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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 2,521,139 people in Botswana in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 2,615,162 in Botswana.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 17.4 times bigger than Botswana's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Botswana is the 142nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.03% for Botswana.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.5% in Botswana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Botswana has grown from 1.87M to 2.62M (39.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Botswana: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Botswana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Botswana
2100 131,803,615 3,871,504
2099 131,145,502 3,876,625
2098 130,482,225 3,882,670
2097 129,808,066 3,887,985
2096 129,147,895 3,892,886
2095 128,473,977 3,897,211
2094 127,761,785 3,901,478
2093 127,018,448 3,905,541
2092 126,270,202 3,909,490
2091 125,508,788 3,913,899
2090 124,636,092 3,916,706
2089 123,843,293 3,917,351
2088 123,034,495 3,917,510
2087 122,147,758 3,916,826
2086 121,381,088 3,916,303
2085 120,486,343 3,915,785
2084 119,491,780 3,914,364
2083 118,631,246 3,912,929
2082 117,742,446 3,910,994
2081 116,842,143 3,910,013
2080 115,793,841 3,908,255
2079 114,630,140 3,905,358
2078 113,624,958 3,900,828
2077 112,523,374 3,896,126
2076 111,442,221 3,890,528
2075 110,399,328 3,884,696
2074 109,236,338 3,879,057
2073 107,960,305 3,873,259
2072 106,746,984 3,865,665
2071 105,568,382 3,858,720
2070 104,230,485 3,851,234
2069 102,964,062 3,841,316
2068 101,629,164 3,830,826
2067 100,380,826 3,818,341
2066 99,116,663 3,805,705
2065 97,714,113 3,791,211
2064 96,306,602 3,775,938
2063 94,949,108 3,760,179
2062 93,579,065 3,742,710
2061 92,316,077 3,723,346
2060 91,000,643 3,703,231
2059 89,717,353 3,682,816
2058 88,346,732 3,659,567
2057 86,917,997 3,635,514
2056 85,480,219 3,611,843
2055 84,074,268 3,587,056
2054 82,676,432 3,562,182
2053 81,285,014 3,535,732
2052 79,908,081 3,507,938
2051 78,643,202 3,479,939
2050 77,331,830 3,451,521
2049 75,864,863 3,422,143
2048 74,479,782 3,391,720
2047 73,119,204 3,360,414
2046 71,697,214 3,328,208
2045 70,353,118 3,296,489
2044 69,024,959 3,265,120
2043 67,657,423 3,233,076
2042 66,357,363 3,201,405
2041 64,976,778 3,168,873
2040 63,535,531 3,135,889
2039 62,129,737 3,101,794
2038 60,803,646 3,067,648
2037 59,454,331 3,032,620
2036 58,114,874 2,996,884
2035 56,804,011 2,960,590
2034 55,502,408 2,923,411
2033 54,135,876 2,885,991
2032 52,791,273 2,847,292
2031 51,433,991 2,808,872
2030 50,079,746 2,768,505
2029 48,768,949 2,728,467
2028 47,533,470 2,686,968
2027 46,310,865 2,645,863
2026 45,075,045 2,603,779
2025 43,870,455 2,562,651
2024 42,647,492 2,521,139
2023 41,454,761 2,480,244
2022 40,578,842 2,439,892
2021 40,000,412 2,401,441
2020 39,068,979 2,365,894
2019 37,856,121 2,332,083
2018 36,743,039 2,299,141
2017 35,688,935 2,266,747
2016 34,700,612 2,234,776
2015 33,831,764 2,203,273
2014 32,792,523 2,172,044
2013 31,622,704 2,140,682
2012 30,560,034 2,108,617
2011 29,347,708 2,073,535
2010 28,284,089 2,033,111
2009 27,466,101 1,990,673
2008 26,482,622 1,949,970
2007 25,909,852 1,911,201
2006 25,424,094 1,874,516
2005 24,404,567 1,839,877
2004 23,560,654 1,807,146
2003 22,733,049 1,775,736
2002 21,378,117 1,744,763
2001 20,284,307 1,712,254
2000 20,130,327 1,677,382
1999 19,887,785 1,641,997
1998 19,159,996 1,606,899
1997 18,452,091 1,571,691
1996 17,763,266 1,535,914
1995 17,065,836 1,498,836
1994 16,250,794 1,460,023
1993 14,943,172 1,420,115
1992 13,278,974 1,380,033
1991 12,238,879 1,341,756
1990 12,045,660 1,305,696
1989 11,874,088 1,270,274
1988 11,523,298 1,235,476
1987 11,387,818 1,199,167
1986 11,420,074 1,160,650
1985 11,426,852 1,121,945
1984 11,190,221 1,083,660
1983 10,917,982 1,046,137
1982 10,991,378 1,009,269
1981 11,937,581 969,996
1980 13,169,311 937,485
1979 13,655,567 901,742
1978 13,611,441 849,239
1977 13,340,756 799,574
1976 13,059,851 758,508
1975 12,773,954 720,380
1974 12,469,127 685,448
1973 12,157,999 652,408
1972 11,853,696 622,407
1971 11,567,667 600,481
1970 11,290,128 590,334
1969 11,017,409 587,066
1968 10,756,922 583,966
1967 10,505,959 580,933
1966 10,266,395 577,866
1965 10,036,008 574,664
1964 9,814,318 566,266
1963 9,604,487 552,966
1962 9,404,406 540,186
1961 9,214,083 527,942
1960 9,035,043 516,165

