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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 6,441,421 people in Bulgaria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 6,359,449 in Bulgaria.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 7.14 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 0.62% 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 +2.76% per year vs -0.96% in Bulgaria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Bulgaria has declined from 7.6M to 6.36M (16.3% decline).

Afghanistan vs Bulgaria: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Bulgaria
2100 131,803,615 3,368,029
2099 131,145,502 3,392,444
2098 130,482,225 3,416,655
2097 129,808,066 3,440,938
2096 129,147,895 3,465,328
2095 128,473,977 3,489,216
2094 127,761,785 3,513,318
2093 127,018,448 3,537,356
2092 126,270,202 3,561,475
2091 125,508,788 3,585,597
2090 124,636,092 3,609,873
2089 123,843,293 3,634,642
2088 123,034,495 3,659,749
2087 122,147,758 3,685,668
2086 121,381,088 3,712,363
2085 120,486,343 3,739,898
2084 119,491,780 3,768,305
2083 118,631,246 3,797,217
2082 117,742,446 3,827,186
2081 116,842,143 3,857,721
2080 115,793,841 3,890,095
2079 114,630,140 3,923,403
2078 113,624,958 3,957,241
2077 112,523,374 3,992,168
2076 111,442,221 4,027,738
2075 110,399,328 4,064,356
2074 109,236,338 4,102,642
2073 107,960,305 4,141,518
2072 106,746,984 4,180,975
2071 105,568,382 4,221,261
2070 104,230,485 4,262,568
2069 102,964,062 4,304,304
2068 101,629,164 4,346,623
2067 100,380,826 4,389,924
2066 99,116,663 4,433,953
2065 97,714,113 4,478,521
2064 96,306,602 4,523,406
2063 94,949,108 4,568,385
2062 93,579,065 4,613,363
2061 92,316,077 4,658,825
2060 91,000,643 4,704,379
2059 89,717,353 4,749,738
2058 88,346,732 4,794,388
2057 86,917,997 4,839,236
2056 85,480,219 4,884,068
2055 84,074,268 4,929,309
2054 82,676,432 4,974,635
2053 81,285,014 5,020,162
2052 79,908,081 5,065,364
2051 78,643,202 5,110,833
2050 77,331,830 5,156,741
2049 75,864,863 5,202,941
2048 74,479,782 5,249,351
2047 73,119,204 5,296,642
2046 71,697,214 5,343,848
2045 70,353,118 5,391,354
2044 69,024,959 5,439,559
2043 67,657,423 5,488,407
2042 66,357,363 5,537,839
2041 64,976,778 5,588,510
2040 63,535,531 5,639,850
2039 62,129,737 5,692,028
2038 60,803,646 5,743,725
2037 59,454,331 5,796,645
2036 58,114,874 5,849,741
2035 56,804,011 5,902,025
2034 55,502,408 5,954,460
2033 54,135,876 6,007,050
2032 52,791,273 6,058,858
2031 51,433,991 6,111,118
2030 50,079,746 6,163,564
2029 48,768,949 6,214,784
2028 47,533,470 6,264,738
2027 46,310,865 6,313,255
2026 45,075,045 6,359,449
2025 43,870,455 6,402,394
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Bulgaria's population decreased by 534,690 people (a 7.76% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of Bulgaria will decrease by 18.9% to 5,156,741 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 3.37M 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 2.87% -0.61%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Bulgaria's population declined by 0.08%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Bulgaria
Current population
45409324
6359449
Population rank 36/197 112/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.08%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.69 hours
One birth every
21.5 seconds
9.16 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
5.19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -14
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -5,175
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.08%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 171/197
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 - -44,089 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/bulgaria | 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 Bulgaria 92.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 528,535 people) and 7.94% is from migration (a gain of 45,567 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K

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/bulgaria | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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