Introduction

Migration is one of the most influential social phenomena in contemporary societies, reshaping economic, social, cultural, and spatial structures across regions. In the Middle East, geopolitical instability, conflicts, and regional inequalities have made it one of the most significant hubs of international migration. Afghanistan, in particular, has experienced one of the largest and most prolonged migration flows in recent history. Political instability, foreign interventions, and prolonged internal conflicts have forced millions of Afghans to leave their country over the past five decades. Due to historical, cultural, and geographic affinities, Iran has become the primary destination for Afghan migrants, absorbing a substantial portion of this population. Over time, Afghan migration to Iran has evolved from a temporary humanitarian response into a sustained, multidimensional, and policy-relevant phenomenon. The presence of this population has had widespread effects on labor markets, urban form, social cohesion, security, education and health services, environmental conditions, and infrastructure systems. Despite the increasing number of studies on Afghan migration to Iran, most research has focused on specific dimensions or regions, resulting in fragmented knowledge. Therefore, this study aims to provide a systematic, integrated, and multidimensional analysis of the impacts of Afghan migration on Iranian society, offering insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers in the fields of human geography, migration studies, and social policy.

Methodology

This study employs a systematic review methodology to identify, classify, and analyze the consequences of Afghan migration in Iran. The review process follows the PRISMA framework to ensure a rigorous and reproducible approach. Comprehensive searches were conducted in Persian and English databases using keywords related to Afghan migration, migration impacts, and foreign nationals in Iran. The initial search identified 163 studies published between 2000 and 2025. After removing duplicates and screening titles, abstracts, and full texts against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 47 studies were included for detailed analysis. These included 42 peer-reviewed articles, 3 master’s theses, and 2 doctoral dissertations. Data were extracted through content analysis, including the identification of key concepts, thematic coding, and comparative synthesis. The extracted data were then classified into seven dimensions: economic, social, physical–spatial, security, health and education, environmental, and infrastructural impacts. A total of 41 indicators were identified, reflecting both positive and negative consequences of Afghan migration in Iran.

Results and Discussion

The systematic analysis revealed that the social dimension received the highest attention in the literature, followed by economic and physical–spatial dimensions.

Economic Impacts: Afghan migration has created a dual labor market in Iran. Migrants provide low-cost labor that sustains agricultural production and construction activities and prevents the closure of small workshops. However, labor market rigidity has emerged in some sectors, with Afghans dominating specific occupations such as livestock rearing and waste recycling, limiting opportunities for local workers. Other economic challenges include increased pressure on social subsidies, informal financial outflows, and potential long-term effects on labor culture and the willingness of local populations to engage in production-related jobs.

Physical–Spatial Impacts: The settlement patterns of Afghan migrants have led to spatial segregation and informal urban development. Concentration in specific neighborhoods has caused housing inflation, increased residential density, and unauthorized land use changes in peripheral urban areas. These transformations have altered urban morphology and disrupted planned urban development, resulting in an informal and organic urban order influenced by migration demand.

Social Impacts: Social integration has weakened, as Afghan migrants and host communities often live in parallel societies with limited constructive interaction. Identity crises among second- and third-generation migrants, cultural conflicts, and reduced social capital have decreased overall social cohesion. Competition over welfare resources and limited interaction with local populations have intensified social tensions in migrant-dense areas.

Security Impacts: Security challenges have shifted from border crossings to urban informalities and organized crime. The formation of defenseless urban spaces in migrant settlements has complicated policing and facilitated informal economic activities. Reduced public perception of security, regardless of actual crime statistics, has created psychological stress among local residents.

Health and Education Impacts: Unanticipated population pressure has strained health and education infrastructure. The return of communicable diseases, increased medical costs, and overcrowded schools have negatively affected the quality of services for both local and migrant populations, highlighting inequalities in access to essential services.

Environmental Impacts: In ecologically sensitive areas, over-extraction of water through unauthorized wells, degradation of vegetation, and soil pollution from unmanaged waste have significantly challenged environmental sustainability. These pressures indicate that the natural resilience of affected regions is being tested by prolonged and concentrated migration.

Infrastructural Impacts: National infrastructure, including electricity, gas, and transportation networks, is under stress due to increased demand in migrant-dense areas. Waste management systems are disrupted, and per capita service levels have decreased, reflecting an imbalance between infrastructure capacity and population pressure.

Overall, Afghan migration to Iran has become a structural variable that reshapes multiple aspects of society. The findings indicate that migration has long-term consequences that extend beyond temporary demographic shifts, redefining labor markets, urban form, social relationships, environmental management, and public service provision.

Conclusion

This systematic review demonstrates that Afghan migration to Iran is no longer a temporary or isolated phenomenon but a structural factor influencing economic, social, spatial, security, health, environmental, and infrastructural dimensions. The multidimensional impacts call for integrated migration management strategies, spatial planning, and sustainable population policies. Policymakers must consider both short- and long-term consequences, focusing on social integration, equitable service provision, labor market regulation, urban planning, and environmental sustainability. By synthesizing evidence from 47 studies, this research provides a comprehensive framework for understanding Afghan migration in Iran and contributes to informed decision-making and future research on migration and its complex societal effects.