Afghanistan has officially been declared a major centre of global opium production, according to a new report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The report reveals that opium was cultivated on 10,200 hectares across the country, with production and stockpiles rising to alarming levels.
The UN report noted that opium cultivation increased by 19% in 2024 compared to the previous year, marking one of the sharpest annual increases in recent history. Cultivation remained widespread through 2025, despite challenges such as drought and economic instability.
Key provinces see sharp rise in cultivation
The report highlighted that Zabul, Kunar, and Takhar provinces experienced the most significant rise in poppy cultivation. Despite some crop damage due to drought, Afghanistan’s opium output remains strong enough to meet global demand until 2026, according to UNODC estimates.
In 2025, total opium production reached 296 tons, solidifying Afghanistan’s position among the world’s top three opium-producing countries.
Synthetic drugs replacing traditional opium
The UNODC report also warned of a shift in the narcotics landscape, as synthetic drug production — particularly methamphetamine (“ice”) — has become increasingly profitable.
“Criminal groups are now preferring ice over plant-based opium due to its ease of production and smuggling,” the report stated. The production and trafficking of synthetic drugs are expanding rapidly, adding new layers of complexity to Afghanistan’s already entrenched drug trade.
