Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 6,433,302 people in Bulgaria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 6,390,149 in Bulgaria.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 7.15 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Bulgaria is the 112th.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.08% for Bulgaria.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs -0.86% in Bulgaria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Bulgaria has declined from 7.6M to 6.39M (15.9% decline).

Afghanistan vs Bulgaria: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Bulgaria
2100 131,724,468 3,384,288
2099 131,066,750 3,408,821
2098 130,403,871 3,433,149
2097 129,730,117 3,457,549
2096 129,070,342 3,482,057
2095 128,396,829 3,506,060
2094 127,685,065 3,530,278
2093 126,942,174 3,554,432
2092 126,194,378 3,578,667
2091 125,433,421 3,602,907
2090 124,561,248 3,627,300
2089 123,768,926 3,652,188
2088 122,960,614 3,677,416
2087 122,074,409 3,703,460
2086 121,308,199 3,730,284
2085 120,413,992 3,757,953
2084 119,420,025 3,786,496
2083 118,560,008 3,815,548
2082 117,671,742 3,845,662
2081 116,771,980 3,876,344
2080 115,724,307 3,908,874
2079 114,561,305 3,942,344
2078 113,556,727 3,976,345
2077 112,455,804 4,011,440
2076 111,375,301 4,047,182
2075 110,333,033 4,083,977
2074 109,170,742 4,122,447
2073 107,895,475 4,161,511
2072 106,682,883 4,201,158
2071 105,504,989 4,241,639
2070 104,167,895 4,283,145
2069 102,902,233 4,325,083
2068 101,568,136 4,367,606
2067 100,320,548 4,411,116
2066 99,057,144 4,455,358
2065 97,655,437 4,500,141
2064 96,248,770 4,545,243
2063 94,892,092 4,590,439
2062 93,522,871 4,635,634
2061 92,260,642 4,681,315
2060 90,945,998 4,727,089
2059 89,663,478 4,772,667
2058 88,293,680 4,817,532
2057 86,865,803 4,862,597
2056 85,428,888 4,907,646
2055 84,023,782 4,953,105
2054 82,626,785 4,998,650
2053 81,236,203 5,044,397
2052 79,860,096 5,089,817
2051 78,595,977 5,135,505
2050 77,285,393 5,181,635
2049 75,819,307 5,228,058
2048 74,435,057 5,274,692
2047 73,075,297 5,322,212
2046 71,654,160 5,369,645
2045 70,310,871 5,417,381
2044 68,983,509 5,465,818
2043 67,616,795 5,514,902
2042 66,317,516 5,564,573
2041 64,937,760 5,615,489
2040 63,497,378 5,667,076
2039 62,092,429 5,719,506
2038 60,767,134 5,771,452
2037 59,418,629 5,824,628
2036 58,079,976 5,877,980
2035 56,769,901 5,930,517
2034 55,469,080 5,983,205
2033 54,103,368 6,036,049
2032 52,759,572 6,088,107
2031 51,403,105 6,140,619
2030 50,049,673 6,193,318
2029 48,739,663 6,244,785
2028 47,504,926 6,294,981
2027 46,283,055 6,343,732
2026 45,047,977 6,390,149
2025 43,844,111 6,433,302
2024 42,647,492 6,441,421
2023 41,454,761 6,446,596
2022 40,578,842 6,465,097
2021 40,000,412 6,507,301
2020 39,068,979 6,550,696
2019 37,856,121 6,616,726
2018 36,743,039 6,710,798
2017 35,688,935 6,803,468
2016 34,700,612 6,894,139
2015 33,831,764 6,984,225
2014 32,792,523 7,073,572
2013 31,622,704 7,160,005
2012 30,560,034 7,305,888
2011 29,347,708 7,348,328
2010 28,284,089 7,395,599
2009 27,466,101 7,444,443
2008 26,482,622 7,492,561
2007 25,909,852 7,545,338
2006 25,424,094 7,601,022
2005 24,404,567 7,658,972
2004 23,560,654 7,716,860
2003 22,733,049 7,775,327
2002 21,378,117 7,837,161
2001 20,284,307 8,009,142
2000 20,130,327 8,170,172
1999 19,887,785 8,210,624
1998 19,159,996 8,256,786
1997 18,452,091 8,312,068
1996 17,763,266 8,362,826
1995 17,065,836 8,406,067
1994 16,250,794 8,443,591
1993 14,943,172 8,472,313
1992 13,278,974 8,540,164
1991 12,238,879 8,632,367
1990 12,045,660 8,718,289
1989 11,874,088 8,876,972
1988 11,523,298 8,981,446
1987 11,387,818 8,971,359
1986 11,420,074 8,958,171
1985 11,426,852 8,960,547
1984 11,190,221 8,960,679
1983 10,917,982 8,939,738
1982 10,991,378 8,917,457
1981 11,937,581 8,891,117
1980 13,169,311 8,861,535
1979 13,655,567 8,825,940
1978 13,611,441 8,814,032
1977 13,340,756 8,804,183
1976 13,059,851 8,758,599
1975 12,773,954 8,720,742
1974 12,469,127 8,678,745
1973 12,157,999 8,620,967
1972 11,853,696 8,576,200
1971 11,567,667 8,536,395
1970 11,290,128 8,489,574
1969 11,017,409 8,434,172
1968 10,756,922 8,369,603
1967 10,505,959 8,310,226
1966 10,266,395 8,258,057
1965 10,036,008 8,204,168
1964 9,814,318 8,144,340
1963 9,604,487 8,078,145
1962 9,404,406 8,012,946
1961 9,214,083 7,943,118
1960 9,035,043 7,867,374

