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Population in Afghanistan compared to the Central African Republic: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,330,690 people in the Central African Republic in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,753,659 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 7.89 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the Central African Republic is the 118th.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.07% for the Central African Republic.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.27% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.75M (31.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Central African Republic: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan CAR
2100 131,803,615 19,066,004
2099 131,145,502 18,985,867
2098 130,482,225 18,901,154
2097 129,808,066 18,815,607
2096 129,147,895 18,724,783
2095 128,473,977 18,626,431
2094 127,761,785 18,526,390
2093 127,018,448 18,425,013
2092 126,270,202 18,316,437
2091 125,508,788 18,205,237
2090 124,636,092 18,087,725
2089 123,843,293 17,972,896
2088 123,034,495 17,848,943
2087 122,147,758 17,721,681
2086 121,381,088 17,585,946
2085 120,486,343 17,451,621
2084 119,491,780 17,310,863
2083 118,631,246 17,164,209
2082 117,742,446 17,014,388
2081 116,842,143 16,864,906
2080 115,793,841 16,708,761
2079 114,630,140 16,556,341
2078 113,624,958 16,396,395
2077 112,523,374 16,228,166
2076 111,442,221 16,055,590
2075 110,399,328 15,881,626
2074 109,236,338 15,710,778
2073 107,960,305 15,530,355
2072 106,746,984 15,350,553
2071 105,568,382 15,162,785
2070 104,230,485 14,968,105
2069 102,964,062 14,772,746
2068 101,629,164 14,575,859
2067 100,380,826 14,373,538
2066 99,116,663 14,170,754
2065 97,714,113 13,967,146
2064 96,306,602 13,761,777
2063 94,949,108 13,548,616
2062 93,579,065 13,336,037
2061 92,316,077 13,123,628
2060 91,000,643 12,906,496
2059 89,717,353 12,688,037
2058 88,346,732 12,467,461
2057 86,917,997 12,245,441
2056 85,480,219 12,023,522
2055 84,074,268 11,801,006
2054 82,676,432 11,578,020
2053 81,285,014 11,354,432
2052 79,908,081 11,131,786
2051 78,643,202 10,910,913
2050 77,331,830 10,689,058
2049 75,864,863 10,471,199
2048 74,479,782 10,252,433
2047 73,119,204 10,037,332
2046 71,697,214 9,822,499
2045 70,353,118 9,608,962
2044 69,024,959 9,397,018
2043 67,657,423 9,188,292
2042 66,357,363 8,982,316
2041 64,976,778 8,777,138
2040 63,535,531 8,570,085
2039 62,129,737 8,360,267
2038 60,803,646 8,151,599
2037 59,454,331 7,944,754
2036 58,114,874 7,736,415
2035 56,804,011 7,527,731
2034 55,502,408 7,316,613
2033 54,135,876 7,106,984
2032 52,791,273 6,898,917
2031 51,433,991 6,691,778
2030 50,079,746 6,488,327
2029 48,768,949 6,287,899
2028 47,533,470 6,086,983
2027 46,310,865 5,892,506
2026 45,075,045 5,702,177
2025 43,870,455 5,514,692
2024 42,647,492 5,330,690
2023 41,454,761 5,152,421
2022 40,578,842 5,098,039
2021 40,000,412 5,112,100
2020 39,068,979 5,026,628
2019 37,856,121 4,944,703
2018 36,743,039 4,878,657
2017 35,688,935 4,793,511
2016 34,700,612 4,713,663
2015 33,831,764 4,629,320
2014 32,792,523 4,623,182
2013 31,622,704 4,642,419
2012 30,560,034 4,610,848
2011 29,347,708 4,565,021
2010 28,284,089 4,492,995
2009 27,466,101 4,529,047
2008 26,482,622 4,558,984
2007 25,909,852 4,462,770
2006 25,424,094 4,377,579
2005 24,404,567 4,288,810
2004 23,560,654 4,192,826
2003 22,733,049 4,103,086
2002 21,378,117 4,006,077
2001 20,284,307 3,919,487
2000 20,130,327 3,833,416
1999 19,887,785 3,729,450
1998 19,159,996 3,628,827
1997 18,452,091 3,531,700
1996 17,763,266 3,435,965
1995 17,065,836 3,348,052
1994 16,250,794 3,257,954
1993 14,943,172 3,157,839
1992 13,278,974 3,058,831
1991 12,238,879 2,963,191
1990 12,045,660 2,871,910
1989 11,874,088 2,783,970
1988 11,523,298 2,713,965
1987 11,387,818 2,669,155
1986 11,420,074 2,634,258
1985 11,426,852 2,600,932
1984 11,190,221 2,568,610
1983 10,917,982 2,537,399
1982 10,991,378 2,507,375
1981 11,937,581 2,478,402
1980 13,169,311 2,450,535
1979 13,655,567 2,423,794
1978 13,611,441 2,397,961
1977 13,340,756 2,372,930
1976 13,059,851 2,348,566
1975 12,773,954 2,313,916
1974 12,469,127 2,269,338
1973 12,157,999 2,226,008
1972 11,853,696 2,183,769
1971 11,567,667 2,141,450
1970 11,290,128 2,097,505
1969 11,017,409 2,051,515
1968 10,756,922 2,005,100
1967 10,505,959 1,960,444
1966 10,266,395 1,918,082
1965 10,036,008 1,877,854
1964 9,814,318 1,839,583
1963 9,604,487 1,803,063
1962 9,404,406 1,768,115
1961 9,214,083 1,734,580
1960 9,035,043 1,702,346