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/botswana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Botswana gained 360,260 people (a 19.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Botswana's population increased by 380,386 people (a 17% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Botswana was ranked 145th in 2006 and ranked 142nd 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 Botswana will increase by 32% to 3,451,521 people and rank change from 142nd to 137th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 3.92M people in 2088 for Botswana.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Botswana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Botswana
2100 0.5% -0.13%
2099 0.51% -0.16%
2098 0.52% -0.14%
2097 0.51% -0.13%
2096 0.52% -0.11%
2095 0.56% -0.11%
2094 0.59% -0.1%
2093 0.59% -0.1%
2092 0.61% -0.11%
2091 0.7% -0.07%
2090 0.64% -0.02%
2089 0.66% -0.004%
2088 0.73% 0.02%
2087 0.63% 0.01%
2086 0.74% 0.01%
2085 0.83% 0.04%
2084 0.73% 0.04%
2083 0.75% 0.05%
2082 0.77% 0.03%
2081 0.91% 0.04%
2080 1.02% 0.07%
2079 0.88% 0.12%
2078 0.98% 0.12%
2077 0.97% 0.14%
2076 0.94% 0.15%
2075 1.06% 0.15%
2074 1.18% 0.15%
2073 1.14% 0.2%
2072 1.12% 0.18%
2071 1.28% 0.19%
2070 1.23% 0.26%
2069 1.31% 0.27%
2068 1.24% 0.33%
2067 1.28% 0.33%
2066 1.44% 0.38%
2065 1.46% 0.4%
2064 1.43% 0.42%
2063 1.46% 0.47%
2062 1.37% 0.52%
2061 1.45% 0.54%
2060 1.43% 0.55%
2059 1.55% 0.64%
2058 1.64% 0.66%
2057 1.68% 0.66%
2056 1.67% 0.69%
2055 1.69% 0.7%
2054 1.71% 0.75%
2053 1.72% 0.79%
2052 1.61% 0.8%
2051 1.7% 0.82%
2050 1.93% 0.86%
2049 1.86% 0.9%
2048 1.86% 0.93%
2047 1.98% 0.97%
2046 1.91% 0.96%
2045 1.92% 0.96%
2044 2.02% 0.99%
2043 1.96% 0.99%
2042 2.12% 1.03%
2041 2.27% 1.05%
2040 2.26% 1.1%
2039 2.18% 1.11%
2038 2.27% 1.16%
2037 2.3% 1.19%
2036 2.31% 1.23%
2035 2.35% 1.27%
2034 2.52% 1.3%
2033 2.55% 1.36%
2032 2.64% 1.37%
2031 2.7% 1.46%
2030 2.69% 1.47%
2029 2.6% 1.54%
2028 2.64% 1.55%
2027 2.74% 1.62%
2026 2.75% 1.6%
2025 2.87% 1.65%
2024 2.88% 1.65%
2023 2.16% 1.65%
2022 1.45% 1.6%
2021 2.38% 1.5%
2020 3.2% 1.45%
2019 3.03% 1.43%
2018 2.95% 1.43%
2017 2.85% 1.43%
2016 2.57% 1.43%
2015 3.17% 1.44%
2014 3.7% 1.47%
2013 3.48% 1.52%
2012 4.13% 1.69%
2011 3.76% 1.99%
2010 2.98% 2.13%
2009 3.71% 2.09%
2008 2.21% 2.03%
2007 1.91% 1.96%
2006 4.18% 1.88%
2005 3.58% 1.81%
2004 3.64% 1.77%
2003 6.34% 1.78%
2002 5.39% 1.9%
2001 0.76% 2.08%
2000 1.22% 2.15%
1999 3.8% 2.18%
1998 3.84% 2.24%
1997 3.88% 2.33%
1996 4.09% 2.47%
1995 5.02% 2.66%
1994 8.75% 2.81%
1993 12.5% 2.9%
1992 8.5% 2.85%
1991 1.6% 2.76%
1990 1.44% 2.79%
1989 3.04% 2.82%
1988 1.19% 3.03%
1987 -0.28% 3.32%
1986 -0.06% 3.45%
1985 2.11% 3.53%
1984 2.49% 3.59%
1983 -0.67% 3.65%
1982 -7.93% 4.05%
1981 -9.35% 3.47%
1980 -3.56% 3.96%
1979 0.32% 6.18%
1978 2.03% 6.21%
1977 2.15% 5.41%
1976 2.24% 5.29%
1975 2.44% 5.1%
1974 2.56% 5.06%
1973 2.57% 4.82%
1972 2.47% 3.65%
1971 2.46% 1.72%
1970 2.48% 0.56%
1969 2.42% 0.53%
1968 2.39% 0.52%
1967 2.33% 0.53%
1966 2.3% 0.56%
1965 2.26% 1.48%
1964 2.18% 2.41%
1963 2.13% 2.37%
1962 2.07% 2.32%
1961 1.98% 2.28%

