Population of Afghanistan
Current Population
42,647,492
10yr Growth Rate
+30.05%
Rank
#36 of 209
Population Over Time
Analysis# Afghanistan Population Analysis
Afghanistan's population of 42.6 million represents a 30.05% increase over the past decade, reflecting a growth rate substantially higher than the global average of approximately 10% for the same period. Ranked 36th globally, the nation's demographic trajectory has been shaped significantly by its 1990s peak growth decade, though current expansion rates suggest ongoing high fertility despite decades of conflict and instability. The 64-year dataset reveals that Afghanistan's population has grown from roughly 8-10 million in 1960 to present levels—a roughly 4-5x increase driven by persistently high birth rates that have only recently begun moderating.
Historical Population Data
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42,647,492 | +2.88% |
| 2023 | 41,454,761 | +2.16% |
| 2022 | 40,578,842 | +1.45% |
| 2021 | 40,000,412 | +2.38% |
| 2020 | 39,068,979 | +3.20% |
| 2019 | 37,856,121 | +3.03% |
| 2018 | 36,743,039 | +2.95% |
| 2017 | 35,688,935 | +2.85% |
| 2016 | 34,700,612 | +2.57% |
| 2015 | 33,831,764 | +3.17% |
| 2014 | 32,792,523 | +3.70% |
| 2013 | 31,622,704 | +3.48% |
| 2012 | 30,560,034 | +4.13% |
| 2011 | 29,347,708 | +3.76% |
| 2010 | 28,284,089 | +2.98% |
| 2009 | 27,466,101 | +3.71% |
| 2008 | 26,482,622 | +2.21% |
| 2007 | 25,909,852 | +1.91% |
| 2006 | 25,424,094 | +4.18% |
| 2005 | 24,404,567 | +3.58% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 23,560,654 | +3.64% |
| 2003 | 22,733,049 | +6.34% |
| 2002 | 21,378,117 | +5.39% |
| 2001 | 20,284,307 | +0.76% |
| 2000 | 20,130,327 | +1.22% |
| 1999 | 19,887,785 | +3.80% |
| 1998 | 19,159,996 | +3.84% |
| 1997 | 18,452,091 | +3.88% |
| 1996 | 17,763,266 | +4.09% |
| 1995 | 17,065,836 | +5.02% |
| 1994 | 16,250,794 | +8.75% |
| 1993 | 14,943,172 | +12.53% |
| 1992 | 13,278,974 | +8.50% |
| 1991 | 12,238,879 | +1.60% |
| 1990 | 12,045,660 | +1.44% |
| 1989 | 11,874,088 | +3.04% |
| 1988 | 11,523,298 | +1.19% |
| 1987 | 11,387,818 | -0.28% |
| 1986 | 11,420,074 | -0.06% |
| 1985 | 11,426,852 | +2.11% |
| 1984 | 11,190,221 | +2.49% |
| 1983 | 10,917,982 | -0.67% |
| 1982 | 10,991,378 | -7.93% |
| 1981 | 11,937,581 | -9.35% |
| 1980 | 13,169,311 | -3.56% |
| 1979 | 13,655,567 | +0.32% |
| 1978 | 13,611,441 | +2.03% |
| 1977 | 13,340,756 | +2.15% |
| 1976 | 13,059,851 | +2.24% |
| 1975 | 12,773,954 | +2.44% |
| 1974 | 12,469,127 | +2.56% |
| 1973 | 12,157,999 | +2.57% |
| 1972 | 11,853,696 | +2.47% |
| 1971 | 11,567,667 | +2.46% |
| 1970 | 11,290,128 | +2.48% |
| 1969 | 11,017,409 | +2.42% |
| 1968 | 10,756,922 | +2.39% |
| 1967 | 10,505,959 | +2.33% |
| 1966 | 10,266,395 | +2.30% |
| 1965 | 10,036,008 | +2.26% |
| 1964 | 9,814,318 | +2.18% |
| 1963 | 9,604,487 | +2.13% |
| 1962 | 9,404,406 | +2.07% |
| 1961 | 9,214,083 | +1.98% |
| 1960 | 9,035,043 | — |