Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 1,406,585,000 people in China in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 1,403,335,670 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 30.7 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 17.4% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.23% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (7.04% growth).

Afghanistan vs China: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan China
2100 131,724,468 633,662,382
2099 131,066,750 644,307,192
2098 130,403,871 655,044,881
2097 129,730,117 665,876,462
2096 129,070,342 676,803,171
2095 128,396,829 687,828,883
2094 127,685,065 698,966,872
2093 126,942,174 710,235,681
2092 126,194,378 721,640,723
2091 125,433,421 733,187,178
2090 124,561,248 744,903,105
2089 123,768,926 756,812,472
2088 122,960,614 768,893,004
2087 122,074,409 781,128,909
2086 121,308,199 793,508,970
2085 120,413,992 806,043,039
2084 119,420,025 818,709,832
2083 118,560,008 831,420,518
2082 117,671,742 844,177,036
2081 116,771,980 856,996,835
2080 115,724,307 869,821,040
2079 114,561,305 882,622,985
2078 113,556,727 895,372,147
2077 112,455,804 908,082,676
2076 111,375,301 920,776,984
2075 110,333,033 933,459,600
2074 109,170,742 946,141,456
2073 107,895,475 958,870,128
2072 106,682,883 971,639,931
2071 105,504,989 984,469,009
2070 104,167,895 997,391,342
2069 102,902,233 1,010,450,818
2068 101,568,136 1,023,633,867
2067 100,320,548 1,036,979,285
2066 99,057,144 1,050,453,924
2065 97,655,437 1,064,051,499
2064 96,248,770 1,077,787,979
2063 94,892,092 1,091,571,021
2062 93,522,871 1,105,429,748
2061 92,260,642 1,119,286,514
2060 90,945,998 1,133,115,260
2059 89,663,478 1,146,818,251
2058 88,293,680 1,160,340,554
2057 86,865,803 1,173,596,480
2056 85,428,888 1,186,578,041
2055 84,023,782 1,199,197,172
2054 82,626,785 1,211,403,028
2053 81,236,203 1,223,160,257
2052 79,860,096 1,234,474,716
2051 78,595,977 1,245,255,938
2050 77,285,393 1,255,501,171
2049 75,819,307 1,265,281,319
2048 74,435,057 1,274,572,888
2047 73,075,297 1,283,393,445
2046 71,654,160 1,291,830,414
2045 70,310,871 1,299,855,379
2044 68,983,509 1,307,510,531
2043 67,616,795 1,314,885,869
2042 66,317,516 1,322,032,311
2041 64,937,760 1,328,936,491
2040 63,497,378 1,335,577,799
2039 62,092,429 1,341,989,157
2038 60,767,134 1,348,134,255
2037 59,418,629 1,354,107,817
2036 58,079,976 1,359,866,705
2035 56,769,901 1,365,387,904
2034 55,469,080 1,370,679,807
2033 54,103,368 1,375,744,986
2032 52,759,572 1,380,528,766
2031 51,403,105 1,385,048,521
2030 50,049,673 1,389,269,809
2029 48,739,663 1,393,241,425
2028 47,504,926 1,396,917,178
2027 46,283,055 1,400,271,033
2026 45,047,977 1,403,335,670
2025 43,844,111 1,406,585,000
2024 42,647,492 1,408,975,000
2023 41,454,761 1,410,710,000
2022 40,578,842 1,412,175,000
2021 40,000,412 1,412,360,000
2020 39,068,979 1,411,100,000
2019 37,856,121 1,407,745,000
2018 36,743,039 1,402,760,000
2017 35,688,935 1,396,215,000
2016 34,700,612 1,387,790,000
2015 33,831,764 1,379,860,000
2014 32,792,523 1,371,860,000
2013 31,622,704 1,363,240,000
2012 30,560,034 1,354,190,000
2011 29,347,708 1,345,035,000
2010 28,284,089 1,337,705,000
2009 27,466,101 1,331,260,000
2008 26,482,622 1,324,655,000
2007 25,909,852 1,317,885,000
2006 25,424,094 1,311,020,000
2005 24,404,567 1,303,720,000
2004 23,560,654 1,296,075,000
2003 22,733,049 1,288,400,000
2002 21,378,117 1,280,400,000
2001 20,284,307 1,271,850,000
2000 20,130,327 1,262,645,000
1999 19,887,785 1,252,735,000
1998 19,159,996 1,241,935,000
1997 18,452,091 1,230,075,000
1996 17,763,266 1,217,550,000
1995 17,065,836 1,204,855,000
1994 16,250,794 1,191,835,000
1993 14,943,172 1,178,440,000
1992 13,278,974 1,164,970,000
1991 12,238,879 1,150,780,000
1990 12,045,660 1,135,185,000
1989 11,874,088 1,118,650,000
1988 11,523,298 1,101,630,000
1987 11,387,818 1,084,035,000
1986 11,420,074 1,066,790,000
1985 11,426,852 1,051,040,000
1984 11,190,221 1,036,825,000
1983 10,917,982 1,023,310,000
1982 10,991,378 1,008,630,000
1981 11,937,581 993,885,000
1980 13,169,311 981,235,000
1979 13,655,567 969,005,000
1978 13,611,441 956,165,000
1977 13,340,756 943,455,000
1976 13,059,851 930,685,000
1975 12,773,954 916,395,000
1974 12,469,127 900,350,000
1973 12,157,999 881,940,000
1972 11,853,696 862,030,000
1971 11,567,667 841,105,000
1970 11,290,128 818,315,000
1969 11,017,409 796,025,000
1968 10,756,922 774,510,000
1967 10,505,959 754,550,000
1966 10,266,395 735,400,000
1965 10,036,008 715,185,000
1964 9,814,318 698,355,000
1963 9,604,487 682,335,000
1962 9,404,406 665,770,000
1961 9,214,083 660,330,000
1960 9,035,043 667,070,000

