Kabul vs Lahore

Lahore leads Kabul by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 41 to 40. Kabul grades better on 5 measures, Lahore on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Kabul 40, Lahore 41
• OECD: Kabul 41, Lahore 41
• UN Tourism: Kabul 45, Lahore 47
• UNDRR: Kabul 27, Lahore 28

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Kabul 100, Lahore 56
• Economy and jobs: Kabul 13, Lahore 56
• Climate and hazards: Kabul 45, Lahore 10
• Water and environment: Kabul 44, Lahore 44
• Community and housing: Kabul 100, Lahore 25
• Access and continuity: Kabul 13, Lahore 38

Where Kabul is stronger

• Extreme heat days: 8.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 5 and 15: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 11.2 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: 2.1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (World Bank, Afghanistan Economic Monitor, August 2024–August 2025). At or below 3: grade 4/4.

Where Lahore is stronger

• Unemployment rate: 9.7 % of the labour force (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Survey 2020-21 (District Level Report), 2020-2021). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Green space: 22 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2023). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority / Pakistan Railways / National Highway Authority, 2024). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, 2024). Grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 25.5 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 20 and 40: grade 1/4.
• Travel advisory: 3 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). Between 2.5 and 3: grade 1/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Pakistan: #95 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Kabul in full · Lahore in full

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