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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 791,524 people in Bhutan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 803,385 in Bhutan.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 56.5 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 +2.76% per year vs +0.8% in Bhutan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Bhutan has grown from 671K to 803K (19.8% growth).

Afghanistan vs Bhutan: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Bhutan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Bhutan
2100 131,803,615 695,106
2099 131,145,502 699,983
2098 130,482,225 704,455
2097 129,808,066 709,230
2096 129,147,895 713,930
2095 128,473,977 719,152
2094 127,761,785 724,401
2093 127,018,448 729,500
2092 126,270,202 735,075
2091 125,508,788 741,074
2090 124,636,092 746,937
2089 123,843,293 753,010
2088 123,034,495 758,937
2087 122,147,758 765,235
2086 121,381,088 770,883
2085 120,486,343 776,435
2084 119,491,780 781,892
2083 118,631,246 787,929
2082 117,742,446 793,543
2081 116,842,143 799,530
2080 115,793,841 805,275
2079 114,630,140 811,060
2078 113,624,958 816,530
2077 112,523,374 821,247
2076 111,442,221 825,978
2075 110,399,328 830,808
2074 109,236,338 836,017
2073 107,960,305 841,208
2072 106,746,984 845,861
2071 105,568,382 850,262
2070 104,230,485 853,930
2069 102,964,062 857,808
2068 101,629,164 861,327
2067 100,380,826 864,753
2066 99,116,663 868,260
2065 97,714,113 871,517
2064 96,306,602 873,735
2063 94,949,108 875,674
2062 93,579,065 877,938
2061 92,316,077 880,023
2060 91,000,643 881,913
2059 89,717,353 883,191
2058 88,346,732 884,515
2057 86,917,997 884,612
2056 85,480,219 885,822
2055 84,074,268 886,403
2054 82,676,432 885,903
2053 81,285,014 886,520
2052 79,908,081 886,640
2051 78,643,202 885,551
2050 77,331,830 884,535
2049 75,864,863 883,736
2048 74,479,782 882,640
2047 73,119,204 881,660
2046 71,697,214 880,037
2045 70,353,118 877,677
2044 69,024,959 875,155
2043 67,657,423 872,383
2042 66,357,363 869,248
2041 64,976,778 866,366
2040 63,535,531 863,173
2039 62,129,737 859,926
2038 60,803,646 856,429
2037 59,454,331 852,475
2036 58,114,874 848,122
2035 56,804,011 843,447
2034 55,502,408 839,780
2033 54,135,876 835,308
2032 52,791,273 830,472
2031 51,433,991 825,528
2030 50,079,746 820,888
2029 48,768,949 816,655
2028 47,533,470 812,002
2027 46,310,865 807,474
2026 45,075,045 801,869
2025 43,870,455 796,375
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Bhutan's population increased by 55,519 people (a 7.42% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of Bhutan will increase by 10.1% to 884,535 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 2.87% 0.61%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Bhutan's population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Bhutan
Current population
45409324
803385
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
21.5 seconds
52.8 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.82 hours
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +14
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +5,139
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +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 - -44,089 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/bhutan | 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 Bhutan 93.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 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 (1960–2024, 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/bhutan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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