Only 17% of Afghan women returnees from Iran and Pakistan are earning an income, new UN Women report finds

[Press release]

Kabul, Afghanistan — Fewer than one in five Afghan women returning from Iran and Pakistan can earn an income in Afghanistan, contributing to rising debt and food insecurity among returnee families, a new report by UN Women in Afghanistan finds.

Despite many women having worked and gained skills while in other countries, they face a near-total collapse in job opportunities once in Afghanistan, the report shows. Nearly 40 per cent report having skills they are unable to use, including vocational, technical and digital skills.

More than three-quarters of women who worked in Iran, and nearly two-thirds of those who worked in Pakistan, are unemployed after returning to Afghanistan, according to the findings, which are based on a study conducted by researchers at Samuel Hall.

The study draws on data collected among 700 returnee women and local stakeholders, including a phone survey, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and workshops in Herat, Nangahar and Kabul provinces.

The report, After return: Rebuilding livelihoods for Afghan women, shows that the primary barriers include restrictions on women’s employment and mobility in Afghanistan, limited access to capital and tools, and weak market opportunities. More than three-quarters of returnee women have no tools or capital to generate income.

Since 2023, more than 5.5 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan - placing unprecedented pressure on already fragile local economies.

Women and girls accounted for more than one in four returnees from Iran and nearly half of those returning from Pakistan in 2025. A further increase in returnees from Iran is expected in the coming weeks, due to the conflict in the Middle East.

UN Women Afghanistan Special Representative, Susan Ferguson, said supporting women’s economic participation was critical not only for individual women, but for Afghanistan’s broader recovery and economic development.

“Afghan women returnees arrive under extremely difficult circumstances – often without assets, income or support networks. Some bring skills and experience, others are starting from scratch. What they share is the need for access to livelihoods, services and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity,” Ms Ferguson said.

Building on the findings, UN Women is calling for:

• Increased investment in livelihood tools and assets for Afghan women returnees, ranging from basic start-up kits for women learning new skills, to more advanced equipment for women with more established experience;
• Tailored support to sectors with proven demand and viability under current restrictions, including small-scale livestock farming, food processing and tailoring;
• Expanded capacity-building including technical guidance on safe business practices and adapting to local market conditions; and
• Increased grant-based support, recognizing the significant barriers women face in accessing credit in Afghanistan.