Afghanistan Demographics: Median age, Gender, Religion

Median age in Afghanistan, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Afghanistan was 18.9 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had decreased to 18.2 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 117th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Afghanistan ranks 186th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Afghanistan is expected to increase to 35.7 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Afghanistan
	Male	Female
80+	0.11%	0.16%
75-79	0.17%	0.25%
70-74	0.29%	0.39%
65-69	0.45%	0.58%
60-64	0.66%	0.8%
55-59	0.94%	1.05%
50-54	1.29%	1.34%
45-49	1.65%	1.65%
40-44	2.01%	1.99%
35-39	2.55%	2.52%
30-34	3.35%	3.3%
25-29	4.27%	4.17%
20-24	5.1%	4.89%
15-19	5.73%	5.46%
10-14	6.51%	6.21%
5-9	7.3%	6.98%
0-4	8.12%	7.78%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Afghanistan has high demographic potential with 79.2% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 7/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Afghanistan	World
2100	64.9%	59.6%
2099	65%	59.6%
2098	65.1%	59.7%
2097	65.1%	59.7%
2096	65.2%	59.7%
2095	65.3%	59.7%
2094	65.4%	59.7%
2093	65.4%	59.8%
2092	65.5%	59.8%
2091	65.6%	59.8%
2090	65.6%	59.8%
2089	65.7%	59.8%
2088	65.8%	59.8%
2087	65.8%	59.8%
2086	65.9%	59.8%
2085	65.9%	59.9%
2084	65.9%	59.9%
2083	65.9%	60%
2082	65.9%	60.1%
2081	65.9%	60.3%
2080	65.9%	60.4%
2079	65.9%	60.6%
2078	65.9%	60.7%
2077	65.9%	60.9%
2076	65.8%	61%
2075	65.8%	61.1%
2074	65.8%	61.3%
2073	65.7%	61.4%
2072	65.6%	61.5%
2071	65.6%	61.6%
2070	65.5%	61.7%
2069	65.5%	61.8%
2068	65.4%	61.9%
2067	65.4%	62%
2066	65.4%	62%
2065	65.3%	62.1%
2064	65.3%	62.1%
2063	65.2%	62.1%
2062	65.1%	62.2%
2061	65.1%	62.2%
2060	65%	62.3%
2059	64.9%	62.3%
2058	64.9%	62.4%
2057	64.7%	62.4%
2056	64.6%	62.5%
2055	64.4%	62.7%
2054	64.2%	62.8%
2053	64%	62.9%
2052	63.8%	63.1%
2051	63.6%	63.2%
2050	63.3%	63.4%
2049	63%	63.5%
2048	62.8%	63.6%
2047	62.5%	63.8%
2046	62.2%	63.9%
2045	61.8%	64%
2044	61.5%	64.1%
2043	61.2%	64.2%
2042	60.9%	64.3%
2041	60.5%	64.4%
2040	60.1%	64.5%
2039	59.7%	64.7%
2038	59.4%	64.8%
2037	59%	64.9%
2036	58.7%	65.1%
2035	58.4%	65.2%
2034	58%	65.3%
2033	57.7%	65.4%
2032	57.3%	65.4%
2031	56.9%	65.4%
2030	56.5%	65.4%
2029	56.2%	65.4%
2028	55.8%	65.4%
2027	55.5%	65.4%
2026	55.2%	65.2%
2025	54.9%	65.1%
2024	54.7%	65.1%
2023	54.4%	65%
2022	54.1%	64.9%
2021	53.7%	64.9%
2020	53.4%	64.8%
2019	53%	64.9%
2018	52.7%	64.9%
2017	52.3%	65%
2016	51.8%	65.1%
2015	51.4%	65.1%
2014	50.9%	65.2%
2013	50.5%	65.2%
2012	50.1%	65.2%
2011	49.6%	65.2%
2010	49.2%	65.1%
2009	48.8%	65%
2008	48.5%	64.9%
2007	48.1%	64.7%
2006	47.9%	64.5%
2005	47.7%	64.3%
2004	47.6%	64%
2003	47.5%	63.7%
2002	47.5%	63.4%
2001	47.6%	63.1%
2000	47.7%	62.8%
1999	47.9%	62.5%
1998	48.2%	62.2%
1997	48.4%	61.9%
1996	48.7%	61.7%
1995	49%	61.5%
1994	49.3%	61.3%
1993	49.5%	61.2%
1992	49.7%	61.1%
1991	49.9%	61%
