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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 27,196,812 people in Australia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 27,799,169 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 0.88% 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 +2.76% per year vs +1.49% in Australia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Australia has grown from 20.5M to 27.8M (35.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs Australia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Australia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Australia
2100 131,803,615 44,031,396
2099 131,145,502 43,809,392
2098 130,482,225 43,581,416
2097 129,808,066 43,339,542
2096 129,147,895 43,103,046
2095 128,473,977 42,875,281
2094 127,761,785 42,654,231
2093 127,018,448 42,420,140
2092 126,270,202 42,183,554
2091 125,508,788 41,942,760
2090 124,636,092 41,703,255
2089 123,843,293 41,471,675
2088 123,034,495 41,232,214
2087 122,147,758 41,005,392
2086 121,381,088 40,785,916
2085 120,486,343 40,573,592
2084 119,491,780 40,363,192
2083 118,631,246 40,140,606
2082 117,742,446 39,925,452
2081 116,842,143 39,703,018
2080 115,793,841 39,490,533
2079 114,630,140 39,277,415
2078 113,624,958 39,063,163
2077 112,523,374 38,847,269
2076 111,442,221 38,637,253
2075 110,399,328 38,425,571
2074 109,236,338 38,212,169
2073 107,960,305 38,002,408
2072 106,746,984 37,795,438
2071 105,568,382 37,589,598
2070 104,230,485 37,376,868
2069 102,964,062 37,159,014
2068 101,629,164 36,939,616
2067 100,380,826 36,721,604
2066 99,116,663 36,504,952
2065 97,714,113 36,297,175
2064 96,306,602 36,095,981
2063 94,949,108 35,883,588
2062 93,579,065 35,673,924
2061 92,316,077 35,465,080
2060 91,000,643 35,260,552
2059 89,717,353 35,055,719
2058 88,346,732 34,839,385
2057 86,917,997 34,630,577
2056 85,480,219 34,422,531
2055 84,074,268 34,208,970
2054 82,676,432 33,996,776
2053 81,285,014 33,788,097
2052 79,908,081 33,580,016
2051 78,643,202 33,366,925
2050 77,331,830 33,152,099
2049 75,864,863 32,937,633
2048 74,479,782 32,711,001
2047 73,119,204 32,496,856
2046 71,697,214 32,269,549
2045 70,353,118 32,047,969
2044 69,024,959 31,829,535
2043 67,657,423 31,610,306
2042 66,357,363 31,387,780
2041 64,976,778 31,168,179
2040 63,535,531 30,952,283
2039 62,129,737 30,740,454
2038 60,803,646 30,521,772
2037 59,454,331 30,307,856
2036 58,114,874 30,085,861
2035 56,804,011 29,862,898
2034 55,502,408 29,641,453
2033 54,135,876 29,418,053
2032 52,791,273 29,191,922
2031 51,433,991 28,959,421
2030 50,079,746 28,722,798
2029 48,768,949 28,484,745
2028 47,533,470 28,236,324
2027 46,310,865 27,984,287
2026 45,075,045 27,730,530
2025 43,870,455 27,466,430
2024 42,647,492 27,196,812
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Australia's population increased by 3,608,262 people (a 14.9% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of Australia will increase by 19.3% to 33,152,099 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 44M 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 2.87% 0.99%
2024 2.88% 2.01%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Australia's population grew by 2.01%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Australia
Current population
45409324
27799169
Population rank 36/197 55/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.34%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
58.7 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.83 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.86 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,471
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +536,890
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.01%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 51/197
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 - -44,089 - 138,510
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 103,974 140,232
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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 89% of the population change in Afghanistan is from natural causes (a gain of 11,292,049 people) and 11% is from migration (a loss of 1,396,045 people). In Australia 43.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,389,408 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,798,171 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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