Mining by country

Mining in Afghanistan

Mining in Afghanistan: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 2.2% of merchandise exports (2019). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals2.2%of merchandise exports, 2019.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law-1.85above 2% of countries
  • Political stability-2.04above 3% of countries
  • Regulatory quality-1.44above 7% of countries
  • Control of corruption-1.31above 9% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Afghanistan at a glance

First recorded mining
Sar-e-Sang lapis lazuli, since ancient times. The Bodleian says lapis lazuli has been sourced from Badakhshan since ancient times and exported over vast distances; Sar-e-Sang is the only source with the highest grade. Source: Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Mining law
Mining Law of 2014 (amendment drafted 2019). USGS reports the Mining Law of 2014 and Mining Regulations of 2009 under amendment, with drafts of a 2019 law published by the Ministry of… Source: USGS
Main mines
Aynak (copper), Sar-e-Sang (lapis lazuli), Hajigak (iron, undeveloped) Source: USGS

Official sitesMining ministry

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Afghanistan

What the ground holds. chromite, coal, fluorspar, gypsum, marble, salt, lapis lazuli, ruby, emerald, copper, iron-ore, bauxite, lithium and rare-earths. Source: USGS

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Asia

ChinaIndonesiaJapanKazakhstanSouth KoreaIndiaTurkeyMongoliaPhilippinesVietnam

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from Afghanistan and its minerals

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.