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/central-african-republic | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the Central African Republic gained 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The Central African Republic was ranked 118th in 2006 and still ranked 118th 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 the Central African Republic will increase by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people and rank change from 118th to 96th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 19.1M people in 2100 for the Central African Republic.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan CAR
2100 0.5% 0.42%
2099 0.51% 0.45%
2098 0.52% 0.45%
2097 0.51% 0.49%
2096 0.52% 0.53%
2095 0.56% 0.54%
2094 0.59% 0.55%
2093 0.59% 0.59%
2092 0.61% 0.61%
2091 0.7% 0.65%
2090 0.64% 0.64%
2089 0.66% 0.69%
2088 0.73% 0.72%
2087 0.63% 0.77%
2086 0.74% 0.77%
2085 0.83% 0.81%
2084 0.73% 0.85%
2083 0.75% 0.88%
2082 0.77% 0.89%
2081 0.91% 0.93%
2080 1.02% 0.92%
2079 0.88% 0.98%
2078 0.98% 1.04%
2077 0.97% 1.07%
2076 0.94% 1.1%
2075 1.06% 1.09%
2074 1.18% 1.16%
2073 1.14% 1.17%
2072 1.12% 1.24%
2071 1.28% 1.3%
2070 1.23% 1.32%
2069 1.31% 1.35%
2068 1.24% 1.41%
2067 1.28% 1.43%
2066 1.44% 1.46%
2065 1.46% 1.49%
2064 1.43% 1.57%
2063 1.46% 1.59%
2062 1.37% 1.62%
2061 1.45% 1.68%
2060 1.43% 1.72%
2059 1.55% 1.77%
2058 1.64% 1.81%
2057 1.68% 1.85%
2056 1.67% 1.89%
2055 1.69% 1.93%
2054 1.71% 1.97%
2053 1.72% 2%
2052 1.61% 2.02%
2051 1.7% 2.08%
2050 1.93% 2.08%
2049 1.86% 2.13%
2048 1.86% 2.14%
2047 1.98% 2.19%
2046 1.91% 2.22%
2045 1.92% 2.26%
2044 2.02% 2.27%
2043 1.96% 2.29%
2042 2.12% 2.34%
2041 2.27% 2.42%
2040 2.26% 2.51%
2039 2.18% 2.56%
2038 2.27% 2.6%
2037 2.3% 2.69%
2036 2.31% 2.77%
2035 2.35% 2.89%
2034 2.52% 2.95%
2033 2.55% 3.02%
2032 2.64% 3.1%
2031 2.7% 3.14%
2030 2.69% 3.19%
2029 2.6% 3.3%
2028 2.64% 3.3%
2027 2.74% 3.34%
2026 2.75% 3.4%
2025 2.87% 3.45%
2024 2.88% 3.46%
2023 2.16% 1.07%
2022 1.45% -0.28%
2021 2.38% 1.7%
2020 3.2% 1.66%
2019 3.03% 1.35%
2018 2.95% 1.78%
2017 2.85% 1.69%
2016 2.57% 1.82%
2015 3.17% 0.13%
2014 3.7% -0.41%
2013 3.48% 0.68%
2012 4.13% 1%
2011 3.76% 1.6%
2010 2.98% -0.8%
2009 3.71% -0.66%
2008 2.21% 2.16%
2007 1.91% 1.95%
2006 4.18% 2.07%
2005 3.58% 2.29%
2004 3.64% 2.19%
2003 6.34% 2.42%
2002 5.39% 2.21%
2001 0.76% 2.25%
2000 1.22% 2.79%
1999 3.8% 2.77%
1998 3.84% 2.75%
1997 3.88% 2.79%
1996 4.09% 2.63%
1995 5.02% 2.77%
1994 8.75% 3.17%
1993 12.5% 3.24%
1992 8.5% 3.23%
1991 1.6% 3.18%
1990 1.44% 3.16%
1989 3.04% 2.58%
1988 1.19% 1.68%
1987 -0.28% 1.32%
1986 -0.06% 1.28%
1985 2.11% 1.26%
1984 2.49% 1.23%
1983 -0.67% 1.2%
1982 -7.93% 1.17%
1981 -9.35% 1.14%
1980 -3.56% 1.1%
1979 0.32% 1.08%
1978 2.03% 1.05%
1977 2.15% 1.04%
1976 2.24% 1.5%
1975 2.44% 1.96%
1974 2.56% 1.95%
1973 2.57% 1.93%
1972 2.47% 1.98%
1971 2.46% 2.1%
1970 2.48% 2.24%
1969 2.42% 2.31%
1968 2.39% 2.28%
1967 2.33% 2.21%
1966 2.3% 2.14%
1965 2.26% 2.08%
1964 2.18% 2.03%
1963 2.13% 1.98%
1962 2.07% 1.93%
1961 1.98% 1.89%

