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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 17,638,801 people in Cambodia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 18,113,986 in Cambodia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 2.51 times bigger than Cambodia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Cambodia is the 73rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.22% for Cambodia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.38% in Cambodia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Cambodia has grown from 13.6M to 18.1M (32.8% growth).

Afghanistan vs Cambodia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Cambodia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Cambodia
2100 131,803,615 22,906,442
2099 131,145,502 22,962,923
2098 130,482,225 23,019,882
2097 129,808,066 23,073,551
2096 129,147,895 23,123,425
2095 128,473,977 23,167,283
2094 127,761,785 23,212,055
2093 127,018,448 23,252,118
2092 126,270,202 23,290,144
2091 125,508,788 23,322,120
2090 124,636,092 23,354,198
2089 123,843,293 23,385,733
2088 123,034,495 23,409,247
2087 122,147,758 23,433,812
2086 121,381,088 23,455,606
2085 120,486,343 23,473,699
2084 119,491,780 23,490,880
2083 118,631,246 23,503,304
2082 117,742,446 23,511,399
2081 116,842,143 23,517,527
2080 115,793,841 23,523,490
2079 114,630,140 23,527,816
2078 113,624,958 23,528,640
2077 112,523,374 23,524,419
2076 111,442,221 23,517,089
2075 110,399,328 23,511,041
2074 109,236,338 23,498,649
2073 107,960,305 23,486,231
2072 106,746,984 23,468,351
2071 105,568,382 23,447,776
2070 104,230,485 23,425,399
2069 102,964,062 23,398,087
2068 101,629,164 23,367,005
2067 100,380,826 23,328,780
2066 99,116,663 23,288,003
2065 97,714,113 23,246,605
2064 96,306,602 23,196,515
2063 94,949,108 23,143,893
2062 93,579,065 23,088,053
2061 92,316,077 23,025,211
2060 91,000,643 22,956,351
2059 89,717,353 22,882,368
2058 88,346,732 22,803,687
2057 86,917,997 22,719,975
2056 85,480,219 22,633,081
2055 84,074,268 22,541,997
2054 82,676,432 22,444,525
2053 81,285,014 22,342,736
2052 79,908,081 22,235,734
2051 78,643,202 22,121,782
2050 77,331,830 22,005,604
2049 75,864,863 21,881,810
2048 74,479,782 21,754,090
2047 73,119,204 21,622,327
2046 71,697,214 21,484,727
2045 70,353,118 21,344,443
2044 69,024,959 21,199,702
2043 67,657,423 21,050,598
2042 66,357,363 20,897,569
2041 64,976,778 20,742,759
2040 63,535,531 20,586,310
2039 62,129,737 20,425,222
2038 60,803,646 20,260,230
2037 59,454,331 20,092,632
2036 58,114,874 19,926,280
2035 56,804,011 19,751,811
2034 55,502,408 19,577,662
2033 54,135,876 19,399,100
2032 52,791,273 19,219,058
2031 51,433,991 19,034,316
2030 50,079,746 18,847,504
2029 48,768,949 18,656,059
2028 47,533,470 18,459,936
2027 46,310,865 18,260,437
2026 45,075,045 18,059,685
2025 43,870,455 17,851,510
2024 42,647,492 17,638,801
2023 41,454,761 17,423,880
2022 40,578,842 17,201,724
2021 40,000,412 16,974,305
2020 39,068,979 16,725,474
2019 37,856,121 16,481,304
2018 36,743,039 16,274,522
2017 35,688,935 16,073,372
2016 34,700,612 15,852,803
2015 33,831,764 15,623,251
2014 32,792,523 15,396,772
2013 31,622,704 15,170,208
2012 30,560,034 14,945,085
2011 29,347,708 14,722,584
2010 28,284,089 14,500,726
2009 27,466,101 14,276,810
2008 26,482,622 14,053,479
2007 25,909,852 13,841,770
2006 25,424,094 13,639,028
2005 24,404,567 13,439,202
2004 23,560,654 13,244,731
2003 22,733,049 13,050,968
2002 21,378,117 12,855,241
2001 20,284,307 12,658,484
2000 20,130,327 12,462,336
1999 19,887,785 12,265,731
1998 19,159,996 12,058,173
1997 18,452,091 11,570,982
1996 17,763,266 10,801,270
1995 17,065,836 10,018,497
1994 16,250,794 9,239,162
1993 14,943,172 8,616,381
1992 13,278,974 8,113,083
1991 12,238,879 7,686,850
1990 12,045,660 7,374,752
1989 11,874,088 7,073,473
1988 11,523,298 6,812,014
1987 11,387,818 6,557,970
1986 11,420,074 6,285,693
1985 11,426,852 6,043,783
1984 11,190,221 5,845,117
1983 10,917,982 5,636,203
1982 10,991,378 5,436,432
1981 11,937,581 5,284,495
1980 13,169,311 5,199,872
1979 13,655,567 5,088,808
1978 13,611,441 5,211,653
1977 13,340,756 5,668,551
1976 13,059,851 6,134,991
1975 12,773,954 6,581,371
1974 12,469,127 6,783,240
1973 12,157,999 6,739,726
1972 11,853,696 6,673,886
1971 11,567,667 6,620,880
1970 11,290,128 6,639,182
1969 11,017,409 6,604,725
1968 10,756,922 6,467,324
1967 10,505,959 6,332,944
1966 10,266,395 6,201,232
1965 10,036,008 6,072,289
1964 9,814,318 5,946,178
1963 9,604,487 5,823,010
1962 9,404,406 5,697,558
1961 9,214,083 5,571,168
1960 9,035,043 5,449,966

