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Population density: Afghanistan vs Palestine compared

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has a population density of 179 people per square mile compared to 2,352 people in Palestine. Afghanistan has 164,618 sq ft of land per person vs 12,251 sq ft in Palestine. Afghanistan and Palestine rank 123rd and 8th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Afghanistan has 0.52% of the world's population and 0.44% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.07% of the population and 0.004% of the land area for Palestine, making the population density in Afghanistan 92.4% lower than in Palestine.

Population density by year

Afghanistan
Palestine

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Afghanistan Palestine
2026 179 2,352
2025 174.2 2,311
2024 169.4 2,274
2023 164.6 2,221
2022 161.1 2,168
2021 158.8 2,116
2020 155.1 2,067
2019 150.3 2,016
2018 145.9 1,966
2017 141.7 1,917
2016 137.8 1,879
2015 134.3 1,837
2014 130.2 1,796
2013 125.6 1,754
2012 121.4 1,712
2011 116.5 1,671
2010 112.3 1,629
2009 109.1 1,587
2008 105.2 1,545
2007 102.9 1,503
2006 101 1,466
2005 96.9 1,429
2004 93.6 1,392
2003 90.3 1,357
2002 84.9 1,323
2001 80.5 1,290
2000 79.9 1,257
1999 79 1,225
1998 76.1 1,195
1997 73.3 1,164
1996 70.5 1,113
1995 67.8 1,065
1994 64.5 1,018
1993 59.3 973
1992 52.7 931
1991 48.6 890
1990 47.8 851
1989 47.2 819
1988 45.8 766
1987 45.2 745
1986 45.3 729
1985 45.4 697
1984 44.4 670
1983 43.4 648
1982 43.6 629
1981 47.4 611
1980 52.3 595
1979 54.2 579
1978 54.1 564
1977 53 548
1976 51.9 532
1975 50.7 516
1974 49.5 499
1973 48.3 484
1972 47.1 474
1971 45.9 469
1970 44.8 471
1969 43.7 476
1968 42.7 483
1967 41.7 485
1966 40.8 484
1965 39.9 480
1964 39 472
1963 38.1 464
1962 37.3 457
1961 36.6 449

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/afghanistan/palestine | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Afghanistan increased by 77.3%, compared to a 60.5% growth in Palestine.

In 2006, Afghanistan ranked 135th by population density and is 123rd now. Palestine was 11th in 2006 and ranks 8th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Afghanistan
Palestine
1x
Year Urban population
Afghanistan Palestine
2024 25.7% 87.1%
2023 25.5% 86.9%
2022 25.4% 86.6%
2021 25.3% 86.3%
2020 25.3% 86.1%
2019 25.1% 85.8%
2018 25% 85.5%
2017 24.8% 85.4%
2016 24.7% 85.3%
2015 24.5% 85.2%
2014 24.2% 85%
2013 23.8% 84.8%
2012 23.3% 84.5%
2011 22.8% 84.2%
2010 22.3% 83.9%
2009 21.7% 83.5%
2008 21.1% 83.1%
2007 20.6% 82.6%
2006 20.1% 81.8%
2005 19.7% 80.5%
2004 19.4% 79%
2003 19.2% 77.3%
2002 18.9% 75.5%
2001 18.7% 73.7%
2000 18.6% 72.1%
1999 18.4% 70.6%
1998 18.2% 69.5%
1997 18.1% 68.7%
1996 18% 68.1%
1995 17.8% 67.5%
1994 17.7% 67%
1993 17.6% 66.5%
1992 17.5% 66.1%
1991 17.4% 65.7%
1990 17.3% 65.3%
1989 17.1% -
1988 17% -
1987 16.9% -
1986 16.8% -
1985 16.6% -
1984 16.5% -
1983 16.3% -
1982 16.1% -
1981 15.9% -
1980 15.7% -
1979 15.4% -
1978 15.1% -
1977 14.7% -
1976 14.3% -
1975 13.8% -
1974 13.2% -
1973 12.7% -
1972 12.2% -
1971 11.7% -
1970 11.2% -
1969 10.8% -
1968 10.5% -
1967 10.2% -
1966 9.84% -
1965 9.53% -
1964 9.23% -
1963 8.94% -
1962 8.66% -
1961 8.39% -
1960 8.12% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/afghanistan/palestine | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 19.4% to 25.7% in Afghanistan and from 79% to 87.1% in Palestine.

Densely populated cities

Afghanistan
City Population
Kabul 5.33M
Kandahar 614K
Herat 556K
Mazar-i-Sharif 469K
Kunduz 357K
Jalalabad 263K
Lashkargah 202K
Sheberghan 176K
Khost 160K
Ghazni 143K
Palestine
City Population
Gaza 590K
Ashdod 220K
Hebron 215K
Nablus 178K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/afghanistan/palestine | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2006–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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