Skip to content

Population in Afghanistan compared to Australia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 27,614,411 people in Australia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 28,010,980 in Australia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.63 times bigger than Australia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Australia is the 55th.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.34% for Australia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +1.49% in Australia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Australia has grown from 20.5M to 28M (37% growth).

Afghanistan vs Australia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Australia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Australia
2100 131,724,468 44,268,623
2099 131,066,750 44,045,424
2098 130,403,871 43,816,219
2097 129,730,117 43,573,042
2096 129,070,342 43,335,272
2095 128,396,829 43,106,279
2094 127,685,065 42,884,039
2093 126,942,174 42,648,686
2092 126,194,378 42,410,825
2091 125,433,421 42,168,735
2090 124,561,248 41,927,939
2089 123,768,926 41,695,112
2088 122,960,614 41,454,360
2087 122,074,409 41,226,316
2086 121,308,199 41,005,658
2085 120,413,992 40,792,190
2084 119,420,025 40,580,657
2083 118,560,008 40,356,871
2082 117,671,742 40,140,558
2081 116,771,980 39,916,925
2080 115,724,307 39,703,296
2079 114,561,305 39,489,029
2078 113,556,727 39,273,623
2077 112,455,804 39,056,566
2076 111,375,301 38,845,418
2075 110,333,033 38,632,596
2074 109,170,742 38,418,045
2073 107,895,475 38,207,153
2072 106,682,883 37,999,068
2071 105,504,989 37,792,119
2070 104,167,895 37,578,242
2069 102,902,233 37,359,215
2068 101,568,136 37,138,635
2067 100,320,548 36,919,449
2066 99,057,144 36,701,629
2065 97,655,437 36,492,733
2064 96,248,770 36,290,454
2063 94,892,092 36,076,918
2062 93,522,871 35,866,124
2061 92,260,642 35,656,154
2060 90,945,998 35,450,525
2059 89,663,478 35,244,589
2058 88,293,680 35,027,089
2057 86,865,803 34,817,156
2056 85,428,888 34,607,988
2055 84,023,782 34,393,278
2054 82,626,785 34,179,940
2053 81,236,203 33,970,136
2052 79,860,096 33,760,935
2051 78,595,977 33,546,695
2050 77,285,393 33,330,712
2049 75,819,307 33,115,090
2048 74,435,057 32,887,237
2047 73,075,297 32,671,939
2046 71,654,160 32,443,408
2045 70,310,871 32,220,633
2044 68,983,509 32,001,023
2043 67,616,795 31,780,612
2042 66,317,516 31,556,888
2041 64,937,760 31,336,104
2040 63,497,378 31,119,045
2039 62,092,429 30,906,074
2038 60,767,134 30,686,214
2037 59,418,629 30,471,145
2036 58,079,976 30,247,954
2035 56,769,901 30,023,790
2034 55,469,080 29,801,152
2033 54,103,368 29,576,548
2032 52,759,572 29,349,199
2031 51,403,105 29,115,445
2030 50,049,673 28,877,548
2029 48,739,663 28,638,212
2028 47,504,926 28,388,452
2027 46,283,055 28,135,058
2026 45,047,977 27,879,933
2025 43,844,111 27,614,411
2024 42,647,492 27,194,286
2023 41,454,761 26,659,922
2022 40,578,842 26,018,721
2021 40,000,412 25,685,412
2020 39,068,979 25,649,248
2019 37,856,121 25,334,826
2018 36,743,039 24,963,258
2017 35,688,935 24,592,588
2016 34,700,612 24,190,907
2015 33,831,764 23,815,995
2014 32,792,523 23,475,686
2013 31,622,704 23,128,129
2012 30,560,034 22,733,465
2011 29,347,708 22,340,024
2010 28,284,089 22,031,750
2009 27,466,101 21,691,653
2008 26,482,622 21,249,199
2007 25,909,852 20,827,622
2006 25,424,094 20,450,966
2005 24,404,567 20,176,844
2004 23,560,654 19,932,722
2003 22,733,049 19,720,737
2002 21,378,117 19,495,210
2001 20,284,307 19,274,701
2000 20,130,327 19,028,802
1999 19,887,785 18,812,264
1998 19,159,996 18,607,584
1997 18,452,091 18,423,037
1996 17,763,266 18,224,767
1995 17,065,836 18,004,882
1994 16,250,794 17,805,468
1993 14,943,172 17,634,808
1992 13,278,974 17,478,635
1991 12,238,879 17,284,036
1990 12,045,660 17,065,128
1989 11,874,088 16,814,416
1988 11,523,298 16,532,164
1987 11,387,818 16,263,874
1986 11,420,074 16,018,350
1985 11,426,852 15,788,312
1984 11,190,221 15,579,391
1983 10,917,982 15,393,472
1982 10,991,378 15,184,247
1981 11,937,581 14,923,260
1980 13,169,311 14,692,000
1979 13,655,567 14,514,000
1978 13,611,441 14,358,000
1977 13,340,756 14,192,000
1976 13,059,851 14,033,000
1975 12,773,954 13,893,000
1974 12,469,127 13,723,000
1973 12,157,999 13,380,000
1972 11,853,696 13,177,000
1971 11,567,667 12,937,000
1970 11,290,128 12,507,000
1969 11,017,409 12,263,000
1968 10,756,922 12,009,000
1967 10,505,959 11,799,000
1966 10,266,395 11,651,000
1965 10,036,008 11,388,000
1964 9,814,318 11,167,000
1963 9,604,487 10,950,000
1962 9,404,406 10,742,000
1961 9,214,083 10,483,000
1960 9,035,043 10,276,477

