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

Updated on by Georank

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

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Bhutan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Bhutan
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

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Bhutan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Bhutan
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

Afghanistan Bhutan
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

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Bhutan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Bhutan
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

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
Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K

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/bhutan | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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