Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports was 6.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Computer, communications and other services in Afghanistan, 1979–2020
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
In 2020, computer, communications and other services in Afghanistan stood at 6.9%.
That represents a change of down 15.0% on the previous year and down 64.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, computer, communications and other services in Afghanistan peaked at 32.8% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 1986.
That places Afghanistan 189th out of 198 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 32.8% | — |
| 1980 | 15.7% | -52.0% |
| 1981 | 14.5% | -7.5% |
| 1982 | 7.6% | -47.5% |
| 1983 | 7.5% | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 5.1% | -31.3% |
| 1985 | 7.2% | +39.8% |
| 1986 | 4.1% | -43.6% |
| 1987 | 11.1% | +173.8% |
| 1988 | 4.2% | -62.2% |
| 1989 | 4.6% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 17.6% | +286.8% |
| 2009 | 22.6% | +28.4% |
| 2010 | 19.5% | -13.9% |
| 2011 | 22.7% | +16.3% |
| 2012 | 27.7% | +22.2% |
| 2013 | 15.6% | -43.8% |
| 2014 | 22.1% | +42.2% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | -55.1% |
| 2016 | 7.1% | -28.4% |
| 2017 | 5.7% | -20.6% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | +74.0% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | -15.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 6.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 21.3%, 32% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 6.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 18.4%, 37% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +286.8% | 4.6% | 17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.8% | 32.8% | 32.8% | 1 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 4.1% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 17.6% | 22.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.8% | 5.7% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More private sector data for Afghanistan
- Merchandise trade 22.2% (2025)
- Food imports 26.9% (2019)
- Manufactures imports 41.1% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 3.61 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 1.04 billion current US$ (2020)
- Food exports 63.9% (2019)
- Manufactures exports 4.8% (2019)
- Merchandise exports 926.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 597.45 million current US$ (2020)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 21.12 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is computer, communications and other services in Afghanistan?
- Computer, communications and other services in Afghanistan was 6.9% in 2020, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest computer, communications and other services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8% in 1979.
- What is the lowest computer, communications and other services recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 1986.
- How does Afghanistan rank for computer, communications and other services?
- Afghanistan ranks 189th out of 198 countries with data for 2020.
- Is computer, communications and other services rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Computer, communications and other services include such activities as international telecommunications, and postal and courier services; computer data; news-related service transactions between residents and nonresidents; construction services; royalties and license fees; miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services; and personal, cultural, and recreational services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.