The districts of Afghanistan, known as wuleswali (Pashto: ولسوالۍ, wuləswāləi; Persian: شهرستان, shahrestān), are secondary-level administrative units, one level below provinces. The Afghan government issued its first district map in 1973.[1][2] It recognized 325 districts, counting wuleswalis (districts), alaqadaries (sub-districts), and markaz-e-wulaiyat (provincial center districts).[2] In the ensuing years, additional districts have been added through splits, and some eliminated through merges. In June 2005, the Afghan government issued a map of 398 districts.[3] It was widely adopted by many information management systems, though usually with the addition of Sharak-e-Hayratan for 399 districts in total. It remains the de facto standard as of late 2018, despite a string of government announcements of the creation of new districts.[citation needed]
The latest announced set includes 421 districts. The country’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) came up with a joint, consolidated list of Afghan districts. It has handed this list over to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), which has used it in preparing the elections. The set contains 387 “districts” and 34 “provincial center districts” for 412 districts in total.
This article does not correspond with any particular district set; it lacks a number of districts currently recognized by the Afghan government, and some others that are popularly, but not officially, recognized.
Northern Afghanistan
North East Afghanistan
Badakhshan Province
Districts of Badakshan
- Arghanj Khwa – formerly part of Fayzabad District
- Argo – formerly part of Fayzabad District
- Baharak
- Darayim – formerly part of Fayzabad District
- Fayzabad
- Ishkashim
- Jurm
- Khash – formerly part of Jurm District
- Khwahan
- Kishim
- Kohistan – formerly part of Baharak District
- Kuf Ab – formerly part of Khwahan District
- Kuran Wa Munjan
- Maimay – formerly part of Darwaz District
- Nusay – formerly part of Darwaz District
- Ragh
- Shahri Buzurg
- Shekay – formerly part of Darwaz District
- Shighnan
- Shuhada – formerly part of Baharak District
- Tagab – formerly part of Fayzabad District
- Tishkan – formerly part of Kishim District
- Wakhan
- Wurduj – formerly part of Baharak District
- Yaftali Sufla – formerly part of Fayzabad District
- Yamgan – formerly part of Baharak District
- Yawan – formerly part of Ragh District
- Zebak
Baghlan Province
Districts of Baghlan
- Andarab
- Baghlan – now part of Baghlani Jadid District
- Baghlani Jadid
- Burka
- Dahana i Ghuri
- Dih Salah – formerly part of Andarab District
- Dushi
- Farang wa Gharu – formerly part of Khost Wa Fereng District
- Guzargahi Nur – formerly part of Khost Wa Fereng District
- Khinjan
- Khost wa Fereng
- Khwaja Hijran – formerly part of Andarab District
- Nahrin
- Puli Hisar – formerly part of Andarab District
- Puli Khumri
- Tala Wa Barfak
Kunduz Province
Districts of Kunduz
- Ali Abad
- Archi
- Chardara
- Imam Sahib
- Khan Abad
- Kunduz
- Qalay-I-Zal
- Aaqtash
- Gul Tepa
- Kalbaad
Takhar Province
Districts of Takhar
- Baharak – formerly part of Taluqan District
- Bangi
- Chah Ab
- Chal
- Darqad
- Dashti Qala – formerly part of Khwaja Ghar District
- Farkhar
- Hazar Sumuch –formerly part of Taluqan District
- Ishkamish
- Kalafgan
- Khwaja Bahauddin – formerly part of Yangi Qala District
- Khwaja Ghar
- Namak Ab – formerly part of Taluqan District
- Rustaq
- Taluqan
- Warsaj
- Yangi Qala
North West Afghanistan
Balkh Province
Districts of Balkh
- Balkh
- Chahar Bolak
- Chahar Kint
- Chimtal
- Dawlatabad
- Dihdadi
- Kaldar
- Khulmi
- Kishindih
- Marmul
- Mazar-e Sharif
- Nahri Shahi
- Sholgara
- Shortepa
- Zari – formerly part of Kishindih District
Faryab Province
Districts of Faryab
- Almar
- Andkhoy
- Bilchiragh
- Dawlat Abad
- Gurziwan – formerly part of Bilchiragh District
- Khani Chahar Bagh
- Khwaja Sabz Posh
- Kohistan
- Maymana
- Pashtun Kot
- Qaramqol
- Qaysar
- Qurghan – formerly part of Andkhoy District
- Shirin Tagab
Jowzjan Province
