The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 796,682 people in Bhutan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 805,057 in Bhutan.
Population statistics:
- Afghanistan's population is 56.7 times bigger than Bhutan's.
- Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Bhutan is the 163rd.
- The countries together account for 0.56% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.01% for Bhutan.
- For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.76% in Bhutan.
- Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Bhutan has grown from 671K to 805K (20% growth).
Afghanistan vs Bhutan: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 2100 | 131,724,468 | 695,373 |
| 2099 | 131,066,750 | 700,252 |
| 2098 | 130,403,871 | 704,725 |
| 2097 | 129,730,117 | 709,503 |
| 2096 | 129,070,342 | 714,205 |
| 2095 | 128,396,829 | 719,429 |
| 2094 | 127,685,065 | 724,680 |
| 2093 | 126,942,174 | 729,780 |
| 2092 | 126,194,378 | 735,358 |
| 2091 | 125,433,421 | 741,359 |
| 2090 | 124,561,248 | 747,224 |
| 2089 | 123,768,926 | 753,299 |
| 2088 | 122,960,614 | 759,229 |
| 2087 | 122,074,409 | 765,529 |
| 2086 | 121,308,199 | 771,180 |
| 2085 | 120,413,992 | 776,734 |
| 2084 | 119,420,025 | 782,193 |
| 2083 | 118,560,008 | 788,231 |
| 2082 | 117,671,742 | 793,848 |
| 2081 | 116,771,980 | 799,837 |
| 2080 | 115,724,307 | 805,584 |
| 2079 | 114,561,305 | 811,372 |
| 2078 | 113,556,727 | 816,844 |
| 2077 | 112,455,804 | 821,563 |
| 2076 | 111,375,301 | 826,295 |
| 2075 | 110,333,033 | 831,127 |
| 2074 | 109,170,742 | 836,339 |
| 2073 | 107,895,475 | 841,532 |
| 2072 | 106,682,883 | 846,187 |
| 2071 | 105,504,989 | 850,589 |
| 2070 | 104,167,895 | 854,258 |
| 2069 | 102,902,233 | 858,138 |
| 2068 | 101,568,136 | 861,658 |
| 2067 | 100,320,548 | 865,086 |
| 2066 | 99,057,144 | 868,594 |
| 2065 | 97,655,437 | 871,852 |
| 2064 | 96,248,770 | 874,071 |
| 2063 | 94,892,092 | 876,010 |
| 2062 | 93,522,871 | 878,276 |
| 2061 | 92,260,642 | 880,361 |
| 2060 | 90,945,998 | 882,252 |
| 2059 | 89,663,478 | 883,530 |
| 2058 | 88,293,680 | 884,855 |
| 2057 | 86,865,803 | 884,952 |
| 2056 | 85,428,888 | 886,162 |
| 2055 | 84,023,782 | 886,744 |
| 2054 | 82,626,785 | 886,243 |
| 2053 | 81,236,203 | 886,861 |
| 2052 | 79,860,096 | 886,981 |
| 2051 | 78,595,977 | 885,891 |
| 2050 | 77,285,393 | 884,875 |
| 2049 | 75,819,307 | 884,076 |
| 2048 | 74,435,057 | 882,979 |
| 2047 | 73,075,297 | 881,999 |
| 2046 | 71,654,160 | 880,375 |
| 2045 | 70,310,871 | 878,014 |
| 2044 | 68,983,509 | 875,491 |
| 2043 | 67,616,795 | 872,718 |
| 2042 | 66,317,516 | 869,582 |
| 2041 | 64,937,760 | 866,699 |
| 2040 | 63,497,378 | 863,505 |
| 2039 | 62,092,429 | 860,257 |
| 2038 | 60,767,134 | 856,758 |
| 2037 | 59,418,629 | 852,802 |
| 2036 | 58,079,976 | 848,448 |
| 2035 | 56,769,901 | 843,771 |
| 2034 | 55,469,080 | 840,103 |
