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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 9,132,629 people in Belarus in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 9,013,835 in Belarus.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 5.04 times bigger than Belarus'.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Belarus is the 102nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.11% for Belarus.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.3% in Belarus.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Belarus has declined from 9.6M to 9.01M (6.15% decline).

Afghanistan vs Belarus: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Belarus
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Belarus
2100 131,803,615 4,398,633
2099 131,145,502 4,449,573
2098 130,482,225 4,500,269
2097 129,808,066 4,550,935
2096 129,147,895 4,601,487
2095 128,473,977 4,652,286
2094 127,761,785 4,703,117
2093 127,018,448 4,754,252
2092 126,270,202 4,805,369
2091 125,508,788 4,856,664
2090 124,636,092 4,908,430
2089 123,843,293 4,960,656
2088 123,034,495 5,013,287
2087 122,147,758 5,066,741
2086 121,381,088 5,120,920
2085 120,486,343 5,176,048
2084 119,491,780 5,232,002
2083 118,631,246 5,288,854
2082 117,742,446 5,346,728
2081 116,842,143 5,405,543
2080 115,793,841 5,465,448
2079 114,630,140 5,526,121
2078 113,624,958 5,587,557
2077 112,523,374 5,650,096
2076 111,442,221 5,713,205
2075 110,399,328 5,777,144
2074 109,236,338 5,841,895
2073 107,960,305 5,907,671
2072 106,746,984 5,974,027
2071 105,568,382 6,041,554
2070 104,230,485 6,109,593
2069 102,964,062 6,178,463
2068 101,629,164 6,247,964
2067 100,380,826 6,318,511
2066 99,116,663 6,389,815
2065 97,714,113 6,461,651
2064 96,306,602 6,533,883
2063 94,949,108 6,606,470
2062 93,579,065 6,679,180
2061 92,316,077 6,751,939
2060 91,000,643 6,825,105
2059 89,717,353 6,898,206
2058 88,346,732 6,970,893
2057 86,917,997 7,043,508
2056 85,480,219 7,115,638
2055 84,074,268 7,187,104
2054 82,676,432 7,257,138
2053 81,285,014 7,326,052
2052 79,908,081 7,393,630
2051 78,643,202 7,459,522
2050 77,331,830 7,524,239
2049 75,864,863 7,588,059
2048 74,479,782 7,651,163
2047 73,119,204 7,712,657
2046 71,697,214 7,773,226
2045 70,353,118 7,833,564
2044 69,024,959 7,893,753
2043 67,657,423 7,953,762
2042 66,357,363 8,013,962
2041 64,976,778 8,075,253
2040 63,535,531 8,136,633
2039 62,129,737 8,198,487
2038 60,803,646 8,260,287
2037 59,454,331 8,321,922
2036 58,114,874 8,384,012
2035 56,804,011 8,446,649
2034 55,502,408 8,509,786
2033 54,135,876 8,573,478
2032 52,791,273 8,637,170
2031 51,433,991 8,700,460
2030 50,079,746 8,764,169
2029 48,768,949 8,827,965
2028 47,533,470 8,890,419
2027 46,310,865 8,952,131
2026 45,075,045 9,013,835
2025 43,870,455 9,073,924
2024 42,647,492 9,132,629
2023 41,454,761 9,178,298
2022 40,578,842 9,228,071
2021 40,000,412 9,302,585
2020 39,068,979 9,379,952
2019 37,856,121 9,419,758
2018 36,743,039 9,438,785
2017 35,688,935 9,458,989
2016 34,700,612 9,469,379
2015 33,831,764 9,461,076
2014 32,792,523 9,448,515
2013 31,622,704 9,443,211
2012 30,560,034 9,446,836
2011 29,347,708 9,461,643
2010 28,284,089 9,483,836
2009 27,466,101 9,504,583
2008 26,482,622 9,527,985
2007 25,909,852 9,560,953
2006 25,424,094 9,604,924
2005 24,404,567 9,663,915
2004 23,560,654 9,730,146
2003 22,733,049 9,796,749
2002 21,378,117 9,865,548
2001 20,284,307 9,928,549
2000 20,130,327 9,979,610
1999 19,887,785 10,026,738
1998 19,159,996 10,071,963
1997 18,452,091 10,117,433
1996 17,763,266 10,159,569
1995 17,065,836 10,193,831
1994 16,250,794 10,226,955
1993 14,943,172 10,239,050
1992 13,278,974 10,216,470
1991 12,238,879 10,194,050
1990 12,045,660 10,189,348
1989 11,874,088 10,170,000
1988 11,523,298 10,140,000
1987 11,387,818 10,111,000
1986 11,420,074 10,043,000
1985 11,426,852 9,975,000
1984 11,190,221 9,910,000
1983 10,917,982 9,843,000
1982 10,991,378 9,776,000
1981 11,937,581 9,710,000
1980 13,169,311 9,643,000
1979 13,655,567 9,584,000
1978 13,611,441 9,525,000
1977 13,340,756 9,463,000
1976 13,059,851 9,411,000
1975 12,773,954 9,367,000
1974 12,469,127 9,317,584
1973 12,157,999 9,257,272
1972 11,853,696 9,188,968
1971 11,567,667 9,115,576
1970 11,290,128 9,040,000
1969 11,017,409 8,960,304
1968 10,756,922 8,874,552
1967 10,505,959 8,785,648
1966 10,266,395 8,696,496
1965 10,036,008 8,610,000
1964 9,814,318 8,524,224
1963 9,604,487 8,437,232
1962 9,404,406 8,351,928
1961 9,214,083 8,271,216
1960 9,035,043 8,198,000

