 34 provinces in Afghanistan. Each province encompasses a number of [[Districts of Afghanistan|districts]] or usually over 1,000 villages.

Provincial governors played a critical role in the reconstruction of the Afghan state following the creation of the new government under [[Hamid Karzai]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite book|chapter=Building a Theory of Strongman Governance in Afghanistan|last=Mukhopadhyay|first=Dipali|year=2014|isbn=9781139161817|pages=43|doi=10.1017/cbo9781139161817.001|title = Warlords, Strongman Governors, and the State in Afghanistan}}</ref> According to international security scholar Dipali Mukhopadhyay, many of the provincial governors of the western-backed government were former [[warlord]]s who were incorporated into the political system.<ref name="auto1" />

==History of administrative divisions of Afghanistan==
The administrative divisions of Afghanistan have evolved through a gradual process of centralisation, shaped by geography, military power, and the state's efforts to extend authority from [[Kabul]] to peripheral regions. Until the 20th century, governance relied largely on personal rule, tribal alliances, and tribute rather than clearly defined territorial units.

===Early modern period===
Before the establishment of modern state institutions, the territory of present-day Afghanistan was not divided into fixed provinces. Under the [[Durrani Empire]] (1747–1823), administration functioned through a loose confederation of tribal leaders and appointed relatives. Core centres of authority included [[Kandahar]], [[Kabul]], [[Herat]], and western regions such as [[Sistan]]. Control was exercised through military levies, revenue extraction, and personal loyalty, while boundaries remained fluid and weakly institutionalised.<ref name="">[https://www.unm.edu/~ybosin/documents/durrani.pdf Durrani empire, popular protests, 1747–1823]</ref>
[[File:Afghanistan - 1855 Colton Map of Persia, Afghanistan, and Arabia - Geographicus - PersiaArabia-colton-1855.jpg|thumb|left|Regions of Afghanistan in 1855]]
Following the death of [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] in 1772, internal dynastic conflicts led to fragmentation. By the early 19th century, power was divided among principalities centred on Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat, alongside semi-autonomous northern khanates in [[Balkh]], [[Kunduz]], and [[Badakhshan]]. Local chieftains exercised ''de facto'' authority in rural areas, often limiting the reach of central rule.<ref name="administration">[https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afghanistan-xi-admin/ AFGHANISTAN xi. Administration]</ref> A renewed process of unification occurred under [[Dost Mohammad Khan]] from 1826, who gradually brought [[Ghazni]], [[Hazarajat]], northern [[Turkestan]], Kandahar, and Herat under central control by 1863. Administration remained personal and dynastic, with key regions governed by family members and local rulers integrated through tribute rather than direct bureaucracy.<ref>[https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dost-mohammad-khan/ DŌST MOḤAMMAD KHAN]</ref><ref>[https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/history-emirate.htm Emirate of Afghanistan (1823-1926)]</ref>

===Centralization efforts during the 19th and early 20th centuries===
During the 19th century, Afghan rulers increasingly sought to formalise territorial administration. Provinces were defined broadly along major river systems and watersheds, such as the [[Kabul River]], [[Helmand River]], [[Hari Rud]], and the [[Amu Darya|Oxus basin]].<ref name="manteqa">[https://www.acted.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/annex-iii.-district-creation-and-manteqa-final-1.pdf  Relationship between manteqas and newly created districts in Afghanistan]</ref> By around 1880 and the ascent of Emir [[Abdur Rahman Khan]], British historian W. P. Andrew identified the main provinces as ''[[Kabul Province|Cabul]]'', ''[[Nangarhar Province|Jellalabad]]'', ''[[Ghazni Province|Ghuzni]]'', ''[[Kandahar Province|Candahar]]'', ''[[Herat Province|Herat]]'', and ''[[Balkh Province|Balkh]]'' (also called ''[[Afghan Turkestan]]''), although these units were not systematically surveyed and are known mainly from written sources.<ref name="andrew">{{Cite book|last=Andrew|first=W. P.|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.90940|title=Our Scientific Frontier|date=1880}}</ref><ref name="administration" /> In addition, he identified the rugged regions inhabited by the [[Ghilji|Ghilzai]] and [[Hazaras|Hazara]], roughly corresponding with [[Loya Paktia|Paktia]] and [[Hazarajat]] respectively.<ref name="andrew" />