| 2033 | 54,103,368 | 835,629 |
| 2032 | 52,759,572 | 830,792 |
| 2031 | 51,403,105 | 825,846 |
| 2030 | 50,049,673 | 821,204 |
| 2029 | 48,739,663 | 816,969 |
| 2028 | 47,504,926 | 812,314 |
| 2027 | 46,283,055 | 807,785 |
| 2026 | 45,047,977 | 802,177 |
| 2025 | 43,844,111 | 796,682 |
| 2024 | 42,647,492 | 791,524 |
| 2023 | 41,454,761 | 786,385 |
| 2022 | 40,578,842 | 780,914 |
| 2021 | 40,000,412 | 775,442 |
| 2020 | 39,068,979 | 770,006 |
| 2019 | 37,856,121 | 764,824 |
| 2018 | 36,743,039 | 759,759 |
| 2017 | 35,688,935 | 754,335 |
| 2016 | 34,700,612 | 747,866 |
| 2015 | 33,831,764 | 740,618 |
| 2014 | 32,792,523 | 733,139 |
| 2013 | 31,622,704 | 725,273 |
| 2012 | 30,560,034 | 717,279 |
| 2011 | 29,347,708 | 709,377 |
| 2010 | 28,284,089 | 701,632 |
| 2009 | 27,466,101 | 693,988 |
| 2008 | 26,482,622 | 686,351 |
| 2007 | 25,909,852 | 678,641 |
| 2006 | 25,424,094 | 670,799 |
| 2005 | 24,404,567 | 661,865 |
| 2004 | 23,560,654 | 650,544 |
| 2003 | 22,733,049 | 637,663 |
| 2002 | 21,378,117 | 624,409 |
| 2001 | 20,284,307 | 610,794 |
| 2000 | 20,130,327 | 596,863 |
| 1999 | 19,887,785 | 582,579 |
| 1998 | 19,159,996 | 569,435 |
| 1997 | 18,452,091 | 558,697 |
| 1996 | 17,763,266 | 548,784 |
| 1995 | 17,065,836 | 547,989 |
| 1994 | 16,250,794 | 554,497 |
| 1993 | 14,943,172 | 554,673 |
| 1992 | 13,278,974 | 577,774 |
| 1991 | 12,238,879 | 599,784 |
| 1990 | 12,045,660 | 589,287 |
| 1989 | 11,874,088 | 573,586 |
| 1988 | 11,523,298 | 556,986 |
| 1987 | 11,387,818 | 540,557 |
| 1986 | 11,420,074 | 524,324 |
| 1985 | 11,426,852 | 508,392 |
| 1984 | 11,190,221 | 492,784 |
| 1983 | 10,917,982 | 477,460 |
| 1982 | 10,991,378 | 462,485 |
| 1981 | 11,937,581 | 447,836 |
| 1980 | 13,169,311 | 433,404 |
| 1979 | 13,655,567 | 419,200 |
| 1978 | 13,611,441 | 405,243 |
| 1977 | 13,340,756 | 391,639 |
| 1976 | 13,059,851 | 378,490 |
| 1975 | 12,773,954 | 365,791 |
| 1974 | 12,469,127 | 353,538 |
| 1973 | 12,157,999 | 341,705 |
| 1972 | 11,853,696 | 330,264 |
| 1971 | 11,567,667 | 319,211 |
| 1970 | 11,290,128 | 308,528 |
| 1969 | 11,017,409 | 298,214 |
| 1968 | 10,756,922 | 288,311 |
| 1967 | 10,505,959 | 278,852 |
| 1966 | 10,266,395 | 269,820 |
| 1965 | 10,036,008 | 261,200 |
| 1964 | 9,814,318 | 252,987 |
| 1963 | 9,604,487 | 245,156 |
| 1962 | 9,404,406 | 237,636 |
| 1961 | 9,214,083 | 230,602 |
| 1960 | 9,035,043 | 224,084 |
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/bhutan | CC BY
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Bhutan gained 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Bhutan's population increased by 57,191 people (a 7.65% growth).
Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Bhutan was ranked 161st in 2006 and ranked 163rd 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 Bhutan will increase by 9.91% to 884,875 people and will still be ranked 163rd.
Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 887K people in 2052 for Bhutan.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 2100 | 0.5% | -0.7% |
| 2099 | 0.51% | -0.63% |
| 2098 | 0.52% | -0.67% |
| 2097 | 0.51% | -0.66% |
| 2096 | 0.52% | -0.73% |
| 2095 | 0.56% | -0.72% |
| 2094 | 0.59% | -0.7% |
| 2093 | 0.59% | -0.76% |
| 2092 | 0.61% | -0.81% |
| 2091 | 0.7% | -0.78% |
| 2090 | 0.64% | -0.81% |
| 2089 | 0.66% | -0.78% |
| 2088 | 0.73% | -0.82% |
| 2087 | 0.63% | -0.73% |
| 2086 | 0.74% | -0.72% |
| 2085 | 0.83% | -0.7% |
| 2084 | 0.73% | -0.77% |
| 2083 | 0.75% | -0.71% |
| 2082 | 0.77% | -0.75% |
| 2081 | 0.91% | -0.71% |
| 2080 | 1.02% | -0.71% |
| 2079 | 0.88% | -0.67% |
| 2078 | 0.98% | -0.57% |
| 2077 | 0.97% | -0.57% |
| 2076 | 0.94% | -0.58% |
| 2075 | 1.06% | -0.62% |
| 2074 | 1.18% | -0.62% |
| 2073 | 1.14% | -0.55% |
| 2072 | 1.12% | -0.52% |
| 2071 | 1.28% | -0.43% |
| 2070 | 1.23% | -0.45% |
| 2069 | 1.31% | -0.41% |
| 2068 | 1.24% | -0.4% |
| 2067 | 1.28% | -0.4% |
| 2066 | 1.44% | -0.37% |
| 2065 | 1.46% | -0.25% |
| 2064 | 1.43% | -0.22% |
| 2063 | 1.46% | -0.26% |
| 2062 | 1.37% | -0.24% |
| 2061 | 1.45% | -0.21% |
| 2060 | 1.43% | -0.14% |
| 2059 | 1.55% | -0.15% |
| 2058 | 1.64% | -0.01% |
| 2057 | 1.68% | -0.14% |
| 2056 | 1.67% | -0.07% |
| 2055 | 1.69% | 0.06% |
| 2054 | 1.71% | -0.07% |
| 2053 | 1.72% | -0.01% |
| 2052 | 1.61% | 0.12% |
| 2051 | 1.7% | 0.11% |
| 2050 | 1.93% | 0.09% |
| 2049 | 1.86% | 0.12% |
| 2048 | 1.86% | 0.11% |
| 2047 | 1.98% | 0.18% |
| 2046 | 1.91% | 0.27% |
| 2045 | 1.92% | 0.29% |
| 2044 | 2.02% | 0.32% |
| 2043 | 1.96% | 0.36% |
| 2042 | 2.12% | 0.33% |
| 2041 | 2.27% | 0.37% |
| 2040 | 2.26% | 0.38% |
| 2039 | 2.18% | 0.41% |
| 2038 | 2.27% | 0.46% |
| 2037 | 2.3% | 0.51% |
| 2036 | 2.31% | 0.55% |
| 2035 | 2.35% | 0.44% |
| 2034 | 2.52% | 0.54% |
| 2033 | 2.55% | 0.58% |
| 2032 | 2.64% | 0.6% |
| 2031 | 2.7% | 0.57% |
| 2030 | 2.69% | 0.52% |
| 2029 | 2.6% | 0.57% |
| 2028 | 2.64% | 0.56% |
| 2027 | 2.74% | 0.7% |
| 2026 | 2.75% | 0.69% |
| 2025 | 2.81% | 0.65% |
| 2024 | 2.88% | 0.65% |
| 2023 | 2.16% | 0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.45% | 0.71% |
| 2021 | 2.38% | 0.71% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | 0.68% |
| 2019 | 3.03% | 0.67% |
| 2018 | 2.95% | 0.72% |
| 2017 | 2.85% | 0.86% |
| 2016 | 2.57% | 0.98% |
| 2015 | 3.17% | 1.02% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | 1.08% |
| 2013 | 3.48% | 1.11% |
| 2012 | 4.13% | 1.11% |
| 2011 | 3.76% | 1.1% |
| 2010 | 2.98% | 1.1% |
| 2009 | 3.71% | 1.11% |
| 2008 | 2.21% | 1.14% |
| 2007 | 1.91% | 1.17% |
| 2006 | 4.18% | 1.35% |
| 2005 | 3.58% | 1.74% |
| 2004 | 3.64% | 2.02% |
| 2003 | 6.34% | 2.12% |
| 2002 | 5.39% | 2.23% |
| 2001 | 0.76% | 2.33% |
| 2000 | 1.22% | 2.45% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | 2.31% |
| 1998 | 3.84% | 1.92% |
| 1997 | 3.88% | 1.81% |
| 1996 | 4.09% | 0.15% |
| 1995 | 5.02% | -1.17% |
| 1994 | 8.75% | -0.03% |
| 1993 | 12.5% | -4% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | -3.67% |