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/botswana | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Botswana's population grew by 1.65%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Botswana
Current population
45409324
2615162
Population rank 36/197 142/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.03%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
12.9 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
8.58 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +112
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +40,895
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.65%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 66/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.55 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -5,665
Net migration rank 179/196 120/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 116,402
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 126/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 96/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Botswana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Botswana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -5,665
2024 - -44,089 - -5,778
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 47,098 -6,487
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 47,400 -7,306
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 40,894 -4,083
2020 1,134,407 143,634 45,610 -11,330
2019 1,138,485 9,159 45,110 -11,770
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 44,171 -11,623
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 43,154 -10,916
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 41,993 -10,286
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 40,897 -9,599
2014 1,053,788 233,913 40,046 -8,893
2013 1,033,778 18,119 39,404 -7,836
2012 1,004,814 68,628 39,202 -6,636
2011 966,743 384,486 38,613 -1,019
2010 943,473 -167,460 38,101 5,151
2009 920,581 -60,602 36,671 4,960
2008 891,246 215,753 35,433 4,343
2007 889,848 -851,298 33,832 3,926
2006 875,301 57,673 31,340 4,270
2005 855,112 250,971 29,385 4,283
2004 850,940 -269,194 27,481 4,314
2003 826,165 247,317 26,545 4,488
2002 776,048 860,349 26,163 4,747
2001 764,090 -212,872 26,112 7,991
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 25,850 9,798
1999 760,727 -32,400 25,358 9,762
1998 719,860 7,380 25,397 9,685
1997 709,778 -21,215 25,738 9,597
1996 685,005 4,072 26,847 9,368
1995 653,280 52,505 28,478 9,464
1994 609,096 315,206 30,664 9,023
1993 541,257 1,149,684 31,691 8,441
1992 440,132 1,197,329 31,995 8,026
1991 409,954 32,782 32,219 4,311
1990 402,433 -458,737 33,015 2,580
1989 381,158 18,296 33,756 1,495
1988 358,397 -56,263 34,564 -215
1987 314,361 -345,535 35,647 2,624
1986 310,066 -343,397 36,203 2,558
1985 228,469 -208,685 35,966 2,683
1984 205,262 248,224 35,530 2,393
1983 263,778 -172,797 35,142 1,980
1982 263,210 -500,998 34,859 1,751
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 34,327 7,610
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 33,934 -10,849
1979 361,750 -525,413 32,486 15,918
1978 369,101 -117,186 30,596 26,015
1977 372,567 -83,115 29,009 13,708
1976 357,775 -85,430 27,497 11,914
1975 343,850 -44,418 25,762 11,086
1974 330,232 -20,009 24,160 8,854
1973 315,062 -3,030 22,449 10,615
1972 300,633 -4,050 21,004 5,937
1971 288,267 -12,801 19,926 -3,016
1970 275,129 4,458 19,438 -16,054
1969 263,823 2,029 19,024 -15,870
1968 251,798 3,333 18,725 -15,681
1967 239,967 6,824 18,463 -15,438
1966 228,786 3,563 18,250 -15,140
1965 217,741 10,695 18,045 -14,753
1964 207,867 7,079 17,634 -4,126
1963 198,035 6,681 17,084 -4,000
1962 188,427 7,016 16,507 -4,028
1961 179,094 6,109 16,185 -4,168
1960 170,257 2,606 15,861 -4,331

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/botswana | 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 Botswana 82.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 436,373 people) and 17.5% is from migration (a loss of 92,293 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 116,402 people or 4.6% in Botswana.

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
Botswana
City Population
Gaborone 236K
Francistown 103K
Molepolole 67.6K
Kanye 48K
Serowe 47.4K
Mahalapye 41.3K
Palapye 36.2K
Lobatse 26.9K

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/botswana | 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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