Quick answerKabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, with 5,333,284 people inside the city limits in 2025. It is best known for the Gardens of Babur, the Darul Aman Palace and the National Museum of Afghanistan. Its official languages are Pashto and Dari, and its currency is the Afghan afghani.
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, with an estimated 5,333,284 people in 2025. It sits at 1,791 metres above sea level in a valley of the Hindu Kush and has been Afghanistan's political, cultural and economic centre for centuries.
Key facts
| Country | Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 5,333,284 (2025) |
| Elevation | 1791 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Kabul |
| Language | Pashto, Dari |
| Currency | Afghan afghani (AFN, ؋) |
| Coordinates | 34.5253° N, 69.1783° E |
Overview
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, in the eastern half of the country in Kabul Province. The city had an estimated 5,333,284 residents in 2025, and it sits 1,791 metres above sea level in a narrow valley of the Hindu Kush, bounded by the Kabul River, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city is administratively divided into five zones and 22 municipal districts.
Kabul is believed to be over 3,500 years old. It was mentioned at the time of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, and it lay at a crossroads of Asia, roughly halfway between Istanbul and Beijing, on the trade routes between Persia, India and Central Asia. Its landmarks include the Gardens of Babur, the 16th-century garden where the Mughal emperor Babur is buried, the Darul Aman Palace, the National Museum of Afghanistan, and the Bala Hissar fortress, which has guarded the city for centuries.
Today Kabul is Afghanistan's political, cultural and economic centre and its primate city, after rapid urbanisation driven by returning refugees and rural migrants. The population primarily speaks Dari and Pashto, and the city is home to the country's main airport, its universities and its government ministries.
What Kabul is known for
- Gardens of Babur
- Darul Aman Palace
- National Museum of Afghanistan
- Bala Hissar
- Pul-e Khishti Mosque
- Chicken Street
Landmarks
- Gardens of Babur
- Darul Aman Palace
- National Museum of Afghanistan
- Bala Hissar
- Pul-e Khishti Mosque
- Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque
- Chicken Street
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kabul?
About 5.3 million people live in Kabul (5,333,284 in 2025). That makes Kabul by far the largest city in Afghanistan, and the country's primate city.
What is Kabul famous for?
Kabul is famous as Afghanistan's political, cultural and economic centre for centuries, and for the Gardens of Babur, the 16th-century garden of the Mughal emperor Babur. It is also known for the Darul Aman Palace, the National Museum of Afghanistan and the Bala Hissar fortress, and as one of the highest capital cities in the world.
Where is Kabul located?
Kabul is in the eastern half of Afghanistan, in a narrow valley of the Hindu Kush, on the Kabul River. It is the capital of Afghanistan and of Kabul Province, and sits 1,791 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 34.53° N, 69.18° E, and its time zone is Afghanistan Time.
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Keep exploring
- Afghanistan — the country Kabul is in
- Kandahar — another city in Afghanistan
- Herat — another city in Afghanistan
- Mazar-i-Sharif — another city in Afghanistan
- All cities in Afghanistan
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.