| 1991 | 1.6% | 1.78% |
| 1990 | 1.44% | 2.74% |
| 1989 | 3.04% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 1.19% | 3.04% |
| 1987 | -0.28% | 3.1% |
| 1986 | -0.06% | 3.13% |
| 1985 | 2.11% | 3.17% |
| 1984 | 2.49% | 3.21% |
| 1983 | -0.67% | 3.24% |
| 1982 | -7.93% | 3.27% |
| 1981 | -9.35% | 3.33% |
| 1980 | -3.56% | 3.39% |
| 1979 | 0.32% | 3.44% |
| 1978 | 2.03% | 3.47% |
| 1977 | 2.15% | 3.47% |
| 1976 | 2.24% | 3.47% |
| 1975 | 2.44% | 3.47% |
| 1974 | 2.56% | 3.46% |
| 1973 | 2.57% | 3.46% |
| 1972 | 2.47% | 3.46% |
| 1971 | 2.46% | 3.46% |
| 1970 | 2.48% | 3.46% |
| 1969 | 2.42% | 3.43% |
| 1968 | 2.39% | 3.39% |
| 1967 | 2.33% | 3.35% |
| 1966 | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| 1965 | 2.26% | 3.25% |
| 1964 | 2.18% | 3.19% |
| 1963 | 2.13% | 3.16% |
| 1962 | 2.07% | 3.05% |
| 1961 | 1.98% | 2.91% |
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/bhutan | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Bhutan's population grew by 0.65%.
Live population counters
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
45682388
|
805057
|
| Population rank | 36/197 | 163/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.55% | 0.01% |
| One net population change |
26.4 seconds
|
1.7 hours
|
| One birth every |
21.1 seconds
|
53 minutes
|
| One death every |
2.16 minutes
|
1.83 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +3,278 | +14 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,196,619 | +5,158 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.81% | +0.65% |
| Population growth rate rank | 20/197 | 120/197 |
| One migration net change every |
7.08 minutes
|
19.3 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -74,404 | +455 |
| Net migration rank | 179/196 | 69/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,110 | 55,705 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 131/195 | 146/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | 7% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 186/195 | 80/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -74,404 | - | 455 |
| 2024 | 1,249,785 | -44,089 | 5,113 | -277 |
| 2023 | 1,228,719 | -48,958 | 5,153 | 291 |
| 2022 | 1,219,475 | -647,402 | 5,204 | 291 |
| 2021 | 1,133,611 | -548,784 | 5,162 | 287 |
| 2020 | 1,134,407 | 143,634 | 5,142 | 287 |
| 2019 | 1,138,485 | 9,159 | 4,643 | 287 |
| 2018 | 1,115,262 | -36,753 | 4,909 | 287 |
| 2017 | 1,101,218 | -71,491 | 5,367 | 287 |
| 2016 | 1,090,016 | -143,049 | 6,164 | 1,116 |
| 2015 | 1,077,068 | -286,314 | 6,762 | 450 |
| 2014 | 1,053,788 | 233,913 | 7,290 | 452 |
| 2013 | 1,033,778 | 18,119 | 7,689 | 309 |
| 2012 | 1,004,814 | 68,628 | 7,967 | 20 |
| 2011 | 966,743 | 384,486 | 8,282 | -464 |
| 2010 | 943,473 | -167,460 | 8,598 | -922 |
| 2009 | 920,581 | -60,602 | 8,913 | -1,305 |
| 2008 | 891,246 | 215,753 | 9,200 | -1,538 |
| 2007 | 889,848 | -851,298 | 9,322 | -1,553 |
| 2006 | 875,301 | 57,673 | 9,197 | -1,283 |
| 2005 | 855,112 | 250,971 | 9,102 | 848 |
| 2004 | 850,940 | -269,194 | 9,056 | 3,642 |
| 2003 | 826,165 | 247,317 | 9,132 | 3,921 |