1990	50.1%	60.9%
1989	50.2%	60.8%
1988	50.3%	60.7%
1987	50.4%	60.5%
1986	50.6%	60.4%
1985	50.7%	60.1%
1984	50.8%	59.9%
1983	50.9%	59.6%
1982	51.1%	59.3%
1981	51.2%	59%
1980	51.4%	58.7%
1979	51.6%	58.4%
1978	51.8%	58%
1977	52%	57.7%
1976	52.2%	57.5%
1975	52.4%	57.4%
1974	52.6%	57.3%
1973	52.8%	57.3%
1972	53%	57.2%
1971	53.2%	57.1%
1970	53.4%	57%
1969	53.6%	56.9%
1968	53.9%	56.9%
1967	54.1%	56.9%
1966	54.4%	56.8%
1965	54.6%	56.9%
1964	54.8%	57%
1963	55%	57.2%
1962	55.1%	57.4%
1961	55.2%	57.5%
1960	55.2%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Afghanistan changed from 47.6% to 54.7% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Afghanistan decreased from 110.3% to 82.8% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	Afghanistan	World
2100	21%	16.5%
2099	21.2%	16.6%
2098	21.3%	16.6%
2097	21.5%	16.7%
2096	21.6%	16.8%
2095	21.8%	16.8%
2094	21.9%	16.9%
2093	22.1%	17%
2092	22.3%	17%
2091	22.4%	17.1%
2090	22.6%	17.2%
2089	22.8%	17.2%
2088	23%	17.3%
2087	23.1%	17.4%
2086	23.3%	17.4%
2085	23.5%	17.5%
2084	23.7%	17.5%
2083	23.9%	17.6%
2082	24.2%	17.7%
2081	24.4%	17.7%
2080	24.6%	17.8%
2079	24.8%	17.8%
2078	25%	17.9%
2077	25.3%	17.9%
2076	25.5%	18%
2075	25.8%	18%
2074	26%	18.1%
2073	26.2%	18.2%
2072	26.5%	18.2%
2071	26.7%	18.3%
2070	27%	18.3%
2069	27.3%	18.4%
2068	27.5%	18.5%
2067	27.8%	18.6%
2066	28%	18.6%
2065	28.3%	18.7%
2064	28.6%	18.8%
2063	28.8%	18.9%
2062	29.1%	19.1%
2061	29.4%	19.2%
2060	29.6%	19.3%
2059	29.9%	19.4%
2058	30.2%	19.5%
2057	30.4%	19.6%
2056	30.7%	19.8%
2055	31.1%	19.9%
2054	31.4%	20%
2053	31.7%	20.1%
2052	32%	20.2%
2051	32.4%	20.3%
2050	32.7%	20.4%
2049	33.1%	20.5%
2048	33.4%	20.6%
2047	33.8%	20.7%
2046	34.2%	20.8%
2045	34.6%	20.9%
2044	35%	20.9%
2043	35.4%	21%
2042	35.8%	21.1%
2041	36.3%	21.2%
2040	36.7%	21.2%
2039	37.2%	21.3%
2038	37.6%	21.4%
2037	38%	21.5%
2036	38.4%	21.6%
2035	38.8%	21.8%
2034	39.2%	22%
2033	39.6%	22.2%
2032	40.1%	22.4%
2031	40.5%	22.7%
2030	40.9%	23%
2029	41.3%	23.3%
2028	41.7%	23.6%
2027	42%	23.9%
2026	42.4%	24.2%
2025	42.7%	24.6%
2024	42.9%	24.7%
2023	43.2%	25%
2022	43.6%	25.3%
2021	43.9%	25.6%
2020	44.2%	25.8%
2019	44.6%	26%
2018	45%	26.2%
2017	45.4%	26.4%
2016	45.8%	26.5%
2015	46.3%	26.6%
2014	46.7%	26.8%
2013	47.2%	26.9%
2012	47.6%	27%
2011	48%	27.1%
2010	48.5%	27.3%
2009	48.9%	27.5%
2008	49.3%	27.6%
2007	49.6%	27.9%
2006	49.9%	28.1%
2005	50%	28.5%
2004	50.2%	28.8%
2003	50.2%	29.2%
2002	50.2%	29.6%
2001	50.2%	30%
2000	50%	30.4%
1999	49.8%	30.8%
1998	49.6%	31.1%
1997	49.3%	31.5%
1996	49%	31.8%
1995	48.7%	32.1%
1994	48.5%	32.3%
1993	48.2%	32.5%
1992	48%	32.7%
1991	47.8%	32.9%
1990	47.7%	33%
1989	47.5%	33.2%
1988	47.4%	33.4%
1987	47.3%	33.6%
1986	47.2%	33.8%
1985	47%	34%
1984	46.8%	34.3%
1983	46.6%	34.6%
1982	46.5%	34.9%
1981	46.3%	35.2%
1980	46.1%	35.5%
1979	45.8%	35.9%
1978	45.6%	36.3%
1977	45.4%	36.7%
1976	45.2%	36.9%
1975	45%	37.1%
1974	44.8%	37.2%
1973	44.6%	37.3%
1972	44.4%	37.5%
1971	44.2%	37.6%
