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Population in Afghanistan compared to the Congo: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 6,332,961 people in the Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 6,681,829 in the Congo.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 6.8 times bigger than the Congo's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the Congo is the 109th.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.08% for the Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.68M (74.1% growth).

Afghanistan vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Congo
2100 131,803,615 20,197,393
2099 131,145,502 20,056,338
2098 130,482,225 19,909,990
2097 129,808,066 19,763,169
2096 129,147,895 19,613,556
2095 128,473,977 19,462,505
2094 127,761,785 19,309,823
2093 127,018,448 19,154,254
2092 126,270,202 18,993,517
2091 125,508,788 18,831,137
2090 124,636,092 18,666,035
2089 123,843,293 18,500,705
2088 123,034,495 18,328,408
2087 122,147,758 18,156,542
2086 121,381,088 17,982,556
2085 120,486,343 17,810,599
2084 119,491,780 17,634,115
2083 118,631,246 17,455,922
2082 117,742,446 17,273,447
2081 116,842,143 17,095,916
2080 115,793,841 16,913,187
2079 114,630,140 16,731,545
2078 113,624,958 16,545,390
2077 112,523,374 16,360,458
2076 111,442,221 16,175,508
2075 110,399,328 15,984,378
2074 109,236,338 15,794,071
2073 107,960,305 15,599,735
2072 106,746,984 15,404,494
2071 105,568,382 15,207,921
2070 104,230,485 15,011,471
2069 102,964,062 14,810,543
2068 101,629,164 14,612,051
2067 100,380,826 14,415,033
2066 99,116,663 14,213,222
2065 97,714,113 14,012,829
2064 96,306,602 13,813,071
2063 94,949,108 13,611,733
2062 93,579,065 13,407,155
2061 92,316,077 13,206,406
2060 91,000,643 13,006,970
2059 89,717,353 12,808,144
2058 88,346,732 12,611,185
2057 86,917,997 12,415,316
2056 85,480,219 12,219,298
2055 84,074,268 12,024,601
2054 82,676,432 11,826,644
2053 81,285,014 11,629,783
2052 79,908,081 11,433,645
2051 78,643,202 11,236,927
2050 77,331,830 11,041,020
2049 75,864,863 10,846,652
2048 74,479,782 10,651,879
2047 73,119,204 10,455,019
2046 71,697,214 10,260,138
2045 70,353,118 10,065,444
2044 69,024,959 9,872,742
2043 67,657,423 9,677,498
2042 66,357,363 9,483,953
2041 64,976,778 9,288,673
2040 63,535,531 9,097,986
2039 62,129,737 8,908,556
2038 60,803,646 8,720,599
2037 59,454,331 8,534,256
2036 58,114,874 8,350,011
2035 56,804,011 8,167,940
2034 55,502,408 7,986,915
2033 54,135,876 7,806,956
2032 52,791,273 7,629,621
2031 51,433,991 7,454,630
2030 50,079,746 7,285,238
2029 48,768,949 7,119,031
2028 47,533,470 6,956,345
2027 46,310,865 6,795,830
2026 45,075,045 6,639,560
2025 43,870,455 6,485,440
2024 42,647,492 6,332,961
2023 41,454,761 6,182,885
2022 40,578,842 6,035,104
2021 40,000,412 5,892,183
2020 39,068,979 5,752,791
2019 37,856,121 5,616,661
2018 36,743,039 5,483,118
2017 35,688,935 5,351,011
2016 34,700,612 5,222,536
2015 33,831,764 5,097,581
2014 32,792,523 4,975,880
2013 31,622,704 4,857,099
2012 30,560,034 4,740,450
2011 29,347,708 4,609,724
2010 28,284,089 4,462,290
2009 27,466,101 4,281,219
2008 26,482,622 4,113,517
2007 25,909,852 3,980,430
2006 25,424,094 3,837,409
2005 24,404,567 3,696,393
2004 23,560,654 3,565,554
2003 22,733,049 3,445,753
2002 21,378,117 3,350,771
2001 20,284,307 3,272,537
2000 20,130,327 3,151,345
1999 19,887,785 3,032,874
1998 19,159,996 2,952,061
1997 18,452,091 2,887,862
1996 17,763,266 2,826,785
1995 17,065,836 2,749,461
1994 16,250,794 2,673,144
1993 14,943,172 2,595,124
1992 13,278,974 2,519,465
1991 12,238,879 2,449,229
1990 12,045,660 2,380,560
1989 11,874,088 2,313,558
1988 11,523,298 2,247,653
1987 11,387,818 2,183,473
1986 11,420,074 2,120,602
1985 11,426,852 2,059,311
1984 11,190,221 1,999,528
1983 10,917,982 1,950,321
1982 10,991,378 1,910,430
1981 11,937,581 1,869,759
1980 13,169,311 1,828,985
1979 13,655,567 1,788,524
1978 13,611,441 1,748,089
1977 13,340,756 1,707,568
1976 13,059,851 1,667,225
1975 12,773,954 1,627,032
1974 12,469,127 1,582,301
1973 12,157,999 1,533,680
1972 11,853,696 1,486,468
1971 11,567,667 1,441,039
1970 11,290,128 1,397,638
1969 11,017,409 1,356,182
1968 10,756,922 1,316,519
1967 10,505,959 1,278,691
1966 10,266,395 1,242,534
1965 10,036,008 1,207,880
1964 9,814,318 1,174,816
1963 9,604,487 1,143,263
1962 9,404,406 1,113,175
1961 9,214,083 1,084,389
1960 9,035,043 1,056,732