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/bulgaria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Bulgaria lost 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Bulgaria's population decreased by 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Bulgaria was ranked 95th in 2006 and ranked 112th 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 Bulgaria will decrease by 18.9% to 5,181,635 people and rank change from 112th to 128th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.38M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Bulgaria
2100 0.5% -0.72%
2099 0.51% -0.71%
2098 0.52% -0.71%
2097 0.51% -0.7%
2096 0.52% -0.68%
2095 0.56% -0.69%
2094 0.59% -0.68%
2093 0.59% -0.68%
2092 0.61% -0.67%
2091 0.7% -0.67%
2090 0.64% -0.68%
2089 0.66% -0.69%
2088 0.73% -0.7%
2087 0.63% -0.72%
2086 0.74% -0.74%
2085 0.83% -0.75%
2084 0.73% -0.76%
2083 0.75% -0.78%
2082 0.77% -0.79%
2081 0.91% -0.83%
2080 1.02% -0.85%
2079 0.88% -0.86%
2078 0.98% -0.87%
2077 0.97% -0.88%
2076 0.94% -0.9%
2075 1.06% -0.93%
2074 1.18% -0.94%
2073 1.14% -0.94%
2072 1.12% -0.95%
2071 1.28% -0.97%
2070 1.23% -0.97%
2069 1.31% -0.97%
2068 1.24% -0.99%
2067 1.28% -0.99%
2066 1.44% -1%
2065 1.46% -0.99%
2064 1.43% -0.98%
2063 1.46% -0.97%
2062 1.37% -0.98%
2061 1.45% -0.97%
2060 1.43% -0.95%
2059 1.55% -0.93%
2058 1.64% -0.93%
2057 1.68% -0.92%
2056 1.67% -0.92%
2055 1.69% -0.91%
2054 1.71% -0.91%
2053 1.72% -0.89%
2052 1.61% -0.89%
2051 1.7% -0.89%
2050 1.93% -0.89%
2049 1.86% -0.88%
2048 1.86% -0.89%
2047 1.98% -0.88%
2046 1.91% -0.88%
2045 1.92% -0.89%
2044 2.02% -0.89%
2043 1.96% -0.89%
2042 2.12% -0.91%
2041 2.27% -0.91%
2040 2.26% -0.92%
2039 2.18% -0.9%
2038 2.27% -0.91%
2037 2.3% -0.91%
2036 2.31% -0.89%
2035 2.35% -0.88%
2034 2.52% -0.88%
2033 2.55% -0.86%
2032 2.64% -0.86%
2031 2.7% -0.85%
2030 2.69% -0.82%
2029 2.6% -0.8%
2028 2.64% -0.77%
2027 2.74% -0.73%
2026 2.75% -0.67%
2025 2.81% -0.13%
2024 2.88% -0.08%
2023 2.16% -0.29%
2022 1.45% -0.65%
2021 2.38% -0.66%
2020 3.2% -1%
2019 3.03% -1.4%
2018 2.95% -1.36%
2017 2.85% -1.32%
2016 2.57% -1.29%
2015 3.17% -1.26%
2014 3.7% -1.21%
2013 3.48% -2%
2012 4.13% -0.58%
2011 3.76% -0.64%
2010 2.98% -0.66%
2009 3.71% -0.64%
2008 2.21% -0.7%
2007 1.91% -0.73%
2006 4.18% -0.76%
2005 3.58% -0.75%
2004 3.64% -0.75%
2003 6.34% -0.79%
2002 5.39% -2.15%
2001 0.76% -1.97%
2000 1.22% -0.49%
1999 3.8% -0.56%
1998 3.84% -0.67%
1997 3.88% -0.61%
1996 4.09% -0.51%
1995 5.02% -0.44%
1994 8.75% -0.34%
1993 12.5% -0.79%
1992 8.5% -1.07%
1991 1.6% -0.99%
1990 1.44% -1.79%
1989 3.04% -1.16%
1988 1.19% 0.11%
1987 -0.28% 0.15%
1986 -0.06% -0.03%
1985 2.11% -0.001%
1984 2.49% 0.23%
1983 -0.67% 0.25%
1982 -7.93% 0.3%
1981 -9.35% 0.33%
1980 -3.56% 0.4%
1979 0.32% 0.14%
1978 2.03% 0.11%
1977 2.15% 0.52%
1976 2.24% 0.43%
1975 2.44% 0.48%
1974 2.56% 0.67%
1973 2.57% 0.52%
1972 2.47% 0.47%
1971 2.46% 0.55%
1970 2.48% 0.66%
1969 2.42% 0.77%
1968 2.39% 0.71%
1967 2.33% 0.63%
1966 2.3% 0.66%
1965 2.26% 0.73%
1964 2.18% 0.82%
1963 2.13% 0.81%
1962 2.07% 0.88%
1961 1.98% 0.96%