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/belarus | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Belarus lost 135,545 people (a 1.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Belarus' population decreased by 455,544 people (a 4.81% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Belarus was ranked 82nd in 2006 and ranked 102nd 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 Belarus will decrease by 16.5% to 7,524,239 people and rank change from 102nd to 114th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Belarus' population already peaked in 1993 at 10.2M people and is projected to decrease to 4.4M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Belarus
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Belarus
2100 0.5% -1.14%
2099 0.51% -1.13%
2098 0.52% -1.11%
2097 0.51% -1.1%
2096 0.52% -1.09%
2095 0.56% -1.08%
2094 0.59% -1.08%
2093 0.59% -1.06%
2092 0.61% -1.06%
2091 0.7% -1.05%
2090 0.64% -1.05%
2089 0.66% -1.05%
2088 0.73% -1.05%
2087 0.63% -1.06%
2086 0.74% -1.07%
2085 0.83% -1.07%
2084 0.73% -1.07%
2083 0.75% -1.08%
2082 0.77% -1.09%
2081 0.91% -1.1%
2080 1.02% -1.1%
2079 0.88% -1.1%
2078 0.98% -1.11%
2077 0.97% -1.1%
2076 0.94% -1.11%
2075 1.06% -1.11%
2074 1.18% -1.11%
2073 1.14% -1.11%
2072 1.12% -1.12%
2071 1.28% -1.11%
2070 1.23% -1.11%
2069 1.31% -1.11%
2068 1.24% -1.12%
2067 1.28% -1.12%
2066 1.44% -1.11%
2065 1.46% -1.11%
2064 1.43% -1.1%
2063 1.46% -1.09%
2062 1.37% -1.08%
2061 1.45% -1.07%
2060 1.43% -1.06%
2059 1.55% -1.04%
2058 1.64% -1.03%
2057 1.68% -1.01%
2056 1.67% -0.99%
2055 1.69% -0.97%
2054 1.71% -0.94%
2053 1.72% -0.91%
2052 1.61% -0.88%
2051 1.7% -0.86%
2050 1.93% -0.84%
2049 1.86% -0.82%
2048 1.86% -0.8%
2047 1.98% -0.78%
2046 1.91% -0.77%
2045 1.92% -0.76%
2044 2.02% -0.75%
2043 1.96% -0.75%
2042 2.12% -0.76%
2041 2.27% -0.75%
2040 2.26% -0.75%
2039 2.18% -0.75%
2038 2.27% -0.74%
2037 2.3% -0.74%
2036 2.31% -0.74%
2035 2.35% -0.74%
2034 2.52% -0.74%
2033 2.55% -0.74%
2032 2.64% -0.73%
2031 2.7% -0.73%
2030 2.69% -0.72%
2029 2.6% -0.7%
2028 2.64% -0.69%
2027 2.74% -0.68%
2026 2.75% -0.66%
2025 2.87% -0.64%
2024 2.88% -0.5%
2023 2.16% -0.54%
2022 1.45% -0.8%
2021 2.38% -0.82%
2020 3.2% -0.42%
2019 3.03% -0.2%
2018 2.95% -0.21%
2017 2.85% -0.11%
2016 2.57% 0.09%
2015 3.17% 0.13%
2014 3.7% 0.06%
2013 3.48% -0.04%
2012 4.13% -0.16%
2011 3.76% -0.23%
2010 2.98% -0.22%
2009 3.71% -0.25%
2008 2.21% -0.34%
2007 1.91% -0.46%
2006 4.18% -0.61%
2005 3.58% -0.68%
2004 3.64% -0.68%
2003 6.34% -0.7%
2002 5.39% -0.63%
2001 0.76% -0.51%
2000 1.22% -0.47%
1999 3.8% -0.45%
1998 3.84% -0.45%
1997 3.88% -0.41%
1996 4.09% -0.34%
1995 5.02% -0.32%
1994 8.75% -0.12%
1993 12.5% 0.22%
1992 8.5% 0.22%
1991 1.6% 0.05%
1990 1.44% 0.19%
1989 3.04% 0.3%
1988 1.19% 0.29%
1987 -0.28% 0.68%
1986 -0.06% 0.68%
1985 2.11% 0.66%
1984 2.49% 0.68%
1983 -0.67% 0.69%
1982 -7.93% 0.68%
1981 -9.35% 0.69%
1980 -3.56% 0.62%
1979 0.32% 0.62%
1978 2.03% 0.66%
1977 2.15% 0.55%
1976 2.24% 0.47%
1975 2.44% 0.53%
1974 2.56% 0.65%
1973 2.57% 0.74%
1972 2.47% 0.81%
1971 2.46% 0.84%
1970 2.48% 0.89%
1969 2.42% 0.97%
1968 2.39% 1.01%
1967 2.33% 1.03%
1966 2.3% 1%
1965 2.26% 1.01%
1964 2.18% 1.03%
1963 2.13% 1.02%
1962 2.07% 0.98%
1961 1.98% 0.89%