In 1890, Afghanistan was first mentioned in [[The Statesman's Yearbook|the Statesman's Yearbook]] as a separate entity, stating that the dominions of the [[Emirate of Afghanistan]] are divided into the four provinces of Kabul, Turkistan, Herat, and Kandahar, as well as the districts of [[Badakhshan]] and [[Wakhan]], at the time being seen as separate provinces.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044105224273&seq=331&q1=afghanistan The Stateman's Year-Book 1890], p. 301–302.</ref> Since 1892, Wakhan was included into the district of Badakhshan as part of its dependencies.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044105224257&seq=352&q1=afghanistan The Stateman's Year-Book 1892], p. 313–314.</ref> Between 1891 and 1893, a thorough description of the administrative divisions of Afghanistan was compiled by British military officers, drawing on reports, surveys, and [[Afghan Boundary Commission]] records. The works cover the six provinces of Badakhshan, Afghan Turkistan, Herat, Kabul, Kandahar, and [[Farah Province|Farah]], with the latter being formed out of parts of Herat and Kandahar as well as the ''de facto'' independent [[Sistan]] and [[Garmsir District|Garmsir]] regions during the time of [[Sher Ali Khan]].<ref name="farahkandahar" /> An overview over all provinces and their districts and subdistricts is provided below:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
|+ Provinces of Afghanistan in 1893
! style="width:8.5em" | Province
! style="width:1.5em" | 
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
| colspan="2" style="width:8.5em" | [[Badakhshan]]
| style="width:1.5em" | 
|-
! Districts
! Subdistricts
! ''Source''
|-
| [[Qataghan Province|Kataghan]]/[[Kunduz Khanate|Kunduz]]
| rowspan="19" | –
| rowspan="19" | <ref>[https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.1298/mode/2up The Military Geography of Afghanistan – Part 1 – Badakhshan]</ref> 
|-
| [[Andarab District|Andarab]]
|-
| [[Khinjan District|Khinjan]]
|-
| [[Dushi District|Doshi]]
|-
| [[Dahana-e-Ghuri District|Ghori]]
|-
| [[Baghlan District|Baghlan]]
|-
| [[Nahrin District|Narin]]
|-
| [[Khost wa Fereng District|Khost]]
|-
| [[Farkhar District|Farkhar]]
|-
| [[Rustaq District, Afghanistan|Rustak]]
|-
| [[Lake Shiva|Shiva]]
|-
| [[Raghistan District|Ragh]]
|-
| [[Zebak District|Zebak]]
|-
| [[Ishkashim District|Ishkasham]]
|-
| [[Gharan]]
|-
| [[Fayzabad District, Badakhshan|Faisabad]]
|-
| [[Shighnan District|Shighnan]]
|-
| [[Rushon|Roshan]]
|-
| [[Wakhan District|Wakhan]]
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
| colspan="2" style="width:8.5em" | [[Afghan Turkistan]]
| style="width:1.5em" | 
|-
! Districts
! Subdistricts
! ''Source''
|-
| rowspan="7" | [[Mazar-e Sharif District|Mazar-i-Sharif]]
| [[Mazar-i-Sharif]]
| rowspan="24" | <ref>[https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.1299/mode/2up The Military Geography of Afghanistan – Part 2 – Afghan Turkistan]</ref>
|-
| [[Shortepa District|Shor Tepa]]
|-
| [[Charkint District|Chaharkind]]
|-
| Buinnkara?
|-
| [[Kishindih District|Kishindi]]
|-
| [[Aq Kupruk|Ak Kupruk]]
|-
| Tanj?
|-
| [[Balkh District|Balkh]]
| –
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Aqcha District|Akcha]]
| [[Aqcha|Akcha]]
|-
| [[Khwaja Salar]]
|-
| [[Dawlatabad District|Daolatabad]]
|-
| [[Shibirghan District|Shibarghan]]
| rowspan="2" | –
|-
| [[Andkhoy District|Andkhoi]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Khulm District|Tashqurghan]]
| [[Pir Nakhchir]]
|-
| [[Ghaznigak]]
|-
| [[Kaldar (Samangan)|Kaldar]]
|-
| [[Aybak District|Haibak]]
| rowspan="8" | –
|-
| [[Dara-I-Suf District|Dara Yusuf]]
|-
| [[Ruyi Du Ab District|Doab and Rui]]
|-
| [[Sayghan District|Saighan]] and [[Kahmard District|Kamard]]
|-
| [[Balkhab District|Balkhab]]
|-
| [[Sancharak District|Sang Charak]]
|-
| [[Sar-e-Pol District|Sar-i-Pul]]
|-
| [[Maymana District|Maimana]]
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
| colspan="2" style="width:8.5em" | [[Herat Province|Herat]]
| style="width:1.5em" | 
|-
! Districts
! Subdistricts
! ''Source''
|-
| [[Herat District|Herat]]
| 
| rowspan="10" | <ref>[https://pahar.in/pahar/Books%20and%20Articles/Afghanistan/1893%20The%20Military%20Geography%20of%20Afghanistan%20Part%203%20Herat%20by%20Barrow%20(secret)%20s.pdf The Military Geography of Afghanistan – Part 3 – Herat]</ref>
|-
| [[Ghorian District|Ghorian]]
| 
|-
| [[Karukh District|Karokh]]
|
|-
| [[Obe District|Obeh]]
