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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 6,484,437 people in the Congo in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 6,718,789 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 +2.68% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.72M (75.1% growth).

Afghanistan vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Congo
2100 131,724,468 20,194,267
2099 131,066,750 20,053,234
2098 130,403,871 19,906,909
2097 129,730,117 19,760,110
2096 129,070,342 19,610,521
2095 128,396,829 19,459,493
2094 127,685,065 19,306,835
2093 126,942,174 19,151,289
2092 126,194,378 18,990,577
2091 125,433,421 18,828,222
2090 124,561,248 18,663,146
2089 123,768,926 18,497,842
2088 122,960,614 18,325,571
2087 122,074,409 18,153,731
2086 121,308,199 17,979,773
2085 120,413,992 17,807,843
2084 119,420,025 17,631,386
2083 118,560,008 17,453,221
2082 117,671,742 17,270,773
2081 116,771,980 17,093,270
2080 115,724,307 16,910,570
2079 114,561,305 16,728,955
2078 113,556,727 16,542,829
2077 112,455,804 16,357,926
2076 111,375,301 16,173,005
2075 110,333,033 15,981,904
2074 109,170,742 15,791,626
2073 107,895,475 15,597,321
2072 106,682,883 15,402,110
2071 105,504,989 15,205,567
2070 104,167,895 15,009,147
2069 102,902,233 14,808,250
2068 101,568,136 14,609,790
2067 100,320,548 14,412,802
2066 99,057,144 14,211,022
2065 97,655,437 14,010,661
2064 96,248,770 13,810,933
2063 94,892,092 13,609,626
2062 93,522,871 13,405,080
2061 92,260,642 13,204,362
2060 90,945,998 13,004,957
2059 89,663,478 12,806,162
2058 88,293,680 12,609,233
2057 86,865,803 12,413,395
2056 85,428,888 12,217,406
2055 84,023,782 12,022,740
2054 82,626,785 11,824,813
2053 81,236,203 11,627,983
2052 79,860,096 11,431,875
2051 78,595,977 11,235,188
2050 77,285,393 11,039,311
2049 75,819,307 10,844,973
2048 74,435,057 10,650,230
2047 73,075,297 10,453,401
2046 71,654,160 10,258,550
2045 70,310,871 10,063,886
2044 68,983,509 9,871,213
2043 67,616,795 9,676,000
2042 66,317,516 9,482,485
2041 64,937,760 9,287,235
2040 63,497,378 9,096,577
2039 62,092,429 8,907,177
2038 60,767,134 8,719,250
2037 59,418,629 8,532,935
2036 58,079,976 8,348,719
2035 56,769,901 8,166,676
2034 55,469,080 7,985,679
2033 54,103,368 7,805,748
2032 52,759,572 7,628,440
2031 51,403,105 7,453,476
2030 50,049,673 7,284,111
2029 48,739,663 7,117,929
2028 47,504,926 6,955,268
2027 46,283,055 6,794,778
2026 45,047,977 6,638,532
2025 43,844,111 6,484,437
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while the Congo's population increased by 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of the Congo will increase by 64.3% to 11,039,311 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 2.81% 2.39%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.39%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Congo
Current population
45682388
6718789
Population rank 36/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.08%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
3.48 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
2.73 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
13.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +415
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +151,476
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +2.39%
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 1,249,785 -44,089 153,150 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/congo | 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 the Congo 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 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 127K
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 (1960–2025, 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/congo | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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