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/china | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while China's population increased by 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd 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 China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan China
2100 0.5% -1.65%
2099 0.51% -1.64%
2098 0.52% -1.63%
2097 0.51% -1.61%
2096 0.52% -1.6%
2095 0.56% -1.59%
2094 0.59% -1.59%
2093 0.59% -1.58%
2092 0.61% -1.57%
2091 0.7% -1.57%
2090 0.64% -1.57%
2089 0.66% -1.57%
2088 0.73% -1.57%
2087 0.63% -1.56%
2086 0.74% -1.56%
2085 0.83% -1.55%
2084 0.73% -1.53%
2083 0.75% -1.51%
2082 0.77% -1.5%
2081 0.91% -1.47%
2080 1.02% -1.45%
2079 0.88% -1.42%
2078 0.98% -1.4%
2077 0.97% -1.38%
2076 0.94% -1.36%
2075 1.06% -1.34%
2074 1.18% -1.33%
2073 1.14% -1.31%
2072 1.12% -1.3%
2071 1.28% -1.3%
2070 1.23% -1.29%
2069 1.31% -1.29%
2068 1.24% -1.29%
2067 1.28% -1.28%
2066 1.44% -1.28%
2065 1.46% -1.27%
2064 1.43% -1.26%
2063 1.46% -1.25%
2062 1.37% -1.24%
2061 1.45% -1.22%
2060 1.43% -1.19%
2059 1.55% -1.17%
2058 1.64% -1.13%
2057 1.68% -1.09%
2056 1.67% -1.05%
2055 1.69% -1.01%
2054 1.71% -0.96%
2053 1.72% -0.92%
2052 1.61% -0.87%
2051 1.7% -0.82%
2050 1.93% -0.77%
2049 1.86% -0.73%
2048 1.86% -0.69%
2047 1.98% -0.65%
2046 1.91% -0.62%
2045 1.92% -0.59%
2044 2.02% -0.56%
2043 1.96% -0.54%
2042 2.12% -0.52%
2041 2.27% -0.5%
2040 2.26% -0.48%
2039 2.18% -0.46%
2038 2.27% -0.44%
2037 2.3% -0.42%
2036 2.31% -0.4%
2035 2.35% -0.39%
2034 2.52% -0.37%
2033 2.55% -0.35%
2032 2.64% -0.33%
2031 2.7% -0.3%
2030 2.69% -0.29%
2029 2.6% -0.26%
2028 2.64% -0.24%
2027 2.74% -0.22%
2026 2.75% -0.23%
2025 2.81% -0.17%
2024 2.88% -0.12%
2023 2.16% -0.1%
2022 1.45% -0.01%
2021 2.38% 0.09%
2020 3.2% 0.24%
2019 3.03% 0.36%
2018 2.95% 0.47%
2017 2.85% 0.61%
2016 2.57% 0.57%
2015 3.17% 0.58%
2014 3.7% 0.63%
2013 3.48% 0.67%
2012 4.13% 0.68%
2011 3.76% 0.55%
2010 2.98% 0.48%
2009 3.71% 0.5%
2008 2.21% 0.51%
2007 1.91% 0.52%
2006 4.18% 0.56%
2005 3.58% 0.59%
2004 3.64% 0.6%
2003 6.34% 0.62%
2002 5.39% 0.67%
2001 0.76% 0.73%
2000 1.22% 0.79%
1999 3.8% 0.87%
1998 3.84% 0.96%
1997 3.88% 1.03%
1996 4.09% 1.05%
1995 5.02% 1.09%
1994 8.75% 1.14%
1993 12.5% 1.16%
1992 8.5% 1.23%
1991 1.6% 1.37%
1990 1.44% 1.48%
1989 3.04% 1.54%
1988 1.19% 1.62%
1987 -0.28% 1.62%
1986 -0.06% 1.5%
1985 2.11% 1.37%
1984 2.49% 1.32%
1983 -0.67% 1.46%
1982 -7.93% 1.48%
1981 -9.35% 1.29%
1980 -3.56% 1.26%
1979 0.32% 1.34%
1978 2.03% 1.35%
1977 2.15% 1.37%
1976 2.24% 1.56%
1975 2.44% 1.78%
1974 2.56% 2.09%
1973 2.57% 2.31%
1972 2.47% 2.49%
1971 2.46% 2.78%
1970 2.48% 2.8%
1969 2.42% 2.78%
1968 2.39% 2.65%
1967 2.33% 2.6%
1966 2.3% 2.83%
1965 2.26% 2.41%
1964 2.18% 2.35%
1963 2.13% 2.49%
1962 2.07% 0.82%
1961 1.98% -1.01%