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/australia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Australia gained 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Australia's population increased by 3,820,073 people (a 15.8% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Australia was ranked 54th in 2006 and ranked 55th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Afghanistan's population will grow by 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Australia will increase by 19% to 33,330,712 people and rank change from 55th to 59th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 44.3M people in 2100 for Australia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Australia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Australia
2100 0.5% 0.51%
2099 0.51% 0.52%
2098 0.52% 0.56%
2097 0.51% 0.55%
2096 0.52% 0.53%
2095 0.56% 0.52%
2094 0.59% 0.55%
2093 0.59% 0.56%
2092 0.61% 0.57%
2091 0.7% 0.57%
2090 0.64% 0.56%
2089 0.66% 0.58%
2088 0.73% 0.55%
2087 0.63% 0.54%
2086 0.74% 0.52%
2085 0.83% 0.52%
2084 0.73% 0.55%
2083 0.75% 0.54%
2082 0.77% 0.56%
2081 0.91% 0.54%
2080 1.02% 0.54%
2079 0.88% 0.55%
2078 0.98% 0.56%
2077 0.97% 0.54%
2076 0.94% 0.55%
2075 1.06% 0.56%
2074 1.18% 0.55%
2073 1.14% 0.55%
2072 1.12% 0.55%
2071 1.28% 0.57%
2070 1.23% 0.59%
2069 1.31% 0.59%
2068 1.24% 0.59%
2067 1.28% 0.59%
2066 1.44% 0.57%
2065 1.46% 0.56%
2064 1.43% 0.59%
2063 1.46% 0.59%
2062 1.37% 0.59%
2061 1.45% 0.58%
2060 1.43% 0.58%
2059 1.55% 0.62%
2058 1.64% 0.6%
2057 1.68% 0.6%
2056 1.67% 0.62%
2055 1.69% 0.62%
2054 1.71% 0.62%
2053 1.72% 0.62%
2052 1.61% 0.64%
2051 1.7% 0.65%
2050 1.93% 0.65%
2049 1.86% 0.69%
2048 1.86% 0.66%
2047 1.98% 0.7%
2046 1.91% 0.69%
2045 1.92% 0.69%
2044 2.02% 0.69%
2043 1.96% 0.71%
2042 2.12% 0.7%
2041 2.27% 0.7%
2040 2.26% 0.69%
2039 2.18% 0.72%
2038 2.27% 0.71%
2037 2.3% 0.74%
2036 2.31% 0.75%
2035 2.35% 0.75%
2034 2.52% 0.76%
2033 2.55% 0.77%
2032 2.64% 0.8%
2031 2.7% 0.82%
2030 2.69% 0.84%
2029 2.6% 0.88%
2028 2.64% 0.9%
2027 2.74% 0.92%
2026 2.75% 0.96%
2025 2.81% 1.54%
2024 2.88% 2%
2023 2.16% 2.46%
2022 1.45% 1.3%
2021 2.38% 0.14%
2020 3.2% 1.24%
2019 3.03% 1.49%
2018 2.95% 1.51%
2017 2.85% 1.66%
2016 2.57% 1.57%
2015 3.17% 1.45%
2014 3.7% 1.5%
2013 3.48% 1.74%
2012 4.13% 1.76%
2011 3.76% 1.4%
2010 2.98% 1.57%
2009 3.71% 2.08%
2008 2.21% 2.02%
2007 1.91% 1.84%
2006 4.18% 1.36%
2005 3.58% 1.22%
2004 3.64% 1.07%
2003 6.34% 1.16%
2002 5.39% 1.14%
2001 0.76% 1.29%
2000 1.22% 1.15%
1999 3.8% 1.1%
1998 3.84% 1%
1997 3.88% 1.09%
1996 4.09% 1.22%
1995 5.02% 1.12%
1994 8.75% 0.97%
1993 12.5% 0.89%
1992 8.5% 1.13%
1991 1.6% 1.28%
1990 1.44% 1.49%
1989 3.04% 1.71%
1988 1.19% 1.65%
1987 -0.28% 1.53%
1986 -0.06% 1.46%
1985 2.11% 1.34%
1984 2.49% 1.21%
1983 -0.67% 1.38%
1982 -7.93% 1.75%
1981 -9.35% 1.57%
1980 -3.56% 1.23%
1979 0.32% 1.09%
1978 2.03% 1.17%
1977 2.15% 1.13%
1976 2.24% 1.01%
1975 2.44% 1.24%
1974 2.56% 2.56%
1973 2.57% 1.54%
1972 2.47% 1.86%
1971 2.46% 3.44%
1970 2.48% 1.99%
1969 2.42% 2.12%
1968 2.39% 1.78%
1967 2.33% 1.27%
1966 2.3% 2.31%
1965 2.26% 1.98%
1964 2.18% 1.98%
1963 2.13% 1.94%
1962 2.07% 2.47%
1961 1.98% 2.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/australia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Australia's population grew by 1.54%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Australia
Current population
45682388
28010980
Population rank 36/197 55/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.34%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.25 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
1.81 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
2.81 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +420,125
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +1.54%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 68/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.84 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +137,109