Districts of Jowzjan
- Aqcha
- Darzab
- Fayzabad
- Khamyab
- Khaniqa – formerly part of Aqcha District
- Khwaja Du Koh
- Mardyan
- Mingajik
- Qarqin
- Qush Tepa – formerly part of Darzab District
- Shibirghan
Samangan Province
Districts of Samangan
- Aybak
- Dara-I-Sufi Balla – part of the former Dara-I-Suf District
- Dara-I-Sufi Payan – part of the former Dara-I-Suf District
- Feroz Nakhchir – formerly part of Khulmi District; shifted from Balkh Province
- Hazrati Sultan
- Khuram Wa Sarbagh
- Ruyi Du Ab
Sar-e Pol Province
Districts of Sar-e Pol
- Balkhab
- Gosfandi – formerly part of Sayyad District
- Kohistanat
- Sangcharak
- Sar-e Pul
- Sayyad
- Sozma Qala
Central Afghanistan
Central Afghanistan
Bamyan Province
Districts of Bamyan
- Bamyan
- Kahmard – shifted from Baghlan Province
- Panjab
- Sayghan – formerly part of Kahmard District; shifted from Baghlan Province
- Shibar
- Waras
- Yakawlang
Kabul Province
Districts of Kabul
- Bagrami
- Chahar Asyab
- Deh Sabz
- Farza – formerly part of Mir Bacha Kot District
- Guldara
- Istalif
- Kabul
- Kalakan
- Khaki Jabbar
- Mir Bacha Kot
- Mussahi
- Paghman
- Qarabagh
- Shakardara
- Surobi
Kapisa Province
Districts of Kapisa
- Alasay
- Hesa Awal Kohistan – part of the former Kohistan District
- Hesa Duwum Kohistan – part of the former Kohistan District
- Koh Band
- Mahmud Raqi
- Nijrab
- Tagab
Logar Province
Districts of Logar
- Azra – shifted from Paktia Province
- Baraki Barak
- Charkh
- Kharwar – formerly part of Charkh District
- Khoshi
- Mohammad Agha
- Puli Alam
Panjshir Province
District of Panjshir
- Anaba – part of the former Panjsher District
- Bazarak – part of the former Panjsher District
- Darah Abdullah khail – part of the former Hisa Duwum Panjsher District
- Khenj – part of the former Hisa Awal Panjsher District
- Paryan – part of the former Hisa Awal Panjsher District
- Rokha – created from parts of the former Hisa Duwum Panjsher and Panjsher Districts
- Shotul – part of the former Panjsher District
- Darah Abshar – part of the former Hisa Duwum Panjsher District
Parwan Province
Districts of Parwan
- Bagram
- Chaharikar
- Ghorband
- Jabul Saraj
- Kohi Safi
- Salang
- Sayed Khel – formerly part of Jabul Saraj District
- Shekh Ali
- Shinwari
- Surkhi Parsa
Wardak Province
Districts of Wardak
- Chaki
- Day Mirdad
- Hisa-I-Awali Bihsud
- Jaghatu – shifted from Ghazni Province
- Jalrez
- Markazi Bihsud
- Maydan Shahr
- Nirkh
- Saydabad
Eastern Afghanistan
Kunar Province
Districts of Kunar
- Asadabad
- Bar Kunar
- Chapa Dara
- Chawkay
- Dangam
- Dara-I-Pech
- Ghaziabad – formerly part of Nurgal District
- Khas Kunar
- Marawara
- Narang Wa Badil
- Nari
- Nurgal
- Shaigal – formerly part of Chapa Dara District
- Shultan – formerly part of Chapa Dara District
- Sirkanai
- Wata Pur – formerly part of Asadabad District
- Shultan – formerly part of Shaygl District
Laghman Province
Districts of Laghman
- Alingar
- Alishing
- Baad Pakh – formerly part of Mihtarlam District
- Dawlat Shah
- Mihtarlam
- Qarghayi
Nangarhar Province
Districts of Nangarhar
- Achin
- Bati Kot
- Behsud – formerly part of Jalalabad District
- Chaparhar
- Dara-I-Nur
- Dih Bala
- Dur Baba
- Goshta
- Hisarak
- Jalalabad
- Kama
- Khogyani
- Kot – formerly part of Rodat District
- Kuz Kunar
- Lal Pur
- Muhmand Dara
- Nazyan
- Pachir Wa Agam
- Rodat
- Sherzad
- Shinwar
- Surkh Rod
- Haska Meyna
Nuristan Province
Districts of Nuristan
- Bargi Matal
- Du Ab – created from parts of Nuristan and Mandol Districts
- Kamdesh
- Mandol
- Nurgaram – created from parts of Nuristan and Wama Districts
- Parun – formerly part of Wama District
- Wama
- Waygal
Western Afghanistan
Badghis Province
Districts of Badghis
- Ab Kamari
- Ghormach
- Jawand
- Muqur
- Bala Murghab
- Qadis
- Qala-I-Naw
Farah Province
Districts of Farah
- Anar Dara
- Bakwa
- Bala Buluk
- Farah
- Gulistan
- Khaki Safed
- Lash wa Juwayn
- Pur Chaman
- Pusht Rod
- Qala i Kah
- Shib Koh
Ghor Province
Districts of Ghor
- Chaghcharan (Ferozkoh)
- Marghab District – formerly part of ferozkoh.
