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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 11,858,610 people in Belgium in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 11,902,714 in Belgium.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 3.82 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Belgium is the 83rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.14% for Belgium.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.55% in Belgium.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Belgium has grown from 10.5M to 11.9M (12.8% growth).

Afghanistan vs Belgium: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Belgium
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Belgium
2100 131,803,615 11,193,616
2099 131,145,502 11,211,908
2098 130,482,225 11,230,002
2097 129,808,066 11,246,180
2096 129,147,895 11,261,636
2095 128,473,977 11,277,513
2094 127,761,785 11,293,934
2093 127,018,448 11,309,421
2092 126,270,202 11,325,500
2091 125,508,788 11,339,887
2090 124,636,092 11,354,304
2089 123,843,293 11,368,748
2088 123,034,495 11,384,019
2087 122,147,758 11,399,441
2086 121,381,088 11,413,731
2085 120,486,343 11,427,305
2084 119,491,780 11,441,192
2083 118,631,246 11,454,476
2082 117,742,446 11,468,827
2081 116,842,143 11,480,917
2080 115,793,841 11,494,860
2079 114,630,140 11,507,804
2078 113,624,958 11,522,057
2077 112,523,374 11,534,819
2076 111,442,221 11,546,262
2075 110,399,328 11,558,154
2074 109,236,338 11,571,164
2073 107,960,305 11,584,391
2072 106,746,984 11,597,605
2071 105,568,382 11,611,079
2070 104,230,485 11,627,079
2069 102,964,062 11,643,296
2068 101,629,164 11,660,663
2067 100,380,826 11,677,909
2066 99,116,663 11,696,417
2065 97,714,113 11,716,114
2064 96,306,602 11,736,957
2063 94,949,108 11,758,738
2062 93,579,065 11,780,812
2061 92,316,077 11,804,421
2060 91,000,643 11,825,799
2059 89,717,353 11,847,336
2058 88,346,732 11,867,449
2057 86,917,997 11,890,466
2056 85,480,219 11,911,901
2055 84,074,268 11,931,594
2054 82,676,432 11,950,146
2053 81,285,014 11,968,395
2052 79,908,081 11,984,694
2051 78,643,202 11,998,099
2050 77,331,830 12,008,766
2049 75,864,863 12,017,817
2048 74,479,782 12,024,879
2047 73,119,204 12,029,815
2046 71,697,214 12,032,975
2045 70,353,118 12,034,718
2044 69,024,959 12,034,116
2043 67,657,423 12,032,908
2042 66,357,363 12,030,714
2041 64,976,778 12,026,814
2040 63,535,531 12,023,124
2039 62,129,737 12,018,547
2038 60,803,646 12,012,586
2037 59,454,331 12,005,650
2036 58,114,874 11,999,298
2035 56,804,011 11,992,761
2034 55,502,408 11,985,730
2033 54,135,876 11,977,334
2032 52,791,273 11,969,302
2031 51,433,991 11,960,910
2030 50,079,746 11,951,381
2029 48,768,949 11,939,712
2028 47,533,470 11,927,038
2027 46,310,865 11,913,457
2026 45,075,045 11,898,731
2025 43,870,455 11,881,020
2024 42,647,492 11,858,610
2023 41,454,761 11,779,946
2022 40,578,842 11,680,210
2021 40,000,412 11,586,195
2020 39,068,979 11,538,604
2019 37,856,121 11,488,980
2018 36,743,039 11,427,054
2017 35,688,935 11,375,158
2016 34,700,612 11,331,422
2015 33,831,764 11,274,196
2014 32,792,523 11,209,057
2013 31,622,704 11,159,407
2012 30,560,034 11,106,932
2011 29,347,708 11,038,264
2010 28,284,089 10,895,586
2009 27,466,101 10,796,493
2008 26,482,622 10,709,973
2007 25,909,852 10,625,700
2006 25,424,094 10,547,958
2005 24,404,567 10,478,617
2004 23,560,654 10,421,137
2003 22,733,049 10,376,133
2002 21,378,117 10,332,785
2001 20,284,307 10,286,570
2000 20,130,327 10,251,250
1999 19,887,785 10,226,419
1998 19,159,996 10,203,008
1997 18,452,091 10,181,245
1996 17,763,266 10,156,637
1995 17,065,836 10,136,811
1994 16,250,794 10,115,603
1993 14,943,172 10,084,475
1992 13,278,974 10,045,158
1991 12,238,879 10,004,486
1990 12,045,660 9,967,379
1989 11,874,088 9,937,697
1988 11,523,298 9,901,664
1987 11,387,818 9,870,234
1986 11,420,074 9,861,823
1985 11,426,852 9,858,308
1984 11,190,221 9,855,372
1983 10,917,982 9,855,520
1982 10,991,378 9,856,303
1981 11,937,581 9,858,982
1980 13,169,311 9,859,242
1979 13,655,567 9,848,382
1978 13,611,441 9,839,534
1977 13,340,756 9,830,358
1976 13,059,851 9,818,227
1975 12,773,954 9,800,700
1974 12,469,127 9,772,419
1973 12,157,999 9,741,720
1972 11,853,696 9,711,115
1971 11,567,667 9,673,162
1970 11,290,128 9,655,549
1969 11,017,409 9,646,032
1968 10,756,922 9,618,756
1967 10,505,959 9,580,991
1966 10,266,395 9,527,807
1965 10,036,008 9,463,667
1964 9,814,318 9,378,113
1963 9,604,487 9,289,770
1962 9,404,406 9,220,578
1961 9,214,083 9,183,948
1960 9,035,043 9,153,489

