Eight years after a US-led invasion, Afghanistan has been ranked as the worst place in the world for a child to be born, says a United Nations annual report.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), says the war-ravaged country has the highest mortality rate in the world with 257 deaths per 1,000 live births.

It has found Afghanistan especially dangerous for girls, UNICEF's director for South Asia, Daniel Toole, said in his annual State of the World's Children report published on Friday.

"Insecurity has brought down the number of children attending schools - young girls in particular," Toole said. He blamed deliberate attacks on girls' schools for the drop in female education.

Low security measures have also cut off some 43 percent of the country's access to aid agencies.

He added that 70 percent of the nation lacks access to clean water.

"Afghanistan today is without a doubt the most dangerous place to be born," Toole said.

FTP/SS/MMA