|
|-
| [[Shindand District|Sabzwar]]
|
|-
| Shahfilan?
|
|-
| [[Badghis Province|Badghis]]
|
|-
| [[Murghab District|Murghab]]
|
|-
| [[Taymani|Taimani]]
|
|-
| [[Firuzkoh|Firozkohi]]
|
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
| colspan="2" style="width:8.5em" | [[Kabul Province|Kabul]]
| style="width:1.5em" | 
|-
! Districts
! Subdistricts
! ''Source''
|-
| rowspan="6" | [[Kabul District|Kabul]]
| [[Kabul]]
| rowspan="24" | <ref>[https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.1301/mode/2up The Military Geography of Afghanistan – Part 4 – Kabul]</ref>
|-
| [[Chardeh Valley|Chardeh]]
|-
| [[Paghman District|Paghman]]
|-
| [[Bagrami District|Butkhak]]
|-
| [[Char Asiab District|Chaharasia]]
|-
| [[Char Asiab District|Chahil Dukhteran]]
|-
| [[Nangarhar Province|Jalalabad]]
| rowspan="8" | –
|-
| [[Laghman Province|Laghman]]
|-
| [[Kunar Province|Kunar]]
|-
| [[Khost Province|Khost]]
|-
| [[Zurmat District|Zurmat]]
|-
| [[Katawaz District|Katawaz]]
|-
| [[Muqur District, Ghazni|Mukur]]
|-
| [[Ghazni Province|Ghazni]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Logar Province|Logar]]
| Logar
|-
| [[Surkhab Dam|Surkhao]]
|-
| [[Khoshi District|Kushi]]
|-
| [[Charkh District|Cherkh]]
|-
| [[Maidan Wardak Province|Maidan]]
| rowspan="2" | –
|-
| [[Koh Daman Valley|Koh Daman]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Kohistan District, Kapisa|Kohistan]]
| [[Tagab District, Kapisa|Tagao]]
|-
| [[Nijrab District|Nijrao]]
|-
| [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]]
|-
| [[Charikar District|Charikar]]
|-
| [[Ghorband District|Ghorband]]{{efn|Ghorband has also been considered part of Kohistan.}}
| –
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Bamyan Province|Bamian]]
| [[Bamyan District|Bamian]]
|-
| [[Yakawlang District|Yak Walang]]
|-
| [[Daizangi (Hazara tribe)|Dai Zangi]]{{efn|Dai Zangi has also been considered part of Hazarajat.}}
|-
| [[Markazi Behsud District|Besud]]{{efn|Besud has also been considered part of Hazarajat.}}
| –
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Hazarajat]]
| [[Daikundi Province|Dai Kundi]]
|-
| Ghazni Hazara
|-
| independent Hazaras{{efn|At the time of writing, it was being brought under the control of Emir Abdul Rahman Khan during the [[1888–1893 Hazara uprisings#Third uprising|third Hazara uprising of 1893]].}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
| colspan="2" style="width:8.5em" | [[Farah Province|Farah]]
| style="width:1.5em" | 
|-
! Districts
! Subdistricts
! ''Source''
|-
| [[Farah District|Farah]]
| rowspan="6" | –
| rowspan="20" | <ref name="farahkandahar">[https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.1302 The Military Geography of Afghanistan – Part 5 – Farah and Kandahar]</ref>
|-
| [[Lash wa Juwayn District|Lash-Juwain]]/Hokat<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1798621.pdf Journey from Bandar Abbas to Mash-Had by Sistan, with Some Account of the Last-Named Province]</ref>
|-
| [[Sistan]]/[[Chakhansur District|Chakhansur]]
|-
| [[Bala Buluk District|Shahiwan]]
|-
| [[Gulistan District|Gulistan]]
|-
| [[Bakwa District|Bakwa]]
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Pusht Rod District|Pusht-i-Rud]]
| [[Pusht Rod District|Pusht-i-Rud]]/[[Grishk District|Girishk]]
|-
| [[Garmsir District|Garmsel]]
|-
| [[Nawzad District|Naozad]]
|-
| [[Zamindawar]]
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center; table-layout:fixed; width:50%; margin:0"
| colspan="2" style="width:8.5em" | [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]]
| style="width:1.5em" | 
|-
! Districts
! Subdistricts
! ''Source''
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Kandahar District|Kandahar]]
| [[Arghandab Valley|Kariajat]]
| rowspan="19" | <ref name="farahkandahar" />
|-
| [[Old Kandahar|Mohalajat]]
|-
| [[Daman District, Afghanistan|Daman]]/Karezat
|-
| [[Tirin Kot District|Tirin]]
| rowspan="2" | –
|-
| [[Derawat]]
|-
| [[Shah Wali Kot District|Dahla]]
| ''15 subdivisions''
|-
| [[Deh-i-Buchi]]
| rowspan="2" | –
|-
| [[Khakrez District|Khakrez]]
|-
| [[Maiwand District|Kushk-i-Nakhud]]
|-
| [[Maiwand District|Maiwand]]
|-
| [[Nesh District|Nish]]
|-
| [[Ghorak District|Ghorak]]
|-
| [[Qalati Ghilji|Kalat-i-Ghilzai]]
|-
| [[Arghistan District|Arghistan]]
|-
| [[Tarnak Aw Jaldak District|Tarnak]]
|-
| [[Mizan District|Mizan]]
|-
| [[Maruf District|Maruf]]
|-
| [[Spin Boldak District|Kadanai]]
|-
| [[Shorabak District|Shorawak]]
|-
|}