| 2002 | 776,048 | 860,349 | 9,464 | 3,996 |
| 2001 | 764,090 | -212,872 | 9,904 | 3,874 |
| 2000 | 782,727 | -1,025,973 | 10,142 | 3,940 |
| 1999 | 760,727 | -32,400 | 10,940 | 3,542 |
| 1998 | 719,860 | 7,380 | 11,320 | 486 |
| 1997 | 709,778 | -21,215 | 11,668 | -1,994 |
| 1996 | 685,005 | 4,072 | 12,153 | -1,998 |
| 1995 | 653,280 | 52,505 | 12,938 | -21,501 |
| 1994 | 609,096 | 315,206 | 13,536 | -17,997 |
| 1993 | 541,257 | 1,149,684 | 13,915 | -9,800 |
| 1992 | 440,132 | 1,197,329 | 15,594 | -65,900 |
| 1991 | 409,954 | 32,782 | 15,801 | -9,522 |
| 1990 | 402,433 | -458,737 | 15,704 | -1,000 |
| 1989 | 381,158 | 18,296 | 15,516 | 1,180 |
| 1988 | 358,397 | -56,263 | 15,212 | 1,286 |
| 1987 | 314,361 | -345,535 | 14,887 | 1,481 |
| 1986 | 310,066 | -343,397 | 14,516 | 1,586 |
| 1985 | 228,469 | -208,685 | 14,061 | 1,694 |
| 1984 | 205,262 | 248,224 | 13,688 | 1,779 |
| 1983 | 263,778 | -172,797 | 13,284 | 1,897 |
| 1982 | 263,210 | -500,998 | 12,872 | 1,897 |
| 1981 | 343,468 | -1,998,086 | 12,444 | 2,096 |
| 1980 | 365,396 | -1,174,239 | 12,016 | 2,307 |
| 1979 | 361,750 | -525,413 | 11,583 | 2,493 |
| 1978 | 369,101 | -117,186 | 11,133 | 2,700 |
| 1977 | 372,567 | -83,115 | 10,679 | 2,700 |
| 1976 | 357,775 | -85,430 | 10,228 | 2,700 |
| 1975 | 343,850 | -44,418 | 9,775 | 2,700 |
| 1974 | 330,232 | -20,009 | 9,324 | 2,700 |
| 1973 | 315,062 | -3,030 | 8,939 | 2,700 |
| 1972 | 300,633 | -4,050 | 8,549 | 2,700 |
| 1971 | 288,267 | -12,801 | 8,161 | 2,700 |
| 1970 | 275,129 | 4,458 | 7,791 | 2,700 |
| 1969 | 263,823 | 2,029 | 7,435 | 2,700 |
| 1968 | 251,798 | 3,333 | 7,085 | 2,593 |
| 1967 | 239,967 | 6,824 | 6,744 | 2,493 |
| 1966 | 228,786 | 3,563 | 6,418 | 2,407 |
| 1965 | 217,741 | 10,695 | 6,109 | 2,307 |
| 1964 | 207,867 | 7,079 | 5,818 | 2,196 |
| 1963 | 198,035 | 6,681 | 5,551 | 2,096 |
| 1962 | 188,427 | 7,016 | 5,297 | 2,096 |
| 1961 | 179,094 | 6,109 | 5,081 | 1,586 |
| 1960 | 170,257 | 2,606 | 4,888 | 1,481 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/bhutan | 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 Bhutan 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 53,619 people) and 5.81% is from migration (a gain of 3,306 people).
As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 55,705 people or 7% in Bhutan.
Biggest cities by population
|
|
|
|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Thimphu | 115K |
| Paro | 2.36K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Afghanistan and Bhutan
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.8 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 22.2 years | 32.7 years |
| Median age | 18.3 years | 31.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.5:49.5 | 53.4:46.6 |
| Fertility rate | 4.76 births per woman | 1.45 births per woman |
| Population density | 178.9 ppl/mi² | 54.5 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/bhutan | 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:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, 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.