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/belgium | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Belgium gained 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Belgium's population increased by 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Belgium was ranked 77th in 2006 and ranked 83rd 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 Belgium will increase by 0.89% to 12,008,766 people and rank change from 83rd to 92nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 12M people in 2045 for Belgium.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Belgium
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Belgium
2100 0.5% -0.16%
2099 0.51% -0.16%
2098 0.52% -0.14%
2097 0.51% -0.14%
2096 0.52% -0.14%
2095 0.56% -0.15%
2094 0.59% -0.14%
2093 0.59% -0.14%
2092 0.61% -0.13%
2091 0.7% -0.13%
2090 0.64% -0.13%
2089 0.66% -0.13%
2088 0.73% -0.14%
2087 0.63% -0.13%
2086 0.74% -0.12%
2085 0.83% -0.12%
2084 0.73% -0.12%
2083 0.75% -0.13%
2082 0.77% -0.11%
2081 0.91% -0.12%
2080 1.02% -0.11%
2079 0.88% -0.12%
2078 0.98% -0.11%
2077 0.97% -0.1%
2076 0.94% -0.1%
2075 1.06% -0.11%
2074 1.18% -0.11%
2073 1.14% -0.11%
2072 1.12% -0.12%
2071 1.28% -0.14%
2070 1.23% -0.14%
2069 1.31% -0.15%
2068 1.24% -0.15%
2067 1.28% -0.16%
2066 1.44% -0.17%
2065 1.46% -0.18%
2064 1.43% -0.19%
2063 1.46% -0.19%
2062 1.37% -0.2%
2061 1.45% -0.18%
2060 1.43% -0.18%
2059 1.55% -0.17%
2058 1.64% -0.19%
2057 1.68% -0.18%
2056 1.67% -0.17%
2055 1.69% -0.16%
2054 1.71% -0.15%
2053 1.72% -0.14%
2052 1.61% -0.11%
2051 1.7% -0.09%
2050 1.93% -0.08%
2049 1.86% -0.06%
2048 1.86% -0.04%
2047 1.98% -0.03%
2046 1.91% -0.01%
2045 1.92% 0.005%
2044 2.02% 0.01%
2043 1.96% 0.02%
2042 2.12% 0.03%
2041 2.27% 0.03%
2040 2.26% 0.04%
2039 2.18% 0.05%
2038 2.27% 0.06%
2037 2.3% 0.05%
2036 2.31% 0.05%
2035 2.35% 0.06%
2034 2.52% 0.07%
2033 2.55% 0.07%
2032 2.64% 0.07%
2031 2.7% 0.08%
2030 2.69% 0.1%
2029 2.6% 0.11%
2028 2.64% 0.11%
2027 2.74% 0.12%
2026 2.75% 0.15%
2025 2.87% 0.19%
2024 2.88% 0.67%
2023 2.16% 0.85%
2022 1.45% 0.81%
2021 2.38% 0.41%
2020 3.2% 0.43%
2019 3.03% 0.54%
2018 2.95% 0.46%
2017 2.85% 0.39%
2016 2.57% 0.51%
2015 3.17% 0.58%
2014 3.7% 0.44%
2013 3.48% 0.47%
2012 4.13% 0.62%
2011 3.76% 1.31%
2010 2.98% 0.92%
2009 3.71% 0.81%
2008 2.21% 0.79%
2007 1.91% 0.74%
2006 4.18% 0.66%
2005 3.58% 0.55%
2004 3.64% 0.43%
2003 6.34% 0.42%
2002 5.39% 0.45%
2001 0.76% 0.34%
2000 1.22% 0.24%
1999 3.8% 0.23%
1998 3.84% 0.21%
1997 3.88% 0.24%
1996 4.09% 0.2%
1995 5.02% 0.21%
1994 8.75% 0.31%
1993 12.5% 0.39%
1992 8.5% 0.41%
1991 1.6% 0.37%
1990 1.44% 0.3%
1989 3.04% 0.36%
1988 1.19% 0.32%
1987 -0.28% 0.09%
1986 -0.06% 0.04%
1985 2.11% 0.03%
1984 2.49% -0.002%
1983 -0.67% -0.008%
1982 -7.93% -0.03%
1981 -9.35% -0.003%
1980 -3.56% 0.11%
1979 0.32% 0.09%
1978 2.03% 0.09%
1977 2.15% 0.12%
1976 2.24% 0.18%
1975 2.44% 0.29%
1974 2.56% 0.32%
1973 2.57% 0.32%
1972 2.47% 0.39%
1971 2.46% 0.18%
1970 2.48% 0.1%
1969 2.42% 0.28%
1968 2.39% 0.39%
1967 2.33% 0.56%
1966 2.3% 0.68%
1965 2.26% 0.91%
1964 2.18% 0.95%
1963 2.13% 0.75%
1962 2.07% 0.4%
1961 1.98% 0.33%