In 1896, Afghanistan took control over [[Kafiristan]], including it into the province of Kabul. In 1905, the province of Badakhshan was merged into Afghan Turkistan.

===Provincial reform in the early 1920s===
[[File:Provinces of Afghanistan in 1929.png|thumb|Historical provinces of Afghanistan since 1921]]
A major reform was introduced in 1300 [[Solar Hijri calendar|Hijri]] (1921/22 [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]]) under King [[Amanullah Khan]] with a formal regulation on sub-national administration. This established a multi-tier system consisting of provinces (''wilayat''), high governorates (''hokumat-i a'lā''), governorates (''hokumat''), sub-districts (''alāqa''), and villages (''qarya'').<ref>[https://dlme-prod.stanford.edu/library/catalog/loc-2015481589 Niẓāmnāmah-ʼi taqsīmāt-i mulkīyah-ʼi Afghānistān]</ref> All units reported to the central government, reflecting an emphasis on central control rather than decentralisation. The system was administratively complex and unevenly applied.<ref name="manteqa" />

The provinces were:
* [[Southern Province, Afghanistan|Southern Province]] – dissolved in 1964 to create [[Paktia Province]]. 
* [[Turkestan Province]] – dissolved somewhere between 1929 and 1946.
* [[Qataghan-Badakhshan Province]] – dissolved in 1963 into [[Badakhshan Province]] and [[Qataghan Province]], the latter of which was also dissolved that same year.
* [[Qataghan Province]] – dissolved in 1963 into [[Baghlan Province]], [[Kunduz Province]], and [[Takhar Province]].
* [[Eastern Province, Afghanistan|Eastern Province]] – dissolved in 1964 to create [[Nangarhar Province]].
* [[Farah-Chakansur Province]] – dissolved in 1964 into [[Farah Province]] and [[Nimruz Province]].
* [[Mazar-i-Sharif Province]] – dissolved in 1964 into [[Balkh Province]] and [[Jowzjan Province]].
* [[Meymaneh Province]] – dissolved in 1964 into [[Faryab Province]].