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/china | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while China's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan China
Current population
45682388
1403335670
Population rank 36/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 16.9%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
13.2 seconds
One birth every
21.1 seconds
3.31 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
2.88 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,278 -6,548
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 -2,390,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 174/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -268,126
Net migration rank 179/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -268,126
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 -1,394,886 -318,992
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -847,305 -293,846
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 480,203 -379,749
2020 1,134,407 143,634 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 1,138,485 9,159 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 1,053,788 233,913 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 1,033,778 18,119 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 1,004,814 68,628 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 966,743 384,486 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 943,473 -167,460 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 920,581 -60,602 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 891,246 215,753 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 889,848 -851,298 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 875,301 57,673 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 855,112 250,971 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 850,940 -269,194 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 826,165 247,317 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 776,048 860,349 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 764,090 -212,872 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 760,727 -32,400 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 719,860 7,380 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 709,778 -21,215 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 685,005 4,072 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 653,280 52,505 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 609,096 315,206 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 541,257 1,149,684 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 440,132 1,197,329 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 409,954 32,782 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 402,433 -458,737 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 381,158 18,296 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 358,397 -56,263 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 314,361 -345,535 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 310,066 -343,397 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 228,469 -208,685 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 205,262 248,224 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 263,778 -172,797 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 263,210 -500,998 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 361,750 -525,413 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 369,101 -117,186 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 372,567 -83,115 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 357,775 -85,430 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 343,850 -44,418 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 330,232 -20,009 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 315,062 -3,030 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 300,633 -4,050 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 288,267 -12,801 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 275,129 4,458 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 263,823 2,029 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 251,798 3,333 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 239,967 6,824 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 228,786 3,563 19,282,187 4,165
1965 217,741 10,695 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 207,867 7,079 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 198,035 6,681 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 188,427 7,016 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 179,094 6,109 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 170,257 2,606 -3,048,510 -16,927

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/china | 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 China 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

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
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

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/china | 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.