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/belarus | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Belarus' population declined by 0.5%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Belarus
Current population
45409324
9013835
Population rank 36/197 102/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.11%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
11.5 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
8.02 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -125
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -45,669
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.5%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 187/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.91 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -3,020
Net migration rank 179/196 109/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,054,604
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 58/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 11.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 58/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Belarus
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Belarus
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -3,020
2024 - -44,089 - -3,119
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -56,924 -3,034
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -47,839 -8,000
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -67,118 -33,954
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -64,703 -33,954
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -32,969 -33,954
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -26,429 8,615
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -17,026 3,337
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -1,894 8,272
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -946 18,088
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -2,834 14,979
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -6,610 10,550
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -11,336 10,903
2011 966,743 384,486 -26,493 5,686
2010 943,473 -167,460 -29,400 10,300
2009 920,581 -60,602 -25,662 13,610
2008 891,246 215,753 -25,726 -495
2007 889,848 -851,298 -28,683 -4,013
2006 875,301 57,673 -41,301 -8,303
2005 855,112 250,971 -50,252 -15,451
2004 850,940 -269,194 -50,597 -10,424
2003 826,165 247,317 -53,882 -10,795
2002 776,048 860,349 -58,207 -11,945
2001 764,090 -212,872 -48,650 -4,469
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -40,916 1,812
1999 760,727 -32,400 -49,131 2,028
1998 719,860 7,380 -44,316 13,192
1997 709,778 -21,215 -46,540 -235
1996 685,005 4,072 -37,591 5,205
1995 653,280 52,505 -32,621 481
1994 609,096 315,206 -19,431 -12,570
1993 541,257 1,149,684 -11,263 19,652
1992 440,132 1,197,329 11,238 29,477
1991 409,954 32,782 18,349 -5,876
1990 402,433 -458,737 32,606 -26,497
1989 381,158 18,296 49,833 5,639
1988 358,397 -56,263 60,840 -5,424
1987 314,361 -345,535 62,689 -12,462
1986 310,066 -343,397 74,318 -11,499
1985 228,469 -208,685 58,852 -784
1984 205,262 248,224 64,415 -3,051
1983 263,778 -172,797 75,791 -2,938
1982 263,210 -500,998 65,499 3,339
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 65,057 14,998
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 62,101 16,616
1979 361,750 -525,413 64,481 395
1978 369,101 -117,186 67,342 -11,143
1977 372,567 -83,115 67,434 -4,925
1976 357,775 -85,430 66,677 -5,350
1975 343,850 -44,418 65,494 -6,302
1974 330,232 -20,009 71,158 -5,157
1973 315,062 -3,030 70,911 -7,357
1972 300,633 -4,050 74,036 -7,966
1971 288,267 -12,801 77,464 -5,818
1970 275,129 4,458 75,520 -8,643
1969 263,823 2,029 74,567 -12,833
1968 251,798 3,333 76,782 -7,511
1967 239,967 6,824 81,136 -13,409
1966 228,786 3,563 84,191 -14,544
1965 217,741 10,695 90,611 -17,979
1964 207,867 7,079 101,618 -17,837
1963 198,035 6,681 113,160 -28,653
1962 188,427 7,016 124,945 -32,996
1961 179,094 6,109 134,490 -26,780
1960 170,257 2,606 136,399 -27,382

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/belarus | 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 Belarus 84.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 318,682 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,605 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,054,604 people or 11.6% in Belarus.

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
Belarus
City Population
Minsk 2M
Gomel 501K
Grodno 364K
Vitebsk 359K
Mogilev 353K
Brest 346K
Babruysk 206K
Baranavichy 171K
Barysaw 135K
Pinsk 124K

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/belarus | 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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