===Mid-20th century reforms===
Between the 1920s and 1960s, successive governments sought to simplify the administrative structure. Large historical provinces such as [[Turkestan]], [[Qataghan-Badakhshan Province|Qataghan-Badakhshan]], [[Eastern Province, Afghanistan|Eastern]], [[Southern Province, Afghanistan|Southern]], and [[Farah-Chakansur Province|Farah-Chakansur]] were gradually dissolved or subdivided. High governorates and governorates were transformed into provinces or districts, while sub-districts remained in use until the late 20th century.<ref name="manteqa" /><ref>[https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/places/asia/afghanistan/afghanistan-overview#attempts-at-modernization-and-reform Afghanistan. Attempts at Modernization and Reform]</ref>

The [[1964 Constitution of Afghanistan|1964 Constitution]] marked a turning point by introducing the principle of balanced regional development and consultative provincial councils. An administrative law enacted in 1965 established a clear hierarchy of provinces, districts, and villages and formally listed all recognised units.<ref name="manteqa" /> In 1963–1964, the country was reorganised into 28 provinces, replacing fewer, larger units with smaller provinces to improve governance and development planning.<ref name="administration" /> This framework remained largely in place until the end of the monarchy in 1973.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan A historical timeline of Afghanistan]</ref>

===During war times in the 20th and 21st century===
[[File:Afghanistan Administrative Divisions 1986.jpg|thumb|left|Administrative divisions of Afghanistan, {{circa|1986}}]]
From the late 1960s onward, local demands and administrative needs led to a gradual increase in the number of districts and provinces. Between the [[Soviet–Afghan War]] and the [[Afghan Civil War (1989-2001)|Afghan civil wars]], 4 new provinces were created: [[Paktika Province|Paktika]], [[Khost Province|Khost]], [[Sar-e-Pol Province|Sar-i Pul]], and [[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]]. A law on local administration in 2000 abolished large districts and sub-districts, upgrading most sub-districts to full districts.<ref name="manteqa" /> After the [[Fall of Kabul (2001)|fall of the first Taliban regime in 2001]], the interim and subsequent governments retained the existing provincial structure, with governors appointed by the central authority.<ref name="manteqa" />

[[File:Afghanistan Physiography 2003.jpg|thumb|Provinces of Afghanistan, {{circa|2003}}]]
Two new provinces were created in 2004 following the adoption of the [[2004 Constitution of Afghanistan|Constitution of Afghanistan]]. [[Daikundi Province|Daykundi]] was formed from districts of [[Uruzgan Province|Uruzgan]], and [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]] was separated from [[Parwan Province|Parwan]]. These changes increased the total number of provinces to 34. No further provincial boundary changes occurred during the remainder of the [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Islamic Republic period]], although the number of districts continued to expand. By 2021, Afghanistan consisted of 34 provinces and 378 districts, reflecting long-term administrative expansion rather than major territorial reorganisation.<ref name="manteqa" />

===Since 2021===
Following the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Taliban's return to power in August 2021]], the 34-province framework was retained. Provincial governors and senior officials have been appointed directly by the central leadership, reinforcing a highly centralised system of administration. While formal provincial boundaries have remained unchanged, governance practices have shifted toward tighter political and ideological control, with provinces functioning primarily as instruments of security and enforcement under the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Islamic Emirate]].<ref>[https://thekhorasandiary.com/en/2025/02/12/taliban-governance-shakeup-haibatullahs-close-aides-appointed-to-secure-kandahar-and-northern-provinces Taliban Governance shakeup: Haibatullah’s close aides appointed to secure Kandahar and Northern Provinces]</ref><ref>[https://amu.tv/170801/ Taliban reshuffle provincial leadership, reassign loyalists to key posts]</ref>

== Provinces of Afghanistan ==
{{Location map+|Afghanistan
|places=
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Badakhshan Province|Badakhshan]]
|coordinates={{coord|36.8|70.77}}
|marksize=0
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Badghis Province|Badghis]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Baghlan Province|Baghlan]]
|coordinates={{coord|35.75|69}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Balkh Province|Balkh]]
|coordinates={{coord|36.7991624|67.2372587}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Bamyan Province|Bamyan]]
|coordinates={{coord|34.75|67.25}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Daykundi Province|Daykundi]]
|coordinates={{coord|33.7251130|66.2196554}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Farah Province|Farah]]
|coordinates={{coord|32.6071110|62.6710110}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Faryab Province|Faryab]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Ghazni Province|Ghazni]]
|coordinates={{coord|33.3149631|67.8289890}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Ghor Province|Ghor]]
|coordinates={{coord|34.1605257|64.9201949}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Helmand Province|Helmand]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Herat Province|Herat]]
|coordinates={{coord|34.1577182|62.2905676}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Jowzjan Province|Jowzjan]]
|coordinates={{coord|36.9665706|65.9560232}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Kabul Province|Kabul]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Kapisa Province|Kap.]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Khost Province|Khost]]
|coordinates={{coord|33.25|69.8912294}}
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Kunar Province|Kunar]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Laghman Province|Lagh.]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Logar Province|Logar]]
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{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar ]]
|coordinates={{coord|34.15|70.3800314}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Nimruz Province|Nimruz]]
|coordinates={{coord|30.7753811|62.4793088}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]]
|coordinates={{coord|35.175|70.7}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Paktia Province|Paktia]]
|coordinates={{coord|33.6|69.5}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Paktika Province|Paktika]]
|coordinates={{coord|32.3936231|68.7036514}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Panjshir Province|Panj.]]
|coordinates={{coord|35.15|69.6}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Parwan Province|Parwan]]
|coordinates={{coord|34.85|68.9146703}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Samangan Province|Samangan]]
|coordinates={{coord|35.8|67.7}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Sar-e Pol Province|Sar-e Pol]]
|coordinates={{coord|35.4|66.1}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Takhar Province|Takhar]]
|coordinates={{coord|36.5940732|69.6}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Uruzgan Province|Uruzgan]]
|coordinates={{coord|32.75|66.0183185}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Maidan Wardak Province|M. Wardak]]
|coordinates={{coord|34.3191345|68.2}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
{{Location map~|Afghanistan
|label=[[Zabul Province|Zabul]]
|coordinates={{coord|32.2|67.1299040}}
|marksize=0
|position=top
}}
|width=750
|float=center
|caption=Provinces of Afghanistan
|maplink=
}}

