The American journal Science Advances has published an investigative report stating that the average life satisfaction among the people of Afghanistan has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded since the Taliban’s return to power. The report, which examines public satisfaction in 2022, shows that living conditions for Afghan citizens have deteriorated to an unprecedented degree. Two-thirds of those interviewed for the report rated their life satisfaction as zero or one on a scale of zero to ten. Meanwhile, several citizens also confirmed in interviews with the Hasht-e Subh Daily that poverty, unemployment, lack of job opportunities, and decreased income have severely affected their quality of life and access to services.
In its 2022 investigative report, Science Advances highlighted a dramatic decline in life satisfaction among citizens of Afghanistan. The findings reveal a historically sharp drop in well-being following the Taliban’s takeover. The results also indicate that between 2005 and 2022, no other country reported a lower average life satisfaction than Afghanistan in 2022.
The journal released its findings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. According to the report, 4,127 citizens were interviewed for this study. The report states: “Life satisfaction in Afghanistan declined significantly in 2022, following the Taliban’s return to power. Two-thirds of respondents rated their life satisfaction as zero or one on a ten-point scale.”
The study found that women have experienced a greater decline in life satisfaction than men. The report attributes this to mounting restrictions on education, work, and access to public spaces such as recreational areas and parks. It notes that United Nations experts and researchers have described the current situation as “gender apartheid.”
The report also reveals that, beyond gender disparities, residents of urban areas reported a smaller drop in life satisfaction compared to those living in rural areas.
Additionally, the research assessed Afghans’ hopes for the future by asking: “Where do you see your life five years from now?” The average response on a scale from zero to ten was just 1.2.
The journal compared its findings on the well-being of Afghan citizens with two global well-being datasets collected from more than 170 countries between 1946 and 2022. The results indicate that Afghanistan’s life satisfaction level in 2022 was the lowest ever recorded in history.
Meanwhile, several citizens have pointed out that rising poverty and unemployment, declining incomes, lack of infrastructure investment, mass emigration, the Taliban regime’s inefficiency, lack of public services, and growing hopelessness have significantly eroded people’s well-being and life satisfaction.
Abdullah (pseudonym), a Kabul resident and head of a nine-member household, stated that poverty and unemployment are worsening by the day. He added that the lack of job opportunities has created serious livelihood challenges for people of Afghanistan.
He said: “You can take a poor man’s life, but not his bread. During the Republic era, although insecurity existed, at least we had food. Now this so-called peace is meaningless. Death is inevitable, but this unemployment is a form of humiliation.”
An employee at the Ministry of Information and Culture, who wished to remain completely anonymous, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that life has become increasingly stressful in various ways. According to him, while rent prices have gone up, their salaries have decreased.
He added: “When rent goes up, it’s only logical that salaries should also increase—but instead, our salaries have been cut. On top of that, there’s no certainty about when we’ll be paid. It’s been two months since I last received my salary. During the Republic, my salary would be deposited into my bank account on the 20th of every month without fail.”
In the 13th edition of the World Happiness Report 2025, Afghanistan once again ranked at the bottom of the global happiness index, placing 147th out of 147 assessed countries, earning the title of the “saddest country in the world.” Widespread poverty, unemployment, insecurity, severe restrictions on women’s rights, lack of social support, and diminishing hope for the future have been cited as key factors behind this ranking. These elements highlight that Afghans are not only grappling with severe economic and social challenges, but their level of hope and psychological well-being has also plummeted dramatically.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
زندهگی بیرفاه در افغانستان؛ طالبان آسایش و امید را ربودهاند
