Journals / Ekonomi İşletme ve Maliye Araştırmaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

The Development and Current Status of Conventional and Islamic Banking in Afghanistan's Economy

Afganistan Ekonomisinde Geleneksel ve İslami Bankacılığın Gelişimi ve Mevcut Durumu

Sanaullah Sanjar(BOLU ABANT İZZET BAYSAL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-8238-4532
Cengizhan Yildirim(BOLU ABANT İZZET BAYSAL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-3812-1188
Pages
119–144
Publication Date
2026-08-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that the Afghan economy is largely dependent on foreign aid, fragile, and exhibits volatile growth.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study analyzes the development and current status of conventional and Islamic banking in the Afghan economy within a holistic framework.
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Key Findings & Data:Data sources include official statistics from the World Bank Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB), NSIA, IFSB, as well as audited financial reports of DAB and the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan (IBA), with the analysis primarily covering the 2018-2025 period.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that the Afghan economy is largely dependent on foreign aid, fragile, and exhibits volatile growth.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:2018-2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Afganistan Ekonomisi · Geleneksel Bankacılık · İslami Bankacılık

Abstract

This study analyzes the development and current status of conventional and Islamic banking in the Afghan economy within a holistic framework. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted, using an inductive approach to derive structural inferences from current data and financial statements of the banking sector. Data sources include official statistics from the World Bank Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB), NSIA, IFSB, as well as audited financial reports of DAB and the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan (IBA), with the analysis primarily covering the 2018-2025 period. The findings indicate that the Afghan economy is largely dependent on foreign aid, fragile, and exhibits volatile growth. On the conventional banking front, the freezing of the central bank’s foreign assets after 2021 caused a severe contraction, with loan volume decreasing to only 2% of GDP and financial intermediation functions grinding to a halt. Islamic banking has developed due to the population’s religious sensitivities and the regulatory framework established after 2015; the first fully-fledged Islamic bank (IBA) began operations in 2018. IBA’s 2024 financial report reveals that despite challenging conditions, it has maintained profitability and this model is viable. Common challenges for both systems include the loan-to-deposit ratio remaining at 10%, non-performing loans rising to 26%, and 90% of the adult population remaining unbanked. In conclusion, achieving sustainable growth and financial stability requires structural reforms, strengthening institutional capacity, and ensuring international financial integration.

Özet

Bu çalışma, Afganistan ekonomisinde geleneksel ve İslami bankacılığın gelişimini ve mevcut durumunu bütüncül bir çerçevede analiz etmektedir. Araştırmada betimsel ve analitik desen benimsenmiş, tümevarımsal yaklaşımla bankacılık sektörüne ilişkin veri ve finansal tablolardan yapısal çıkarımlara ulaşılmıştır. Veri kaynakları olarak Dünya Bankası, Afganistan Merkez Bankası (DAB), NSIA, IFSB istatistikleri ile DAB ve Afganistan İslami Bankası’nın (IBA) bağımsız denetimden geçmiş finansal raporları kullanılmış, ağırlıklı olarak 2018-2025 dönemi incelenmiştir. Bulgular, Afganistan ekonomisinin dış yardıma bağımlı, kırılgan ve dalgalı bir büyüme yapısına sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Geleneksel bankacılık cephesinde, 2021 sonrası merkez bankası dış varlıklarının bloke edilmesi sektörde ciddi daralmaya yol açmış, kredi hacmi GSYİH’nın yalnızca %2’sine gerilemiş ve finansal aracılık işlevleri büyük ölçüde durma noktasına gelmiştir. İslami bankacılık ise nüfusun dini hassasiyetleri ve 2015 sonrası oluşturulan düzenleyici çerçeve sayesinde gelişim göstermiş, 2018’de ilk tam teşekküllü İslami banka (IBA) faaliyete başlamıştır. IBA’nın 2024 finansal raporu, zorlu koşullara rağmen kârlılığını koruduğunu ve bu modelin uygulanabilir olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Her iki sistem için ortak sorunlar arasında kredi/mevduat oranının %10 düzeyinde kalması, takipteki kredilerin %26’ya yükselmesi ve yetişkin nüfusun %90’ının finansal sistem dışında olması yer almaktadır. Sonuç olarak, sürdürülebilir büyüme ve finansal istikrar için yapısal reformlara, kurumsal kapasitenin güçlendirilmesine ve uluslararası finansal entegrasyona ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Sanjar, S., Yildirim, C. (2026). The Development and Current Status of Conventional and Islamic Banking in Afghanistan's Economy. Ekonomi İşletme ve Maliye Araştırmaları Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 119–144. https://doi.org/10.38009/ekimad.1906706

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