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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 41,288,599 people in Canada in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 42,181,965 in Canada.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.08 times bigger than Canada's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Canada is the 38th.
  • The countries together account for 1.06% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.51% for Canada.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.5% in Canada.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Canada has grown from 32.6M to 42.2M (29.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Canada: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Canada
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Canada
2100 131,803,615 55,893,812
2099 131,145,502 55,710,628
2098 130,482,225 55,520,878
2097 129,808,066 55,326,351
2096 129,147,895 55,153,117
2095 128,473,977 54,983,479
2094 127,761,785 54,818,119
2093 127,018,448 54,651,641
2092 126,270,202 54,494,148
2091 125,508,788 54,329,082
2090 124,636,092 54,183,996
2089 123,843,293 54,034,513
2088 123,034,495 53,855,760
2087 122,147,758 53,708,023
2086 121,381,088 53,553,781
2085 120,486,343 53,403,315
2084 119,491,780 53,246,675
2083 118,631,246 53,081,827
2082 117,742,446 52,930,998
2081 116,842,143 52,761,672
2080 115,793,841 52,602,997
2079 114,630,140 52,444,008
2078 113,624,958 52,275,214
2077 112,523,374 52,118,254
2076 111,442,221 51,944,937
2075 110,399,328 51,774,515
2074 109,236,338 51,611,349
2073 107,960,305 51,449,506
2072 106,746,984 51,279,503
2071 105,568,382 51,106,234
2070 104,230,485 50,934,622
2069 102,964,062 50,760,591
2068 101,629,164 50,585,692
2067 100,380,826 50,396,558
2066 99,116,663 50,216,488
2065 97,714,113 50,037,049
2064 96,306,602 49,857,150
2063 94,949,108 49,675,417
2062 93,579,065 49,491,872
2061 92,316,077 49,316,172
2060 91,000,643 49,148,043
2059 89,717,353 48,975,435
2058 88,346,732 48,801,460
2057 86,917,997 48,640,413
2056 85,480,219 48,484,751
2055 84,074,268 48,333,252
2054 82,676,432 48,184,303
2053 81,285,014 48,036,252
2052 79,908,081 47,875,085
2051 78,643,202 47,719,858
2050 77,331,830 47,562,681
2049 75,864,863 47,417,162
2048 74,479,782 47,254,138
2047 73,119,204 47,091,915
2046 71,697,214 46,926,799
2045 70,353,118 46,743,844
2044 69,024,959 46,562,785
2043 67,657,423 46,379,045
2042 66,357,363 46,188,550
2041 64,976,778 45,994,664
2040 63,535,531 45,799,063
2039 62,129,737 45,593,547
2038 60,803,646 45,374,241
2037 59,454,331 45,148,803
2036 58,114,874 44,917,782
2035 56,804,011 44,691,033
2034 55,502,408 44,439,937
2033 54,135,876 44,193,040
2032 52,791,273 43,925,613
2031 51,433,991 43,643,438
2030 50,079,746 43,355,390
2029 48,768,949 43,060,128
2028 47,533,470 42,748,060
2027 46,310,865 42,426,742
2026 45,075,045 42,091,205
2025 43,870,455 41,714,545
2024 42,647,492 41,288,599
2023 41,454,761 40,083,484
2022 40,578,842 38,935,934
2021 40,000,412 38,239,864
2020 39,068,979 38,028,638
2019 37,856,121 37,618,495
2018 36,743,039 37,072,620
2017 35,688,935 36,545,075
2016 34,700,612 36,110,803
2015 33,831,764 35,704,498
2014 32,792,523 35,434,066
2013 31,622,704 35,080,992
2012 30,560,034 34,713,395
2011 29,347,708 34,339,221
2010 28,284,089 34,005,902
2009 27,466,101 33,630,069
2008 26,482,622 33,247,298
2007 25,909,852 32,888,886
2006 25,424,094 32,571,193
2005 24,404,567 32,242,732
2004 23,560,654 31,938,807
2003 22,733,049 31,642,461
2002 21,378,117 31,359,199
2001 20,284,307 31,020,855
2000 20,130,327 30,685,730
1999 19,887,785 30,401,286
1998 19,159,996 30,155,173
1997 18,452,091 29,905,948
1996 17,763,266 29,610,218
1995 17,065,836 29,302,311
1994 16,250,794 29,000,663
1993 14,943,172 28,684,764
1992 13,278,974 28,371,264
1991 12,238,879 28,037,420
1990 12,045,660 27,691,138
1989 11,874,088 27,276,781
1988 11,523,298 26,791,747
1987 11,387,818 26,446,601
1986 11,420,074 26,100,278
1985 11,426,852 25,842,116
1984 11,190,221 25,607,053
1983 10,917,982 25,366,451
1982 10,991,378 25,116,942
1981 11,937,581 24,819,915
1980 13,169,311 24,515,667
1979 13,655,567 24,201,544
1978 13,611,441 23,963,203
1977 13,340,756 23,725,843
1976 13,059,851 23,449,808
1975 12,773,954 23,143,275
1974 12,469,127 22,807,969
1973 12,157,999 22,491,777
1972 11,853,696 22,218,463
1971 11,567,667 21,962,032
1970 11,290,128 21,324,000
1969 11,017,409 21,028,000
1968 10,756,922 20,744,000
1967 10,505,959 20,412,000
1966 10,266,395 20,048,000
1965 10,036,008 19,678,000
1964 9,814,318 19,325,000
1963 9,604,487 18,964,000
1962 9,404,406 18,614,000
1961 9,214,083 18,271,000
1960 9,035,043 17,909,356

