Pray for Afghanistan
Learn about and pray for Afghanistan in just 5 minutes per week!
Receive one email per week for 13 weeks about Afghanistan’s history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.
WEEK 1
Prayercast
Pray along with a local believer for their nation.
WEEK 2
Operation World
Pray through Operation World's country profile.
WEEK 3
World Watch List
Pray through the country's persecution profile.
WEEKS 4-13
People Groups
Pray for the country's 10 largest unreached people groups.
Introduction
Afghanistan’s tumultuous history includes Taliban rule and foreign invasions.
Geographically, it’s a crossroads of civilizations, surrounded by influential nations. Its landscape ranges from deserts to lush valleys and snow-capped mountains.
Afghan people are fiercely independent but often lacked unified leadership due to imperial conquests. In 2001, a U.S.-led invasion ousted the Taliban, leading to two decades of war, a new government, and democratic progress. However, the Taliban regained power in 2021, enforcing strict Islamic law and causing economic hardships.
Persecution persists, but Afghan believers are sharing their faith, and hope in Jesus is emerging through dreams, visions, and Christian broadcasts.
Read on to learn how you can pray for Afghanistan.
Fast Facts
Capital City: Kabul
Population: 42 million (100% unreached)
People Groups: 70
10/40 Window: Yes
Major People Groups: Southern Pathan, Afghan Tajik, Southern Uzbek, Hazara
Religion: Muslim 99%
Language:Pashto, Afghan Persian or Dari, Uzbek, Hazaragi, Turkmen
GDP Per Capita: $2,000
Literacy Rate: 37.3%
Did you know? Buzkashi, a traditional Afghan sport, involves horse-mounted players competing to place a goat carcass in a goal area. It’s often called “horse polo with a goat.”
Pray for the unreached people groups of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a nation of 42 million people. It is over 99.8% Muslim but many Afghans are converting to Christian due to disillusion with the Taliban.
Below are the 10 largest unreached people groups in Afghanistan:
| Name | Religion | Population |
| 1. Afghan, Tajik | Islam | 11,598,000 |
| 2. Pashtun, Northern | Islam | 7,292,000 |
| 3. Uzbek, Southern | Islam | 4,761,000 |
| 4. Pashtun, Southern | Islam | 4,622,000 |
| 5. Hazara | Islam | 3,631,000 |
| 6. Turkmen | Islam | 2,356,000 |
| 7. Pashtun, Southeast | Islam | 2,054,000 |
| 8. Aimaq | Islam | 1,730,000 |
| 9. Persian | Islam | 719,000 |
| 10. Pashayi, Southeast | Islam | 593,000 |
Pray for Christians being persecuted
Afghanistan is ranked #10 on the 2024 World Watch List published by Open Doors.
Despite dropping from first place to tenth, Afghan Christians remain in grave danger. Many have fled or been forced further underground, making them less visible for attack.
In the past year, the Taliban have focused on consolidating power, not targeting non-Muslims, resulting in fewer violent incidents against Christians that are clearly linked to their faith. However, since leaving Islam is considered shameful and punishable by death under Islamic law, converts risk devastating consequences at the hands of the authorities or even their own family, tribe or clan if discovered.
World Watch List
You can learn about Christian persecution and pray for our brothers and sisters who being persecuted around the world by praying through the Open Doors’ World Watch List.
“[God] has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”
Pray for Afghanistan
“Slow drip” your learning and prayers for Afghanistan: its history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.