=== Administrative ===
The following table lists the province, capital, number of districts, UN region, region, [[ISO 3166-2:AF]] code and license plate code.<ref name="Schoolbook">{{cite web |url = https://moe.gov.af/sites/default/files/2020-03/G12-Dr-Geography.pdf |title = Afghan school books - Geography G-12 |website = moe.gov.af |access-date = 28 Jan 2025 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230324200616/https://moe.gov.af/sites/default/files/2020-03/G12-Dr-Geography.pdf |archive-date = 24 March 2023}}</ref>

{{sticky header}}{{table alignment}}{{static row numbers}}{{sort under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header sort-under col3right"
|+ Afghan provinces and administrative data
! Province !! Capital !! Districts !! UN Region !! Region !! ISO !! Plate{{br}}code
|-
| [[Badakhshan Province|Badakhshan]] || [[Fayzabad, Badakhshan|Fayzabad]] || 29 || North East  || North || AF-BDS  || BDN 
|-
| [[Badghis Province|Badghis]] || [[Qala i Naw, Afghanistan|Qala i Naw]] || 7 || West  || Central || AF-BDG  || BDG 
|-
| [[Baghlan Province|Baghlan]] || [[Puli Khumri]] || 16 || North East  || North || AF-BGL  || BAG 
|-
| [[Balkh Province|Balkh]] || [[Mazar-i-Sharif]] || 15 || North West  || North || AF-BAL  || BLH 
|-
| [[Bamyan Province|Bamyan]] || [[Bamyan, Afghanistan|Bamyan]] || 7 || West  || Central || AF-BAM  || BAM 
|-
| [[Daykundi Province|Daykundi]] || [[Nili, Afghanistan|Nili]] || 8 || South West  || South || AF-DAY  || DYK 
|-
| [[Farah Province|Farah]] || [[Farah, Afghanistan|Farah]] || 11 || West  || Central || AF-FRA  || FRH 
|-
| [[Faryab Province|Faryab]] || [[Maymana]] || 14 || North West  || North || AF-FYB  || FYB 
|-
| [[Ghazni Province|Ghazni]] || [[Ghazni]] || 19 || South East  || South || AF-GHA  || GAZ 
|-
| [[Ghor Province|Ghor]] || [[Chaghcharan]] || 11 || West  || Central || AF-GHO  || GHR 
|-
| [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] || [[Lashkargah]] || 13 || South West  || South || AF-HEL  || HEL 
|-
| [[Herat Province|Herat]] || [[Herat]] || 15 || West  || Central || AF-HER  || HRT 
|-
| [[Jowzjan Province|Jowzjan]] || [[Sheberghan]] || 9 || North West  || North || AF-JOW  || JZJ 
|-
| [[Kabul Province|Kabul]] || [[Kabul]] || 18 || Central  || Central || AF-KAB  || KBL 
|-
| [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] || [[Kandahar]] || 16 || South West  || South || AF-KAN  || KRD 
|-
| [[Kapisa Province|Kapisa]] || [[Mahmud-i-Raqi]] || 7 || Central  || Central || AF-KAP  || KPS 
|-
| [[Khost Province|Khost]] || [[Khost]] || 13 || South East  || South || AF-KHO  || KST 
|-
| [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] || [[Asadabad, Afghanistan|Asadabad]] || 15 || East  || Central || AF-KNR  || KNR 
|-
| [[Kunduz Province|Kunduz]] || [[Kunduz]] || 7 || North East  || North || AF-KDZ  || KDZ 
|-
| [[Laghman Province|Laghman]] || [[Mihtarlam]] || 5 || East  || Central || AF-LAG  || LGM 
|-
| [[Logar Province|Logar]] || [[Pul-i-Alam]] || 7 || Central  || Central || AF-LOG  || LGR 
|-
| [[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar]] || [[Jalalabad, Afghanistan|Jalalabad]] || 23 || East  || Central || AF-NAN  || NGR 
|-
| [[Nimruz Province|Nimruz]] || [[Zaranj]] || 5 || South West  || South || AF-NIM  || NRZ 
|-
| [[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]] || [[Parun]] || 7 || East  || Central || AF-NUR  || NUR 
|-
| [[Paktia Province|Paktia]] || [[Gardez]] || 11 || South East  || South || AF-PIA  || PAK 
|-
| [[Paktika Province|Paktika]] || [[Sharana, Afghanistan|Sharana]] || 15 || South East  || South || AF-PKA  || PKT 
|-
| [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]] || [[Bazarak, Panjshir|Bazarak]] || 7 || Central  || Central || AF-PAN  || PJR 
|-
| [[Parwan Province|Parwan]] || [[Charikar]] || 9 || Central  || Central || AF-PAR  || PRN 
|-
| [[Samangan Province|Samangan]] || [[Aybak, Samangan|Aybak]] || 5 || North West  || North || AF-SAM  || SAM 
|-
| [[Sar-e Pol Province|Sar-e Pol]] || [[Sar-e Pol city|Sar-e Pol]] || 7 || North West  || North || AF-SAR  || SRP 
|-
| [[Takhar Province|Takhar]] || [[Taloqan]] || 16 || North East  || North || AF-TAK  || TAK 
|-
| [[Uruzgan Province|Uruzgan]] || [[Tarinkot]] || 6 || South West  || South || AF-URU  || ORZ 
|-
| [[Wardak Province|Wardak]] || [[Maidan Shar]] || 9 || Central  || Central || AF-WAR  || WDK
|-
|[[Zabul Province|Zabul]]
|[[Qalat, Zabul Province|Qalat]]
|9
|South West
|South
|AF-ZAB
|ZAB
|}