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/canada | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Canada gained 3,539,610 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Canada's population increased by 6,071,162 people (a 16.8% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Canada was ranked 35th in 2006 and ranked 38th 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 Canada will increase by 12.8% to 47,562,681 people and rank change from 38th to 45th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 55.9M people in 2100 for Canada.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Canada
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Canada
2100 0.5% 0.33%
2099 0.51% 0.34%
2098 0.52% 0.35%
2097 0.51% 0.31%
2096 0.52% 0.31%
2095 0.56% 0.3%
2094 0.59% 0.3%
2093 0.59% 0.29%
2092 0.61% 0.3%
2091 0.7% 0.27%
2090 0.64% 0.28%
2089 0.66% 0.33%
2088 0.73% 0.28%
2087 0.63% 0.29%
2086 0.74% 0.28%
2085 0.83% 0.29%
2084 0.73% 0.31%
2083 0.75% 0.28%
2082 0.77% 0.32%
2081 0.91% 0.3%
2080 1.02% 0.3%
2079 0.88% 0.32%
2078 0.98% 0.3%
2077 0.97% 0.33%
2076 0.94% 0.33%
2075 1.06% 0.32%
2074 1.18% 0.31%
2073 1.14% 0.33%
2072 1.12% 0.34%
2071 1.28% 0.34%
2070 1.23% 0.34%
2069 1.31% 0.35%
2068 1.24% 0.38%
2067 1.28% 0.36%
2066 1.44% 0.36%
2065 1.46% 0.36%
2064 1.43% 0.37%
2063 1.46% 0.37%
2062 1.37% 0.36%
2061 1.45% 0.34%
2060 1.43% 0.35%
2059 1.55% 0.36%
2058 1.64% 0.33%
2057 1.68% 0.32%
2056 1.67% 0.31%
2055 1.69% 0.31%
2054 1.71% 0.31%
2053 1.72% 0.34%
2052 1.61% 0.33%
2051 1.7% 0.33%
2050 1.93% 0.31%
2049 1.86% 0.34%
2048 1.86% 0.34%
2047 1.98% 0.35%
2046 1.91% 0.39%
2045 1.92% 0.39%
2044 2.02% 0.4%
2043 1.96% 0.41%
2042 2.12% 0.42%
2041 2.27% 0.43%
2040 2.26% 0.45%
2039 2.18% 0.48%
2038 2.27% 0.5%
2037 2.3% 0.51%
2036 2.31% 0.51%
2035 2.35% 0.57%
2034 2.52% 0.56%
2033 2.55% 0.61%
2032 2.64% 0.65%
2031 2.7% 0.66%
2030 2.69% 0.69%
2029 2.6% 0.73%
2028 2.64% 0.76%
2027 2.74% 0.8%
2026 2.75% 0.9%
2025 2.87% 1.03%
2024 2.88% 3.01%
2023 2.16% 2.95%
2022 1.45% 1.82%
2021 2.38% 0.56%
2020 3.2% 1.09%
2019 3.03% 1.47%
2018 2.95% 1.44%
2017 2.85% 1.2%
2016 2.57% 1.14%
2015 3.17% 0.76%
2014 3.7% 1.01%
2013 3.48% 1.06%
2012 4.13% 1.09%
2011 3.76% 0.98%
2010 2.98% 1.12%
2009 3.71% 1.15%
2008 2.21% 1.09%
2007 1.91% 0.98%
2006 4.18% 1.02%
2005 3.58% 0.95%
2004 3.64% 0.94%
2003 6.34% 0.9%
2002 5.39% 1.09%
2001 0.76% 1.09%
2000 1.22% 0.94%
1999 3.8% 0.82%
1998 3.84% 0.83%
1997 3.88% 1%
1996 4.09% 1.05%
1995 5.02% 1.04%
1994 8.75% 1.1%
1993 12.5% 1.1%
1992 8.5% 1.19%
1991 1.6% 1.25%
1990 1.44% 1.52%
1989 3.04% 1.81%
1988 1.19% 1.31%
1987 -0.28% 1.33%
1986 -0.06% 1%
1985 2.11% 0.92%
1984 2.49% 0.95%
1983 -0.67% 0.99%
1982 -7.93% 1.2%
1981 -9.35% 1.24%
1980 -3.56% 1.3%
1979 0.32% 0.99%
1978 2.03% 1%
1977 2.15% 1.18%
1976 2.24% 1.32%
1975 2.44% 1.47%
1974 2.56% 1.41%
1973 2.57% 1.23%
1972 2.47% 1.17%
1971 2.46% 2.99%
1970 2.48% 1.41%
1969 2.42% 1.37%
1968 2.39% 1.63%
1967 2.33% 1.82%
1966 2.3% 1.88%
1965 2.26% 1.83%
1964 2.18% 1.9%
1963 2.13% 1.88%
1962 2.07% 1.88%
1961 1.98% 2.02%

