- From 2002 to 2013, Afghanistan’s GDP grew from $4.055B to $20.561B thanks to the influx of cash from US and allies military operations and rebuilding projects.
- Growth has stagnated since international troops started leaving (2014); GDP is currently $19.807B (7th poorest nation per capita).
- Afghanistan’s future growth is heavily dependent upon its vast minerals (lithium, cobalt and gold worth over $1 trillion) requiring major foreign investment (eg roads, electricity expansion) to extract.
- Already-hesitant foreign investors will disappear if Taliban takeover sparks more violence.