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/central-african-republic | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.46%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan CAR
Current population
45409324
5753659
Population rank 36/197 118/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.07%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.95 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
2.2 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +488
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +178,269
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +3.46%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 9/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
35.9 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -14,693
Net migration rank 179/196 143/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 94,556
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 132/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 135/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan CAR
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -14,693
2024 - -44,089 - -15,357
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 190,325 -14,682
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -49,456 -17,430
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 124,408 -85,646
2020 1,134,407 143,634 156,911 -24,745
2019 1,138,485 9,159 68,523 -36,849
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 153,361 -52,954
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 128,461 -58,584
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 142,419 -52,607
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 141,912 -63,045
2014 1,053,788 233,913 107,448 -174,051
2013 1,033,778 18,119 140,489 -112,382
2012 1,004,814 68,628 146,791 -111,764
2011 966,743 384,486 142,913 -86,281
2010 943,473 -167,460 130,539 -43,126
2009 920,581 -60,602 -130,613 -28,899
2008 891,246 215,753 128,627 -28,983
2007 889,848 -851,298 123,137 -30,352
2006 875,301 57,673 118,882 -41,282
2005 855,112 250,971 113,534 -13,604
2004 850,940 -269,194 108,548 -16,510
2003 826,165 247,317 105,540 -18,097
2002 776,048 860,349 100,588 5,992
2001 764,090 -212,872 99,598 -33,006
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 97,468 8,079
1999 760,727 -32,400 96,108 6,284
1998 719,860 7,380 94,361 4,479
1997 709,778 -21,215 93,378 2,034
1996 685,005 4,072 93,369 2,697
1995 653,280 52,505 92,748 -12,986
1994 609,096 315,206 90,943 9,496
1993 541,257 1,149,684 89,873 9,930
1992 440,132 1,197,329 88,939 9,269
1991 409,954 32,782 88,688 4,381
1990 402,433 -458,737 87,507 1,995
1989 381,158 18,296 85,969 409
1988 358,397 -56,263 84,654 -31,016
1987 314,361 -345,535 83,408 -47,428
1986 310,066 -343,397 81,149 -47,332
1985 228,469 -208,685 79,266 -46,427
1984 205,262 248,224 77,395 -45,591
1983 263,778 -172,797 75,399 -44,780
1982 263,210 -500,998 73,330 -43,908
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 71,391 -42,872
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 68,759 -41,539
1979 361,750 -525,413 66,104 -39,850
1978 369,101 -117,186 63,285 -37,874
1977 372,567 -83,115 60,436 -35,782
1976 357,775 -85,430 57,725 -33,645
1975 343,850 -44,418 55,106 -9,895
1974 330,232 -20,009 53,777 -9,838
1973 315,062 -3,030 52,525 -9,800
1972 300,633 -4,050 51,390 -9,634
1971 288,267 -12,801 50,142 -7,259
1970 275,129 4,458 48,690 -3,693
1969 263,823 2,029 47,066 -80
1968 251,798 3,333 45,377 474
1967 239,967 6,824 42,979 474
1966 228,786 3,563 40,804 474
1965 217,741 10,695 38,710 474
1964 207,867 7,079 36,878 474
1963 198,035 6,681 35,218 474
1962 188,427 7,016 33,731 474
1961 179,094 6,109 32,383 474
1960 170,257 2,606 31,131 474

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/central-african-republic | 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 the Central African Republic 66.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 94,556 people or 1.8% in the Central African Republic.

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
CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K

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/central-african-republic | 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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