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/canada | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Canada's population grew by 3.01%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Canada
Current population
45409324
42181965
Population rank 36/197 38/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.51%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
26.2 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.49 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.62 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +3,302
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +1,205,115
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +3.01%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 14/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.62 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +326,204
Net migration rank 179/196 5/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 8,805,839
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 7/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 22.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 27/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Canada
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Canada
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 326,204
2024 - -44,089 - 368,599
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 28,058 433,842
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 15,574 459,988
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 57,360 198,867
2020 1,134,407 143,634 53,241 256,592
2019 1,138,485 9,159 86,523 387,685
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 88,974 420,224
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 98,672 372,685
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 115,555 329,455
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 117,825 224,332
2014 1,053,788 233,913 127,563 192,884
2013 1,033,778 18,119 129,799 239,813
2012 1,004,814 68,628 135,382 243,748
2011 966,743 384,486 133,923 227,075
2010 943,473 -167,460 139,425 225,369
2009 920,581 -60,602 144,609 244,463
2008 891,246 215,753 142,963 238,083
2007 889,848 -851,298 134,845 213,801
2006 875,301 57,673 130,285 202,175
2005 855,112 250,971 116,074 204,526
2004 850,940 -269,194 111,786 194,611
2003 826,165 247,317 110,749 185,643
2002 776,048 860,349 106,621 208,060
2001 764,090 -212,872 114,777 222,100
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 110,469 201,727
1999 760,727 -32,400 118,565 158,342
1998 719,860 7,380 126,651 142,346
1997 709,778 -21,215 134,577 144,678
1996 685,005 4,072 153,973 154,553
1995 653,280 52,505 167,023 141,818
1994 609,096 315,206 179,804 134,863
1993 541,257 1,149,684 186,451 133,426
1992 440,132 1,197,329 204,273 138,121
1991 409,954 32,782 207,477 134,463
1990 402,433 -458,737 213,222 181,461
1989 381,158 18,296 207,304 258,094
1988 358,397 -56,263 192,901 238,003
1987 314,361 -345,535 190,416 171,308
1986 310,066 -343,397 190,532 121,928
1985 228,469 -208,685 204,153 69,776
1984 205,262 248,224 204,856 55,982
1983 263,778 -172,797 202,931 66,172
1982 263,210 -500,998 200,935 89,544
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 206,005 113,461
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 203,480 122,743
1979 361,750 -525,413 203,293 86,719
1978 369,101 -117,186 194,102 52,781
1977 372,567 -83,115 199,297 70,339
1976 357,775 -85,430 196,979 106,894
1975 343,850 -44,418 196,718 139,797
1974 330,232 -20,009 182,464 155,596
1973 315,062 -3,030 184,432 125,401
1972 300,633 -4,050 188,857 89,880
1971 288,267 -12,801 208,640 210,244
1970 275,129 4,458 215,372 304,627
1969 263,823 2,029 216,588 93,600
1968 251,798 3,333 211,589 108,864
1967 239,967 6,824 220,450 132,856
1966 228,786 3,563 236,566 144,641
1965 217,741 10,695 269,589 112,401
1964 207,867 7,079 307,268 68,003
1963 198,035 6,681 318,595 51,831
1962 188,427 7,016 325,745 35,373
1961 179,094 6,109 334,360 34,721
1960 170,257 2,606 338,487 49,694

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/canada | 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 Canada 19.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 789,345 people) and 80.6% is from migration (a gain of 3,276,554 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 8,805,839 people or 22.2% in Canada.

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
Canada
City Population
Toronto 2.79M
Montreal 1.8M
Calgary 1.31M
Ottawa 1.02M
Edmonton 1.01M
Winnipeg 750K
Mississauga 718K
Vancouver 662K
Brampton 656K
Hamilton 569K

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/canada | 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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