Afghanistan Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 55th
MPR SCORE: 572
MPR Index: 0.2314 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.322 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: +0.7284 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Afghanistan ranks 55th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR). While often described as “the graveyard of empires,” Afghanistan’s modern military strength is shaped less by conventional capability and more by historical resilience, asymmetric warfare, and prolonged resistance to occupation. No major world power has ever decisively conquered Afghanistan—not the British Empire, not the Soviet Union, and not the United States. However, in the context of the MPR’s focus on decisive warfighting outcomes, this historical legacy does not translate into high ranking.
Historical Legacy: Undefeated in Defensive Resistance
Afghanistan’s reputation as unconquerable stems from its remarkable ability to wear down vastly superior invaders. Key examples include:
First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842): The British Empire suffered a catastrophic defeat, with nearly an entire 16,000-strong expeditionary force wiped out in retreat from Kabul.
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880): Although Britain installed a friendly ruler, they failed to subjugate the Afghan population and were again forced to withdraw.
Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919): Afghanistan launched a surprise offensive, forcing Britain to recognize its full independence through the Treaty of Rawalpindi.
Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989): The Soviet Union, despite immense firepower and tens of thousands of troops, was bled dry by Afghan Mujahideen and forced to withdraw, contributing to the USSR’s collapse.
U.S.-NATO Occupation (2001–2021): After two decades, the U.S. withdrew following a prolonged insurgency. The Taliban regained control, marking the third superpower in two centuries defeated by Afghan resistance.
Why Afghanistan Is Still Ranked Only 55th
Despite this formidable history, Afghanistan ranks low in the MPR for the following critical reasons:
1. Victory Through Prolonged Guerilla Resistance, Not Decisive Warfare
Afghanistan’s method of defeating empires has always relied on:
Guerrilla tactics, ambushes, and war of attrition
Mountainous terrain and decentralized tribal warfare
Drawing out occupation until the cost outweighs benefit
This is not a decisive form of warfare in the MPR system, which prioritizes the ability to win defined wars quickly, destroy enemy forces, or hold strategic ground. Unlike the Viet Cong, who conducted sustained hybrid warfare with unified Communist command and supply lines, Afghan resistance has historically depended on fragmentation and slow attrition — not coherent, theater-wide warfighting.
2. Lack of Modern State Military
Since the collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan National Army in 2021:
The Taliban’s forces remain lightly armed and decentralized
There is no functioning air force, navy, or modern artillery corps
Military doctrine is irregular and fragmented, despite being battle-hardened
There is no unified command capable of state-on-state warfare
This results in an extremely low score in categories like:
Weapons systems
Naval power
Advanced warfare
Command and control
3. No Force Projection or Coalition Capacity
Afghanistan has:
No regional influence
No alliances or formal defense partners
No offensive capacity to launch operations even into bordering Pakistan or Iran
A military designed purely for homeland resistance, not territorial warfare
Conclusion
Afghanistan’s undefeated history is real — and formidable. Its people have demonstrated unmatched resilience against foreign occupiers. However, in the framework of decisive military capability, Afghanistan lacks nearly every component of modern warfare. It wins through time, terrain, and tenacity, not through direct military superiority or structured warfighting.
Thus, even when scored strictly as a defensive power on home terrain, Afghanistan ranks 55th in the 2025 MPR due to its inability to win decisive, time-bound wars against modern militaries.
Military Strength and Force Projection:
Active Military Personnel: 80,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: N/A (disbanded under the new regime)
Paramilitary Forces: 30,000 (various militia forces aligned with the Taliban)
Army Personnel: 60,000
Air Force Personnel: 20,000
Ground Forces:
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 50+ (captured or inherited equipment)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 300+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 200+ (including mortars)
Air Force:
Combat Aircraft: 40+ (SIPRI 2023)
Helicopters: 30+
Transport Aircraft: 15+
Aircraft Breakdown:
A-29 Super Tucano: 10 (light attack aircraft)
Mi-17 Helicopters: 20 (transport and limited combat capabilities)
UH-60 Black Hawks: 10 (limited operational capability)
Naval Forces:
Afghanistan is a landlocked country and does not maintain a naval force.
Missile Capabilities:
Afghanistan’s current military forces do not possess advanced missile systems. The focus remains on conventional defense, internal security, and small-scale operations.
Strategic Partnerships:
Afghanistan’s new government under the Taliban regime is not internationally recognized by many countries, limiting formal defense partnerships. However, there are ongoing diplomatic discussions with regional powers, particularly Pakistan, China, and Russia, focusing on trade, security, and counterterrorism cooperation. Afghanistan remains an important player in the regional security landscape, though its military capabilities are still recovering and evolving.