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/bulgaria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Bulgaria's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Bulgaria
Current population
45682388
6390149
Population rank 36/197 112/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.08%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.08 hours
One birth every
21.1 seconds
9.83 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
5.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 -22
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 -8,119
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 168/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.97 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -2,961
Net migration rank 179/196 106/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 299,100
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 98/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 99/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Bulgaria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -2,961
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 -47,023 524
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -43,837 5,173
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -62,065 26,498
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -90,452 11,756
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -65,507 30,167
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -46,317 -2,156
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -46,304 -3,873
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -45,583 -6,109
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -42,744 -9,482
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -44,699 -4,227
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -41,027 -2,180
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -37,948 -1,324
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -40,183 -26,334
2011 966,743 384,486 -37,477 -23,360
2010 943,473 -167,460 -34,759 -21,668
2009 920,581 -60,602 -26,800 -19,060
2008 891,246 215,753 -32,967 -17,595
2007 889,848 -851,298 -37,727 -16,366
2006 875,301 57,673 -39,526 -15,184
2005 855,112 250,971 -42,124 -14,435
2004 850,940 -269,194 -40,128 -13,604
2003 826,165 247,317 -44,319 -13,183
2002 776,048 860,349 -46,240 -12,735
2001 764,090 -212,872 -44,050 -30,726
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -41,668 -26,211
1999 760,727 -32,400 -39,411 -23,846
1998 719,860 7,380 -52,844 -23,262
1997 709,778 -21,215 -58,185 -22,963
1996 685,005 4,072 -45,159 -21,520
1995 653,280 52,505 -42,030 -22,020
1994 609,096 315,206 -32,086 -20,984
1993 541,257 1,149,684 -24,569 -19,973
1992 440,132 1,197,329 -18,789 -120,552
1991 409,954 32,782 -14,675 -119,356
1990 402,433 -458,737 -3,487 -116,817
1989 381,158 18,296 5,326 -114,705
1988 358,397 -56,263 9,879 215
1987 314,361 -345,535 8,971 357
1986 310,066 -343,397 16,125 1,104
1985 228,469 -208,685 11,649 -19,230
1984 205,262 248,224 20,610 -1,032
1983 263,778 -172,797 21,455 -1,872
1982 263,210 -500,998 24,077 -1,860
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 29,341 -1,830
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 30,129 -2,045
1979 361,750 -525,413 40,599 -872
1978 369,101 -117,186 44,070 -62,769
1977 372,567 -83,115 47,543 -11,955
1976 357,775 -85,430 56,055 -2,522
1975 343,850 -44,418 54,941 -38,071
1974 330,232 -20,009 64,223 -1,402
1973 315,062 -3,030 57,760 -5,409
1972 300,633 -4,050 47,169 -11,296
1971 288,267 -12,801 52,925 -7,654
1970 275,129 4,458 61,125 -11,315
1969 263,823 2,029 63,256 -3,204
1968 251,798 3,333 69,468 -132
1967 239,967 6,824 49,861 -420
1966 228,786 3,563 54,504 -144
1965 217,741 10,695 58,249 -1,406
1964 207,867 7,079 66,783 505
1963 198,035 6,681 66,241 500
1962 188,427 7,016 64,104 499
1961 179,094 6,109 75,460 378
1960 170,257 2,606 76,314 -1,112

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/bulgaria | 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 Bulgaria 91.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 534,531 people) and 8.28% is from migration (a gain of 48,271 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 299,100 people or 4.4% in Bulgaria.

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
Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K

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/bulgaria | 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:

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