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/congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the Congo gained 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,459,293 people (a 27.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The Congo was ranked 125th in 2006 and ranked 109th 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 Congo will increase by 65.2% to 11,041,020 people and rank change from 109th to 95th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 20.2M people in 2100 for the Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Congo
2100 0.5% 0.7%
2099 0.51% 0.74%
2098 0.52% 0.74%
2097 0.51% 0.76%
2096 0.52% 0.78%
2095 0.56% 0.79%
2094 0.59% 0.81%
2093 0.59% 0.85%
2092 0.61% 0.86%
2091 0.7% 0.88%
2090 0.64% 0.89%
2089 0.66% 0.94%
2088 0.73% 0.95%
2087 0.63% 0.97%
2086 0.74% 0.97%
2085 0.83% 1%
2084 0.73% 1.02%
2083 0.75% 1.06%
2082 0.77% 1.04%
2081 0.91% 1.08%
2080 1.02% 1.09%
2079 0.88% 1.13%
2078 0.98% 1.13%
2077 0.97% 1.14%
2076 0.94% 1.2%
2075 1.06% 1.2%
2074 1.18% 1.25%
2073 1.14% 1.27%
2072 1.12% 1.29%
2071 1.28% 1.31%
2070 1.23% 1.36%
2069 1.31% 1.36%
2068 1.24% 1.37%
2067 1.28% 1.42%
2066 1.44% 1.43%
2065 1.46% 1.45%
2064 1.43% 1.48%
2063 1.46% 1.53%
2062 1.37% 1.52%
2061 1.45% 1.53%
2060 1.43% 1.55%
2059 1.55% 1.56%
2058 1.64% 1.58%
2057 1.68% 1.6%
2056 1.67% 1.62%
2055 1.69% 1.67%
2054 1.71% 1.69%
2053 1.72% 1.72%
2052 1.61% 1.75%
2051 1.7% 1.77%
2050 1.93% 1.79%
2049 1.86% 1.83%
2048 1.86% 1.88%
2047 1.98% 1.9%
2046 1.91% 1.93%
2045 1.92% 1.95%
2044 2.02% 2.02%
2043 1.96% 2.04%
2042 2.12% 2.1%
2041 2.27% 2.1%
2040 2.26% 2.13%
2039 2.18% 2.16%
2038 2.27% 2.18%
2037 2.3% 2.21%
2036 2.31% 2.23%
2035 2.35% 2.27%
2034 2.52% 2.31%
2033 2.55% 2.32%
2032 2.64% 2.35%
2031 2.7% 2.33%
2030 2.69% 2.33%
2029 2.6% 2.34%
2028 2.64% 2.36%
2027 2.74% 2.35%
2026 2.75% 2.38%
2025 2.87% 2.41%
2024 2.88% 2.43%
2023 2.16% 2.45%
2022 1.45% 2.43%
2021 2.38% 2.42%
2020 3.2% 2.42%
2019 3.03% 2.44%
2018 2.95% 2.47%
2017 2.85% 2.46%
2016 2.57% 2.45%
2015 3.17% 2.45%
2014 3.7% 2.45%
2013 3.48% 2.46%
2012 4.13% 2.84%
2011 3.76% 3.3%
2010 2.98% 4.23%
2009 3.71% 4.08%
2008 2.21% 3.34%
2007 1.91% 3.73%
2006 4.18% 3.81%
2005 3.58% 3.67%
2004 3.64% 3.48%
2003 6.34% 2.83%
2002 5.39% 2.39%
2001 0.76% 3.85%
2000 1.22% 3.91%
1999 3.8% 2.74%
1998 3.84% 2.22%
1997 3.88% 2.16%
1996 4.09% 2.81%
1995 5.02% 2.85%
1994 8.75% 3.01%
1993 12.5% 3%
1992 8.5% 2.87%
1991 1.6% 2.88%
1990 1.44% 2.9%
1989 3.04% 2.93%
1988 1.19% 2.94%
1987 -0.28% 2.96%
1986 -0.06% 2.98%
1985 2.11% 2.99%
1984 2.49% 2.52%
1983 -0.67% 2.09%
1982 -7.93% 2.18%
1981 -9.35% 2.23%
1980 -3.56% 2.26%
1979 0.32% 2.31%
1978 2.03% 2.37%
1977 2.15% 2.42%
1976 2.24% 2.47%
1975 2.44% 2.83%
1974 2.56% 3.17%
1973 2.57% 3.18%
1972 2.47% 3.15%
1971 2.46% 3.11%
1970 2.48% 3.06%
1969 2.42% 3.01%
1968 2.39% 2.96%
1967 2.33% 2.91%
1966 2.3% 2.87%
1965 2.26% 2.81%
1964 2.18% 2.76%
1963 2.13% 2.7%
1962 2.07% 2.65%
1961 1.98% 2.62%

