Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio was 59.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan, 1981–2024
Source: WHO & UNICEF (2026); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan is 59.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan peaked at 68.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 1981.
That places Afghanistan 183rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3.0% | — |
| 1982 | 5.0% | +66.7% |
| 1983 | 5.0% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 16.0% | +220.0% |
| 1985 | 15.0% | -6.2% |
| 1986 | 11.0% | -26.7% |
| 1987 | 25.0% | +127.3% |
| 1988 | 35.0% | +40.0% |
| 1989 | 33.0% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 25.0% | -24.2% |
| 1991 | 23.0% | -8.0% |
| 1992 | 21.0% | -8.7% |
| 1993 | 18.0% | -14.3% |
| 1994 | 8.0% | -55.6% |
| 1995 | 20.0% | +150.0% |
| 1996 | 31.0% | +55.0% |
| 1997 | 28.0% | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 28.0% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 27.0% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 24.0% | -11.1% |
| 2001 | 35.0% | +45.8% |
| 2002 | 36.0% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 41.0% | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 50.0% | +22.0% |
| 2005 | 58.0% | +16.0% |
| 2006 | 58.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 63.0% | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 64.0% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 63.0% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 66.0% | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 68.0% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 67.0% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 64.0% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 63.0% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 65.0% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 66.0% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 64.0% | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 67.0% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 63.0% | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 61.0% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 55.0% | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 60.0% | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 59.0% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 59.0% | +0.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 59.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 72.0%, 82% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 59.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 95.0%, 62% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +220.0% | 5.0% | 16.0% |
| 1995 | +150.0% | 8.0% | 20.0% |
| 1987 | +127.3% | 11.0% | 25.0% |
| 1982 | +66.7% | 3.0% | 5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.4% | 3.0% | 35.0% | 9 |
| 1990s | 22.9% | 8.0% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.2% | 24.0% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.3% | 63.0% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.8% | 55.0% | 61.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0804 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan?
- Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio in Afghanistan was 59.0% in 2024, according to WHO & UNICEF (2026); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 68.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio?
- Afghanistan ranks 183rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from WHO & UNICEF (2026); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of one-year-olds who are vaccinated against polio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of one-year-olds who have had the third dose of either the oral or inactivated polio vaccine in a given year.