- Charsada
- Dawlat Yar
- Du Layna District
- Lal Wa Sarjangal
- Pasaband
- Saghar
- Shahrak
- Taywara
- Tulak
Herat Province
Districts of Herat
- Adraskan
- Chishti Sharif
- Farsi
- Ghoryan
- Gulran
- Guzara
- Hirat
- Injil
- Karukh
- Kohsan
- Kushk
- Kushki Kuhna
- Obe
- Pashtun Zarghun
- Shindand
- Zinda Jan
- Turghandi[citation needed]
- Islam Qala
Southern Afghanistan
South East Afghanistan
Ghazni Province
Districts of Ghazni
- Ab Band
- Ajristan
- Andar
- Dih Yak
- Gelan
- Ghazni City
- Giro
- Jaghatū District
- Jaghuri
- Khugiani – created from parts of Waeez Shahid and Ghazni Districts
- Khwaja Umari – formerly part of Waeez Shahid District
- Malistan
- Muqur
- Nawa
- Nawur
- Qarabagh
- Rashidan – formerly part of Waeez Shahid District
- Waghaz – formerly part of Muqur District
- Zana Khan
Khost Province
Districts of Khost
- Bak
- Gurbuz
- Jaji Maydan
- Khost (Matun)
- Mandozai
- Musa Khel
- Nadir Shah Kot
- Qalandar
- Sabari
- Shamal – shifted from Paktia Province
- Spera
- Tani
- Tere Zayi
Paktia Province
Districts of Paktia
- Ahmad Aba – formerly part of Said Karam District
- Ahmadkhel
- Dand Aw Patan
- Gardez
- Janikhel
- Lazha Mangal
- Said Karam
- Shwak
- Tsamkani
- Zadran
- Zazi
- Zurmat
- Rohani Baba
- Mirzaka
- Gerda Serai
Paktika Province
Districts of Paktika
- Barmal
- Dila
- Gayan
- Gomal
- Janikhel – formerly part of Khairkot District
- Khairkot
- Mata Khan
- Nika
- Omna
- Sar Hawza
- Surobi
- Sharan
- Terwa – formerly part of Wazakhwa District
- Urgun
- Wazakhwa
- Wor Mamay
- Yahya Khel – formerly part of Khairkot District
- Yusufkhel – formerly part of Khairkot District
- Ziruk
South West Afghanistan
Daykundi Province
Districts of Daykundi
- Ishtarlay – part of the former Daykundi District; shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Kajran – shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Khadir – part of the former Daykundi District; shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Kiti – formerly part of Kajran District; shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Miramor – formerly part of Sharistan District; shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Nili – part of the former Daykundi District; shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Sangtakht – part of the former Daykundi District; shifted from Uruzgan Province
- Shahristan – shifted from Uruzgan Province
Helmand Province
Districts of Helmand
- Baghran
- Dishu
- Garmsir
- Grishk
- Kajaki
- Khanashin
- Lashkargah
- Majrah – formerly part of Nad Ali District
- Musa Qala
- Nad Ali
- Nawa-I-Barakzayi
- Nawzad
- Sangin
- Washir
Kandahar Province
Districts of Kandahar
- Arghandab
- Dand
- Arghistan
- Daman
- Ghorak
- Kandahar
- Khakrez
- Maruf
- Maiwand
- Miyan Nasheen – formerly part of Shah Wali Kot District
- Naish – shifted from Oruzgan Province
- Panjwaye
- Reg
- Shah Wali Kot
- Shorabak
- Spin Boldak
- Zhari – created from parts of Maiwand and Panjwaye Districts
Nimruz Province
Districts of Nimruz
- Chahar Burjak
- Chakhansur
- Kang
- Khash Rod
- Zaranj
Orūzgān Province
Districts of Orūzgān
- Chora
- Deh Rawood
- Gizab
- Khas Uruzgan
- Shahidi Hassas
- Tarinkot
Zabul Province
Districts of Zabūl
- Argahandab
- Atghar
- Daychopan
- Kakar – formerly part of Argahandab District
- Mezana
- Naw Bahar – created from parts of Shamulzuyi and Shinkay Districts in Zabul Province .
- Qalat (technically only a municipality, not a district)
- Shah Joy
- Shamulzayi
- Shinkay
- Tarnak Wa Jaldak
- Suria