=== Demographic ===
The following table lists the province, population in 2024,<ref name="NSIA pop">{{cite web |url = https://nsia.gov.af/library |title = Library |website = nsia.gov.af |access-date = 23 Jan 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWzeE5zCoqwHfht-16xVkHejlgW9Wbeb/view |title = Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2024-25 |website = [[National Statistics and Information Authority]] |access-date = 23 Jan 2025}}</ref> area in square kilometers<ref name="Schoolbook"/> and population density.

{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header static-row-numbers sort-under col1left" {{right}}
|+ Afghan provinces and demographic data
! Province !! Population !! Area{{br}}{{km2}} !! Density{{br}}/{{km2}}
|-
| [[Badakhshan Province|Badakhshan]] || 1,130,535 || 44,836 || 25.2
|-
| [[Badghis Province|Badghis]] || 575,212 || 20,794 || 27.7
|-
| [[Baghlan Province|Baghlan]] || 1,093,013 || 18,255 || 59.9
|-
| [[Balkh Province|Balkh]] || 1,560,365 || 16,186 || 96.4
|-
| [[Bamyan Province|Bamyan]] || 531,344 || 18,029 || 29.5
|-
| [[Daykundi Province|Daykundi]] || 553,372 || 17,501 || 31.6
|-
| [[Farah Province|Farah]] || 604,420 || 49,339 || 12.3
|-
| [[Faryab Province|Faryab]] || 1,192,381 || 20,798 || 57.3
|-
| [[Ghazni Province|Ghazni]] || 1,461,703 || 22,461 || 65.1
|-
| [[Ghor Province|Ghor]] || 833,304 || 36,657 || 22.7
|-
| [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] || 1,552,838 || 58,305 || 26.6
|-
| [[Herat Province|Herat]] || 2,332,654 || 55,869 || 41.8
|-
| [[Jowzjan Province|Jowzjan]] || 648,804 || 11,293 || 57.5
|-
| [[Kabul Province|Kabul]] || 5,966,395 || 4,524 || 1,319.0
|-
| [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] || 1,532,662 || 54,845 || 27.9
|-
| [[Kapisa Province|Kapisa]] || 523,201 || 1,908 || 274.2
|-
| [[Khost Province|Khost]] || 682,333 || 4,235 || 161.1
|-
| [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] || 535,488 || 4,926 || 108.7
|-
| [[Kunduz Province|Kunduz]] || 1,233,223 || 8,081 || 152.6
|-
| [[Laghman Province|Laghman]] || 528,879 || 3,978 || 132.9
|-
| [[Logar Province|Logar]] || 465,698 || 4,568 || 101.9
|-
| [[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar]] || 1,840,831 || 7,727 || 240.9
|-
| [[Nimruz Province|Nimruz]] || 197,513 || 42,410 || 4.7
|-
| [[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]] || 175,507 || 9,267 || 18.9
|-
| [[Paktia Province|Paktia]] || 830,994 || 5,583 || 148.8
|-
| [[Paktika Province|Paktika]] || 656,430 || 19,516 || 33.6
|-
| [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]] || 182,054 || 3,772 || 48.3
|-
| [[Parwan Province|Parwan]] || 792,273 || 5,715 || 138.6
|-
| [[Samangan Province|Samangan]] || 552,763 || 13,438 || 41.1
|-
| [[Sar-e Pol Province|Sar-e Pol]] || 666,737 || 16,386 || 40.7
|-
| [[Takhar Province|Takhar]] || 1,175,306 || 12,459 || 94.3
|-
| [[Uruzgan Province|Uruzgan]] || 467,659 || 11,474 || 40.8
