Afghan Women’s Businesses Grow Sharply Despite Mounting Restrictions

DID Press: Official data from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries indicates that more than 10,000 Afghan women now hold formal business licenses, representing a tenfold increase over the past five years.

According to reporting cited from The New York Times, the World Bank estimates that around 120,000 additional women are engaged in informal small-scale economic activities without official registration.

Meanwhile, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) figures show that by 2024, fewer than 7% of Afghan women were participating in the formal labor market, underscoring persistent structural barriers to employment.

Reports suggest that small businesses remain the primary source of income and employment for women in Afghanistan. However, many women entrepreneurs say they are facing growing constraints, making it increasingly difficult to sustain their economic activities.

As Afghanistan approaches five years under Taliban rule, many women view self-employment as one of the few remaining avenues for financial survival and social participation, despite rising uncertainty and regulatory pressure.