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/cambodia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Cambodia gained 2,213,775 people (a 16.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Cambodia's population increased by 2,261,183 people (a 14.3% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Cambodia was ranked 67th in 2006 and ranked 73rd 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 Cambodia will increase by 21.5% to 22,005,604 people and will still be ranked 73rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 23.5M people in 2078 for Cambodia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Cambodia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Cambodia
2100 0.5% -0.25%
2099 0.51% -0.25%
2098 0.52% -0.23%
2097 0.51% -0.22%
2096 0.52% -0.19%
2095 0.56% -0.19%
2094 0.59% -0.17%
2093 0.59% -0.16%
2092 0.61% -0.14%
2091 0.7% -0.14%
2090 0.64% -0.13%
2089 0.66% -0.1%
2088 0.73% -0.1%
2087 0.63% -0.09%
2086 0.74% -0.08%
2085 0.83% -0.07%
2084 0.73% -0.05%
2083 0.75% -0.03%
2082 0.77% -0.03%
2081 0.91% -0.03%
2080 1.02% -0.02%
2079 0.88% -0.004%
2078 0.98% 0.02%
2077 0.97% 0.03%
2076 0.94% 0.03%
2075 1.06% 0.05%
2074 1.18% 0.05%
2073 1.14% 0.08%
2072 1.12% 0.09%
2071 1.28% 0.1%
2070 1.23% 0.12%
2069 1.31% 0.13%
2068 1.24% 0.16%
2067 1.28% 0.18%
2066 1.44% 0.18%
2065 1.46% 0.22%
2064 1.43% 0.23%
2063 1.46% 0.24%
2062 1.37% 0.27%
2061 1.45% 0.3%
2060 1.43% 0.32%
2059 1.55% 0.35%
2058 1.64% 0.37%
2057 1.68% 0.38%
2056 1.67% 0.4%
2055 1.69% 0.43%
2054 1.71% 0.46%
2053 1.72% 0.48%
2052 1.61% 0.52%
2051 1.7% 0.53%
2050 1.93% 0.57%
2049 1.86% 0.59%
2048 1.86% 0.61%
2047 1.98% 0.64%
2046 1.91% 0.66%
2045 1.92% 0.68%
2044 2.02% 0.71%
2043 1.96% 0.73%
2042 2.12% 0.75%
2041 2.27% 0.76%
2040 2.26% 0.79%
2039 2.18% 0.81%
2038 2.27% 0.83%
2037 2.3% 0.83%
2036 2.31% 0.88%
2035 2.35% 0.89%
2034 2.52% 0.92%
2033 2.55% 0.94%
2032 2.64% 0.97%
2031 2.7% 0.99%
2030 2.69% 1.03%
2029 2.6% 1.06%
2028 2.64% 1.09%
2027 2.74% 1.11%
2026 2.75% 1.17%
2025 2.87% 1.21%
2024 2.88% 1.23%
2023 2.16% 1.29%
2022 1.45% 1.34%
2021 2.38% 1.49%
2020 3.2% 1.48%
2019 3.03% 1.27%
2018 2.95% 1.25%
2017 2.85% 1.39%
2016 2.57% 1.47%
2015 3.17% 1.47%
2014 3.7% 1.49%
2013 3.48% 1.51%
2012 4.13% 1.51%
2011 3.76% 1.53%
2010 2.98% 1.57%
2009 3.71% 1.59%
2008 2.21% 1.53%
2007 1.91% 1.49%
2006 4.18% 1.49%
2005 3.58% 1.47%
2004 3.64% 1.48%
2003 6.34% 1.52%
2002 5.39% 1.55%
2001 0.76% 1.57%
2000 1.22% 1.6%
1999 3.8% 1.72%
1998 3.84% 4.21%
1997 3.88% 7.13%
1996 4.09% 7.81%
1995 5.02% 8.44%
1994 8.75% 7.23%
1993 12.5% 6.2%
1992 8.5% 5.54%
1991 1.6% 4.23%
1990 1.44% 4.26%
1989 3.04% 3.84%
1988 1.19% 3.87%
1987 -0.28% 4.33%
1986 -0.06% 4%
1985 2.11% 3.4%
1984 2.49% 3.71%
1983 -0.67% 3.67%
1982 -7.93% 2.88%
1981 -9.35% 1.63%
1980 -3.56% 2.18%
1979 0.32% -2.36%
1978 2.03% -8.06%
1977 2.15% -7.6%
1976 2.24% -6.78%
1975 2.44% -2.98%
1974 2.56% 0.65%
1973 2.57% 0.99%
1972 2.47% 0.8%
1971 2.46% -0.28%
1970 2.48% 0.52%
1969 2.42% 2.12%
1968 2.39% 2.12%
1967 2.33% 2.12%
1966 2.3% 2.12%
1965 2.26% 2.12%
1964 2.18% 2.12%
1963 2.13% 2.2%
1962 2.07% 2.27%
1961 1.98% 2.22%