Net migration rank 179/196 11/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 8,111,404
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 9/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 30.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 18/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Australia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Australia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 137,109
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 103,773 138,510
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 104,641 140,232
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 111,881 140,972
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 138,701 116,768
2020 1,134,407 143,634 133,376 44,447
2019 1,138,485 9,159 136,808 207,142
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 157,269 226,412
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 150,015 255,023
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 152,403 254,648
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 150,041 212,350
2014 1,053,788 233,913 154,940 200,177
2013 1,033,778 18,119 159,584 215,823
2012 1,004,814 68,628 161,408 235,776
2011 966,743 384,486 156,380 197,657
2010 943,473 -167,460 158,628 166,752
2009 920,581 -60,602 160,518 235,628
2008 891,246 215,753 155,119 275,773
2007 889,848 -851,298 154,124 249,873
2006 875,301 57,673 132,931 191,985
2005 855,112 250,971 129,132 131,371
2004 850,940 -269,194 115,610 110,072
2003 826,165 247,317 118,325 104,437
2002 776,048 860,349 116,971 108,852
2001 764,090 -212,872 117,575 117,552
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 119,882 111,186
1999 760,727 -32,400 118,517 92,900
1998 719,860 7,380 120,949 81,310
1997 709,778 -21,215 121,592 67,661
1996 685,005 4,072 125,751 82,965
1995 653,280 52,505 131,436 80,456
1994 609,096 315,206 131,761 51,941
1993 541,257 1,149,684 137,551 23,833
1992 440,132 1,197,329 139,829 40,767
1991 409,954 32,782 138,273 68,847
1990 402,433 -458,737 143,347 100,093
1989 381,158 18,296 127,789 144,042
1988 358,397 -56,263 127,298 153,330
1987 314,361 -345,535 128,484 136,421
1986 310,066 -343,397 123,342 113,061
1985 228,469 -208,685 143,674 98,327
1984 205,262 248,224 123,077 79,617
1983 263,778 -172,797 130,844 73,251
1982 263,210 -500,998 126,030 111,722
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 125,356 121,921
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 117,536 89,189
1979 361,750 -525,413 116,112 52,137
1978 369,101 -117,186 116,299 45,832
1977 372,567 -83,115 117,793 44,946
1976 357,775 -85,430 115,070 32,792
1975 343,850 -44,418 123,648 25,336
1974 330,232 -20,009 128,996 56,167
1973 315,062 -3,030 136,476 62,928
1972 300,633 -4,050 155,488 54,895
1971 288,267 -12,801 165,593 223,991
1970 275,129 4,458 145,081 256,295
1969 263,823 2,029 143,477 108,770
1968 251,798 3,333 132,099 100,963
1967 239,967 6,824 126,249 80,904
1966 228,786 3,563 126,996 110,864
1965 217,741 10,695 122,990 118,891
1964 207,867 7,079 128,420 91,588
1963 198,035 6,681 140,161 73,237
1962 188,427 7,016 143,943 58,315
1961 179,094 6,109 150,955 64,495
1960 170,257 2,606 141,816 85,707

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/australia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 87.3% of the population change in Afghanistan is from natural causes (a gain of 11,488,046 people) and 12.7% is from migration (a loss of 1,674,047 people). In Australia 43.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,338,908 people) and 56.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,736,504 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 8,111,404 people or 30.4% in Australia.

Biggest cities by population

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
Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/australia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.