Afghanistan crisis deepens as record returns, drought and aid cuts strain economy Estimates indicate that around 28 million people in Afghanistan were living in poverty in 2025 , with the situation compounded by mass population returns, worsening drought and shrinking international aid. While Afghanistan recorded a second consecutive year of economic growth, real GDP expanded by just 1.9 per cent in 2025, down from 2.3 per cent the previous year. Population growth, however, reached 6.5 per cent, resulting in an estimated 2.1 per cent decline in real GDP per capita. UNDP ’s report,  Afghanistan Socioeconomic Review , found that the share of Afghans facing subsistence insecurity remained largely unchanged, but an additional 1.4 million people were pushed into hardship following the return of 2.9 million Afghans during 2025. ‘Country under growing strain’ Millions of families continue struggling to access essentials, including water, food, healthcare, housing, heating and clothing.…