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/cambodia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Cambodia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Cambodia
Current population
45409324
18113986
Population rank 36/197 73/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.22%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.45 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.45 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.72 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +589
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +214,921
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 88/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
16.7 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -31,469
Net migration rank 179/196 167/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 83,925
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 136/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.5%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 175/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Cambodia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Cambodia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -31,469
2024 - -44,089 - -32,960
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 250,242 -31,837
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 257,269 -31,350
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 255,939 -27,025
2020 1,134,407 143,634 268,745 0
2019 1,138,485 9,159 276,870 -57,268
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 280,671 -86,702
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 282,698 -74,362
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 284,130 -51,324
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 284,390 -58,101
2014 1,053,788 233,913 283,193 -56,536
2013 1,033,778 18,119 281,013 -54,554
2012 1,004,814 68,628 276,649 -52,874
2011 966,743 384,486 272,161 -50,941
2010 943,473 -167,460 272,266 -49,781
2009 920,581 -60,602 274,700 -49,354
2008 891,246 215,753 272,132 -50,809
2007 889,848 -851,298 270,745 -68,653
2006 875,301 57,673 263,697 -60,315
2005 855,112 250,971 256,756 -60,473
2004 850,940 -269,194 251,650 -58,972
2003 826,165 247,317 251,884 -57,026
2002 776,048 860,349 251,860 -55,245
2001 764,090 -212,872 250,726 -53,815
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 246,330 -50,957
1999 760,727 -32,400 245,425 -47,608
1998 719,860 7,380 251,076 -33,781
1997 709,778 -21,215 252,351 504,742
1996 685,005 4,072 274,147 508,187
1995 653,280 52,505 280,168 503,042
1994 609,096 315,206 286,728 488,732
1993 541,257 1,149,684 282,221 187,883
1992 440,132 1,197,329 260,673 275,823
1991 409,954 32,782 257,709 58,264
1990 402,433 -458,737 249,776 58,455
1989 381,158 18,296 239,211 55,125
1988 358,397 -56,263 243,203 -14,627
1987 314,361 -345,535 235,064 44,442
1986 310,066 -343,397 221,684 43,356
1985 228,469 -208,685 214,101 4,677
1984 205,262 248,224 207,700 -29,141
1983 263,778 -172,797 192,849 46,428
1982 263,210 -500,998 180,300 -20,026
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 166,578 -22,982
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 159,157 -133,508
1979 361,750 -525,413 78,143 118,334
1978 369,101 -117,186 -357,478 -84,695
1977 372,567 -83,115 -416,117 -55,504
1976 357,775 -85,430 -408,505 -52,741
1975 343,850 -44,418 -383,806 -47,717
1974 330,232 -20,009 73,001 -45,225
1973 315,062 -3,030 101,304 -42,053
1972 300,633 -4,050 113,190 -40,764
1971 288,267 -12,801 113,813 -80,232
1970 275,129 4,458 122,832 -193,008
1969 263,823 2,029 156,777 -17,676
1968 251,798 3,333 153,444 -17,745
1967 239,967 6,824 150,046 -16,983
1966 228,786 3,563 147,583 -17,216
1965 217,741 10,695 144,460 -16,930
1964 207,867 7,079 141,216 -16,516
1963 198,035 6,681 137,562 -15,929
1962 188,427 7,016 132,861 -3,578
1961 179,094 6,109 128,259 -4,764
1960 170,257 2,606 124,237 -5,339

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/cambodia | 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 Cambodia 85.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,724,147 people) and 14.8% is from migration (a loss of 474,505 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 83,925 people or 0.5% in Cambodia.

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
Cambodia
City Population
Phnom Penh 2.13M
Siem Reap 245K
Battambang 130K
Serei Saophoan 99K
Sihanoukville 71.1K
Kampong Cham 61.8K
Svay Rieng 41.4K
Kampot 39.2K
Prey Veng 33.1K
Stung Treng 29.7K

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/cambodia | 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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