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/belgium | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Belgium's population grew by 0.67%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Belgium
Current population
45409324
11902714
Population rank 36/197 83/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.14%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
6.68 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
4.75 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.75 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +216
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +78,664
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.67%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 119/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
16.5 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +31,989
Net migration rank 179/196 28/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 2,349,032
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 30/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 20%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 30/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Belgium
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Belgium
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 31,989
2024 - -44,089 - 36,243
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 0 41,679
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -2,336 118,615
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 5,793 24,017
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -12,692 43,777
2019 1,138,485 9,159 8,042 58,469
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 7,999 50,604
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 10,238 37,981
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 14,731 28,090
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 11,274 63,536
2014 1,053,788 233,913 21,297 37,472
2013 1,033,778 18,119 16,739 28,066
2012 1,004,814 68,628 18,882 45,001
2011 966,743 384,486 25,388 52,464
2010 943,473 -167,460 23,970 105,232
2009 920,581 -60,602 23,752 97,175
2008 891,246 215,753 22,491 66,470
2007 889,848 -851,298 23,376 59,911
2006 875,301 57,673 21,096 53,574
2005 855,112 250,971 15,718 50,576
2004 850,940 -269,194 16,673 35,143
2003 826,165 247,317 7,263 34,472
2002 776,048 860,349 7,233 39,404
2001 764,090 -212,872 11,315 34,924
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 12,302 13,952
1999 760,727 -32,400 9,203 16,849
1998 719,860 7,380 9,183 12,517
1997 709,778 -21,215 12,218 10,262
1996 685,005 4,072 12,188 15,684
1995 653,280 52,505 11,150 1,937
1994 609,096 315,206 12,139 17,636
1993 541,257 1,149,684 14,118 18,542
1992 440,132 1,197,329 20,090 25,941
1991 409,954 32,782 22,010 27,038
1990 402,433 -458,737 19,935 8,299
1989 381,158 18,296 13,912 7,301
1988 358,397 -56,263 14,853 3,929
1987 314,361 -345,535 11,844 3,525
1986 310,066 -343,397 5,917 2,964
1985 228,469 -208,685 2,958 2,165
1984 205,262 248,224 4,927 1,697
1983 263,778 -172,797 2,956 1,252
1982 263,210 -500,998 7,885 1,100
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 11,831 2,826
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 10,845 11,482
1979 361,750 -525,413 11,818 11,277
1978 369,101 -117,186 7,872 10,828
1977 372,567 -83,115 8,847 10,460
1976 357,775 -85,430 1,964 10,360
1975 343,850 -44,418 0 9,652
1974 330,232 -20,009 7,818 8,924
1973 315,062 -3,030 11,690 8,684
1972 300,633 -4,050 18,451 8,384
1971 288,267 -12,801 21,281 7,992
1970 275,129 4,458 23,173 19,393
1969 263,823 2,029 21,221 20,072
1968 251,798 3,333 20,199 19,809
1967 239,967 6,824 31,618 19,492
1966 228,786 3,563 36,206 18,985
1965 217,741 10,695 39,748 18,243
1964 207,867 7,079 51,580 17,687
1963 198,035 6,681 41,804 16,355
1962 188,427 7,016 42,414 14,829
1961 179,094 6,109 52,349 10,566
1960 170,257 2,606 40,275 9,893

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/belgium | 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 Belgium 11.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 64,346 people) and 88.7% is from migration (a gain of 504,240 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 2,349,032 people or 20% in Belgium.

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
Belgium
City Population
Brussels 1.25M
Antwerp 529K
Ghent 273K
Charleroi 204K
Liege 195K
Schaerbeek 133K
Anderlecht 121K
Bruges 119K
Namur 115K
Leuven 101K

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/belgium | 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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