|-
| [[Wardak Province|Wardak]] || 707,486 || 10,348 || 68.4
|-
| [[Zabul Province|Zabul]] || 412,150 || 17,472 || 23.6
|}

== Regions of Afghanistan ==

[[File:Regions of Afghanistan.png|thumb|Blue : North<br>Red: Central<br>Green : South ]]

The following tables summarize data from the demographic table.<ref name="NSIA pop"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers sort-under col1left" {{right}}
|+ Regions and demographic data
! Region !! Population !! Area{{br}}{{km2}} !! Density{{br}}/{{km2}}
|-
| Central || 16,594,746 || 237,335 || 69.9
|-
| North || 9,253,127 || 161,730 || 57.2
|-
| South || 8,347,654 || 253,801 || 32.9
|}

=== UN regions ===
[[File:UN Regions of Afghanistan.png|thumb|UN regions of Afghanistan]]
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers sort-under col1left" {{right}}
|+ UN regions and demographic data
! Region !! Population !! Area{{br}}{{km2}} !! Density{{br}}/{{km2}}
|-
| Central || 8,637,107|| 30,835 || 280.1
|-
| East || 3,080,705 || 25,812 || 119.4
|-
| North East || 4,632,077 || 83,631 || 55.4
|-
| North West || 4,621,050 || 78,100 || 59.2
|-
| South East || 3,631,460 || 51,795 || 70.1
|-
| South West || 4,716,194 || 202,006 || 23.3
|-
| West || 4,876,934 || 180,688 || 27.0
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of current provincial governors in Afghanistan]]
* [[Districts of Afghanistan]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Provinces of Afghanistan}}
*[https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1604&context=kabultimes Interior Ministry Renames Provinces, Capital Cities], [[The Kabul Times Daily|Kabul Times]], 30 April 1964
*[https://w.ethnia.org/polity.php?SL=en&ASK_CODE=AF__&ASK_YY=2025&ASK_MM=12&ASK_DD=23 Afghan Provinces and Territories since 1900] at Ethnia.org
*[https://statoids.com/uaf.html Provinces of Afghanistan] at statoids.com
*[https://archive.today/20070609234549/http://www.aims.org.af/index.aspx Afghanistan Information Management Services (AIMS)]
*[http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/governors.html Provincial Governors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415001905/http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/governors.html |date=15 April 2018 }}
*[https://ariananews.co/en/afghanistan-provinces/ Afghanistan Provinces Map]
*[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/geography-i Xavier de Planhol, 2000, ''GEOGRAPHY i. Evolution of geographical knowledge: Development of geographical knowledge about Afghanistan.'', Encyclopædia Iranica.]

{{Afghanistan topics}}
{{Provinces of Afghanistan}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of Asian countries}}

[[Category:Provinces of Afghanistan| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Provinces, Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Lists of administrative divisions|Afghanistan 1]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]]