1970	43.9%	37.7%
1969	43.7%	37.8%
1968	43.4%	37.9%
1967	43.2%	38%
1966	42.9%	38%
1965	42.6%	38%
1964	42.4%	38%
1963	42.2%	37.8%
1962	42.1%	37.6%
1961	42%	37.5%
1960	41.9%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Afghanistan decreased from 50.2% to 42.9% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Afghanistan	World
2100	14.1%	23.9%
2099	13.9%	23.8%
2098	13.6%	23.7%
2097	13.4%	23.6%
2096	13.2%	23.5%
2095	12.9%	23.4%
2094	12.7%	23.4%
2093	12.5%	23.3%
2092	12.2%	23.2%
2091	12%	23.1%
2090	11.8%	23.1%
2089	11.5%	23%
2088	11.3%	22.9%
2087	11%	22.8%
2086	10.8%	22.7%
2085	10.6%	22.6%
2084	10.4%	22.5%
2083	10.1%	22.4%
2082	9.92%	22.2%
2081	9.7%	22%
2080	9.49%	21.8%
2079	9.28%	21.6%
2078	9.06%	21.4%
2077	8.86%	21.2%
2076	8.65%	21%
2075	8.44%	20.8%
2074	8.25%	20.6%
2073	8.05%	20.4%
2072	7.86%	20.3%
2071	7.66%	20.1%
2070	7.46%	19.9%
2069	7.26%	19.8%
2068	7.05%	19.6%
2067	6.83%	19.5%
2066	6.6%	19.3%
2065	6.39%	19.2%
2064	6.17%	19.1%
2063	5.96%	18.9%
2062	5.75%	18.8%
2061	5.55%	18.6%
2060	5.35%	18.5%
2059	5.16%	18.3%
2058	4.98%	18.1%
2057	4.82%	17.9%
2056	4.67%	17.7%
2055	4.53%	17.5%
2054	4.4%	17.2%
2053	4.27%	17%
2052	4.16%	16.7%
2051	4.05%	16.4%
2050	3.96%	16.2%
2049	3.87%	16%
2048	3.8%	15.8%
2047	3.72%	15.5%
2046	3.64%	15.3%
2045	3.56%	15.1%
2044	3.48%	14.9%
2043	3.4%	14.8%
2042	3.32%	14.6%
2041	3.24%	14.4%
2040	3.17%	14.2%
2039	3.09%	14%
2038	3.02%	13.8%
2037	2.95%	13.5%
2036	2.89%	13.3%
2035	2.83%	13%
2034	2.77%	12.7%
2033	2.71%	12.4%
2032	2.66%	12.2%
2031	2.61%	11.9%
2030	2.57%	11.6%
2029	2.53%	11.3%
2028	2.5%	11%
2027	2.47%	10.7%
2026	2.44%	10.5%
2025	2.41%	10.3%
2024	2.4%	10.2%
2023	2.38%	9.98%
2022	2.36%	9.74%
2021	2.35%	9.53%
2020	2.37%	9.33%
2019	2.38%	9.1%
2018	2.37%	8.88%
2017	2.36%	8.65%
2016	2.36%	8.45%
2015	2.36%	8.26%
2014	2.36%	8.08%
2013	2.35%	7.92%
2012	2.34%	7.78%
2011	2.32%	7.66%
2010	2.31%	7.58%
2009	2.29%	7.52%
2008	2.28%	7.47%
2007	2.28%	7.41%
2006	2.27%	7.34%
2005	2.27%	7.26%
2004	2.27%	7.18%
2003	2.27%	7.1%
2002	2.26%	7.01%
2001	2.26%	6.92%
2000	2.26%	6.84%
1999	2.26%	6.76%
1998	2.26%	6.68%
1997	2.26%	6.61%
1996	2.26%	6.53%
1995	2.26%	6.45%
1994	2.25%	6.37%
1993	2.25%	6.29%
1992	2.24%	6.21%
1991	2.24%	6.14%
1990	2.24%	6.07%
1989	2.24%	6.01%
1988	2.24%	5.95%
1987	2.26%	5.91%
1986	2.28%	5.86%
1985	2.32%	5.82%
1984	2.37%	5.8%
1983	2.42%	5.79%
1982	2.46%	5.8%
1981	2.49%	5.81%
1980	2.52%	5.81%
1979	2.54%	5.77%
1978	2.56%	5.71%
1977	2.57%	5.65%
1976	2.58%	5.59%
1975	2.59%	5.53%
1974	2.61%	5.47%
1973	2.62%	5.42%
1972	2.64%	5.37%
1971	2.66%	5.32%
1970	2.67%	5.28%
1969	2.69%	5.24%
1968	2.7%	5.2%
1967	2.71%	5.16%
1966	2.73%	5.12%
1965	2.74%	5.08%
1964	2.76%	5.04%
1963	2.78%	5.02%
1962	2.79%	5.01%
1961	2.81%	4.99%
1960	2.82%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Afghanistan increased from 2.27% to 2.4% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

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1x