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/congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.43%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Congo
Current population
45409324
6681829
Population rank 36/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.08%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
3.5 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
2.78 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
13.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +411
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +150,076
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.43%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 31/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.93 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -2,999
Net migration rank 179/196 108/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 385,589
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 91/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 6.1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 86/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -2,999
2024 - -44,089 - -2,491
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 150,486 -995
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 147,076 -995
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 144,241 -4,476
2020 1,134,407 143,634 143,492 -4,472
2019 1,138,485 9,159 139,513 -6,268
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 142,704 -8,856
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 141,973 -11,601
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 141,358 -14,783
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 141,539 -18,207
2014 1,053,788 233,913 141,674 -21,598
2013 1,033,778 18,119 142,080 -24,605
2012 1,004,814 68,628 142,464 -26,643
2011 966,743 384,486 140,371 5,262
2010 943,473 -167,460 136,908 12,318
2009 920,581 -60,602 126,904 86,014
2008 891,246 215,753 120,711 1,774
2007 889,848 -851,298 112,459 31,239
2006 875,301 57,673 106,876 35,475
2005 855,112 250,971 101,344 38,337
2004 850,940 -269,194 96,577 25,412
2003 826,165 247,317 91,326 26,280
2002 776,048 860,349 88,497 -16,140
2001 764,090 -212,872 84,876 -764
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 78,491 79,780
1999 760,727 -32,400 76,204 2,470
1998 719,860 7,380 72,450 10,500
1997 709,778 -21,215 66,149 -20,704
1996 685,005 4,072 75,628 1,085
1995 653,280 52,505 74,189 3,747
1994 609,096 315,206 72,857 1,850
1993 541,257 1,149,684 71,119 10,218
1992 440,132 1,197,329 69,973 0
1991 409,954 32,782 68,534 1,966
1990 402,433 -458,737 67,241 -395
1989 381,158 18,296 65,944 1,214
1988 358,397 -56,263 64,629 22
1987 314,361 -345,535 63,183 525
1986 310,066 -343,397 61,669 367
1985 228,469 -208,685 60,359 182
1984 205,262 248,224 59,028 0
1983 263,778 -172,797 58,120 -18,720
1982 263,210 -500,998 57,036 -16,664
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 56,603 -15,630
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 55,550 -14,972
1979 361,750 -525,413 54,723 -14,378
1978 369,101 -117,186 53,885 -13,356
1977 372,567 -83,115 53,179 -12,673
1976 357,775 -85,430 52,148 -11,971
1975 343,850 -44,418 51,155 -10,944
1974 330,232 -20,009 49,563 -312
1973 315,062 -3,030 48,017 -22
1972 300,633 -4,050 46,427 0
1971 288,267 -12,801 44,431 0
1970 275,129 4,458 42,374 0
1969 263,823 2,029 40,532 0
1968 251,798 3,333 38,786 0
1967 239,967 6,824 36,866 0
1966 228,786 3,563 35,452 0
1965 217,741 10,695 33,865 0
1964 207,867 7,079 32,270 0
1963 198,035 6,681 30,832 0
1962 188,427 7,016 29,342 0
1961 179,094 6,109 28,220 0
1960 170,257 2,606 27,094 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/congo | 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 Congo 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,434,056 people) and 6.04% is from migration (a loss of 92,251 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 385,589 people or 6.1% in the Congo.

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
Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 71.6K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K

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/congo | 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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