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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 30.9 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 17.5% 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 +2.76% per year vs +0.3% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).

Afghanistan vs China: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan China
2100 131,803,615 633,320,628
2099 131,145,502 643,959,697
2098 130,482,225 654,691,595
2097 129,808,066 665,517,335
2096 129,147,895 676,438,150
2095 128,473,977 687,457,915
2094 127,761,785 698,589,897
2093 127,018,448 709,852,629
2092 126,270,202 721,251,520
2091 125,508,788 732,791,748
2090 124,636,092 744,501,355
2089 123,843,293 756,404,299
2088 123,034,495 768,478,316
2087 122,147,758 780,707,622
2086 121,381,088 793,081,006
2085 120,486,343 805,608,315
2084 119,491,780 818,268,277
2083 118,631,246 830,972,107
2082 117,742,446 843,721,746
2081 116,842,143 856,534,631
2080 115,793,841 869,351,919
2079 114,630,140 882,146,959
2078 113,624,958 894,889,246
2077 112,523,374 907,592,919
2076 111,442,221 920,280,380
2075 110,399,328 932,956,157
2074 109,236,338 945,631,173
2073 107,960,305 958,352,980
2072 106,746,984 971,115,895
2071 105,568,382 983,938,054
2070 104,230,485 996,853,418
2069 102,964,062 1,009,905,851
2068 101,629,164 1,023,081,790
2067 100,380,826 1,036,420,010
2066 99,116,663 1,049,887,382
2065 97,714,113 1,063,477,623
2064 96,306,602 1,077,206,695
2063 94,949,108 1,090,982,303
2062 93,579,065 1,104,833,556
2061 92,316,077 1,118,682,849
2060 91,000,643 1,132,504,136
2059 89,717,353 1,146,199,736
2058 88,346,732 1,159,714,746
2057 86,917,997 1,172,963,523
2056 85,480,219 1,185,938,083
2055 84,074,268 1,198,550,408
2054 82,676,432 1,210,749,681
2053 81,285,014 1,222,500,569
2052 79,908,081 1,233,808,926
2051 78,643,202 1,244,584,333
2050 77,331,830 1,254,824,040
2049 75,864,863 1,264,598,914
2048 74,479,782 1,273,885,471
2047 73,119,204 1,282,701,271
2046 71,697,214 1,291,133,690
2045 70,353,118 1,299,154,327
2044 69,024,959 1,306,805,350
2043 67,657,423 1,314,176,710
2042 66,357,363 1,321,319,298
2041 64,976,778 1,328,219,755
2040 63,535,531 1,334,857,481
2039 62,129,737 1,341,265,381
2038 60,803,646 1,347,407,165
2037 59,454,331 1,353,377,505
2036 58,114,874 1,359,133,287
2035 56,804,011 1,364,651,508
2034 55,502,408 1,369,940,557
2033 54,135,876 1,375,003,005
2032 52,791,273 1,379,784,204
2031 51,433,991 1,384,301,522
2030 50,079,746 1,388,520,533
2029 48,768,949 1,392,490,007
2028 47,533,470 1,396,163,778
2027 46,310,865 1,399,515,824
2026 45,075,045 1,402,578,808
2025 43,870,455 1,405,826,385
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 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 633M 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 2.87% -0.22%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan China
Current population
45409324
1402578808
Population rank 36/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 16.9%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
18.2 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
3.5 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.84 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -4,753
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -1,735,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.12%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 173/197
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 - -44,089 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/china | 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 China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 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 (1960–2024, 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/china | 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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