Afghanistan – Military History & Combat Experience
Afghanistan holds one of the most formidable military legacies in modern history—not through conventional dominance, but through its undefeated record in defensive warfare. Across centuries, Afghanistan has consistently repelled or outlasted great powers through guerrilla resistance, terrain advantage, and civilian-military resilience. While it lacks the structure or capabilities for high-intensity conventional warfare, Afghanistan’s history is rooted in its reputation as "the graveyard of empires."
Anglo-Afghan Wars (1839–1919): Afghanistan fought three major wars against the British Empire. In each case, despite British technological superiority, Afghan forces inflicted major losses and forced withdrawals. The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842) ended in total British retreat, with only one survivor from an army of thousands.
Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989): Afghanistan resisted a decade-long Soviet occupation using guerrilla tactics, tribal mobilization, and extensive use of mountain warfare. Despite brutal aerial bombardment and mechanized Soviet power, the mujahedeen ultimately forced a Soviet withdrawal, backed by U.S. and Pakistani support.
Civil War and Taliban Rise (1990s): After the Soviet exit, infighting among warlords led to a brutal civil war. The Taliban emerged and seized power in 1996, imposing centralized control until the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
U.S. Invasion and Insurgency (2001–2021): Following 9/11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban. While initial operations succeeded, the Taliban regrouped and waged a 20-year insurgency. The U.S. and NATO forces were unable to decisively defeat the insurgency, and the Taliban returned to power in 2021 following the collapse of the Afghan National Army.
Post-2021 Taliban Era: The current Afghan military under Taliban control is structured around light infantry, asymmetric tactics, and tribal command. It lacks air power, mechanized formations, or conventional infrastructure but maintains strong internal security control through decentralized militias.
Afghanistan’s military strength lies not in conventional warfare or advanced technology, but in its unmatched resilience, terrain mastery, and ability to bleed out far superior invaders over time. From the British Empire to the Soviet Union and the United States, Afghanistan has demonstrated a unique capability to endure and outlast world powers through low-intensity, high-cost warfare. However, its inability to project power, sustain high-intensity combat, or maintain advanced defense systems places it low in conventional rankings—despite its undefeated record on home soil.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~42.2 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~13.0 million (males and females aged 18–49)
Geographic Area: 652,230 km²
Land Boundaries: 5,987 km
Bordering Countries: Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China
Coastline: 0 km
Climate: Arid to semi-arid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain: Rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Natural Resources: Natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semi-precious stones
Proven Oil Reserves: ~1.8 billion barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~5 trillion cubic feet
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$500 million USD (Taliban-led de facto authority)
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.7%
GDP (PPP): ~$81.4 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$1,900
External Debt: ~$1.3 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Sharp decline after 2021; modest stabilization under Taliban governance
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: No formal structure; tribal levies, ideological recruitment, and militias
Primary Defense Focus: Internal security, border control, anti-ISKP operations
Military Industry Base: Minimal; mostly small arms repair and improvised munitions
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Negligible
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Kabul Zone, Kandahar Zone, Herat Zone, Jalalabad Zone, Mazar-i-Sharif Zone
Missile Inventory Highlights: Limited; includes MANPADS, mortars, and short-range artillery
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Informal tribal and militia mobilization; timelines vary by region
Reservist Force Size: ~100,000 (Taliban-aligned fighters and auxiliaries)
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None; relies on open-source and foreign imagery when accessible
Intelligence Infrastructure: General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI – Taliban internal security agency)
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Limited; informal links with regional non-state actors and Pakistan’s ISI
Airports (Total): ~46 usable airports
Major Military Airports: Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: None
Major Ports: None (landlocked)
Naval Infrastructure: None
Naval Replenishment Capability: Not applicable
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~75 km (cross-border freight only; underdeveloped)
Roadways: ~47,000 km (est.), mix of paved and unpaved
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~60,000 barrels per day
Energy Imports: High dependence on Iran, Central Asia, and Pakistan
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: None officially declared
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Low; limited to basic arms assembly, IEDs, and refurbished captured weapons
Military Installations (Domestic): Scattered across provincial capitals and repurposed ANA bases
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: None formally; all U.S. and NATO forces withdrawn
Defense Alliances: None (internationally unrecognized Taliban regime)
Strategic Airlift Capability: None; limited use of civilian aircraft
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Extremely limited; reliant on local supply chains and battlefield recovery
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: None
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Mining (lithium, copper, rare earths), illicit narcotics, local manufacturing, food processing
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Kabul
Founding Date: August 19, 1919 (independence); Taliban retook control in August 2021
System of Government: Islamic Emirate (unrecognized de facto regime)
