Communities at risk
Hazara, Pashtun, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Baluchis
Summary
Afghanistan ranked 4th in 2019’s Peoples under Threat index and rose 2 places from 2018’s ranking. The civilian death toll in Afghanistan reached an all-time yearly high in 2018, with 3,804 killed and another 7,189 injured. Fighting spiked between the government – supported by international forces – and armed groups, with government-controlled territory shrinking to its… Read more »
Peoples Under Threat Data
| 2019 Data | Peoples under Threat value |
|---|---|
| Self-determination conflicts | 4 |
| Major armed conflict | 2 |
| Prior genocide / politicide | 1 |
| Flight of refugees and IDPs | 0.2 |
| Legacy of vengeance - group grievance | 8.1 |
| Rise of factionalized elites | 8.6 |
| Voice and Accountability | -0.992 |
| Political Stability | -2.781 |
| Rule of Law | -1.570 |
| OECD country risk classification | 7 |
| TOTAL | 20.53 |
The overall measure for each country is based on a basket of 10 indicators. The number in each row is drawn from the source for that particular indicator. The sources of data and calculations used are detailed on the Notes to Table page.
Background
Afghanistan ranked 4th in 2019’s Peoples under Threat index and rose 2 places from 2018’s ranking.
The civilian death toll in Afghanistan reached an all-time yearly high in 2018, with 3,804 killed and another 7,189 injured. Fighting spiked between the government – supported by international forces – and armed groups, with government-controlled territory shrinking to its lowest level since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. To counter this discouraging picture, the Afghan Ministry of Defence publishes on its Twitter feed the daily number of Taliban fighters killed or captured. The Taliban, in turn, widely use WhatsApp and Twitter to recruit, plan and claim responsibility for attacks, and fundraise. Civilians continue to be victimized by security personnel and targeted by both Taliban and ISIS insurgents, who have also engaged in fighting with each another. Bombings and other attacks have struck hotels and schools, including numerous polling stations during the October parliamentary elections, with the Hazara Shi’a minority specifically targeted. The Taliban entered into peace talks with US officials in October, but has derived leverage through stepped-up offensives likely to surge further if talks collapse.