The latest report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has identified Afghanistan as one of the world’s key centers of opium production.

According to the UNODC’s 2025 assessment, opium cultivation covered 10,200 hectares in Afghanistan. The report notes a 19% increase in cultivation in 2024 compared to the previous year, followed by a 20% decline in 2025.

The report highlights rising opium cultivation in the provinces of Zabul, Kunar, and Takhar, although widespread drought has caused significant damage to crops in several regions.

Despite the fluctuations, the UNODC states that Afghanistan’s existing opium stockpiles are sufficient to meet global demand in 2026.

In 2025, Afghanistan produced 296 tons of opium, with prices averaging USD 570 per kilogram, the report adds.

The UNODC also warns of a sharp rise in the production of synthetic drugs—particularly methamphetamine (ice)—in Afghanistan, noting that criminal networks increasingly prefer synthetic drugs due to easier production and smuggling routes.