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Population in Afghanistan compared to Costa Rica: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,129,910 people in Costa Rica in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,181,862 in Costa Rica.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.76 times bigger than Costa Rica's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Costa Rica is the 126th.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.06% for Costa Rica.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.77% in Costa Rica.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Costa Rica has grown from 4.32M to 5.18M (19.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs Costa Rica: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Costa Rica
2100 131,803,615 3,804,183
2099 131,145,502 3,842,423
2098 130,482,225 3,880,999
2097 129,808,066 3,919,996
2096 129,147,895 3,959,352
2095 128,473,977 3,999,084
2094 127,761,785 4,039,053
2093 127,018,448 4,079,349
2092 126,270,202 4,119,898
2091 125,508,788 4,160,663
2090 124,636,092 4,201,548
2089 123,843,293 4,242,452
2088 123,034,495 4,283,327
2087 122,147,758 4,324,225
2086 121,381,088 4,364,979
2085 120,486,343 4,405,520
2084 119,491,780 4,445,770
2083 118,631,246 4,485,644
2082 117,742,446 4,525,171
2081 116,842,143 4,564,265
2080 115,793,841 4,602,737
2079 114,630,140 4,640,677
2078 113,624,958 4,677,935
2077 112,523,374 4,714,527
2076 111,442,221 4,750,309
2075 110,399,328 4,785,359
2074 109,236,338 4,819,691
2073 107,960,305 4,853,137
2072 106,746,984 4,885,727
2071 105,568,382 4,917,445
2070 104,230,485 4,948,313
2069 102,964,062 4,978,425
2068 101,629,164 5,007,604
2067 100,380,826 5,035,877
2066 99,116,663 5,063,521
2065 97,714,113 5,090,474
2064 96,306,602 5,116,546
2063 94,949,108 5,141,922
2062 93,579,065 5,166,260
2061 92,316,077 5,189,836
2060 91,000,643 5,212,549
2059 89,717,353 5,234,066
2058 88,346,732 5,254,528
2057 86,917,997 5,273,844
2056 85,480,219 5,292,013
2055 84,074,268 5,308,829
2054 82,676,432 5,324,305
2053 81,285,014 5,338,417
2052 79,908,081 5,350,974
2051 78,643,202 5,361,865
2050 77,331,830 5,371,197
2049 75,864,863 5,378,904
2048 74,479,782 5,385,081
2047 73,119,204 5,389,678
2046 71,697,214 5,392,713
2045 70,353,118 5,394,209
2044 69,024,959 5,394,124
2043 67,657,423 5,392,590
2042 66,357,363 5,389,628
2041 64,976,778 5,385,101
2040 63,535,531 5,379,344
2039 62,129,737 5,372,186
2038 60,803,646 5,363,617
2037 59,454,331 5,353,928
2036 58,114,874 5,343,027
2035 56,804,011 5,330,994
2034 55,502,408 5,317,895
2033 54,135,876 5,303,634
2032 52,791,273 5,288,416
2031 51,433,991 5,272,215
2030 50,079,746 5,255,064
2029 48,768,949 5,236,901
2028 47,533,470 5,217,724
2027 46,310,865 5,197,413
2026 45,075,045 5,176,096
2025 43,870,455 5,153,634
2024 42,647,492 5,129,910
2023 41,454,761 5,105,525
2022 40,578,842 5,081,765
2021 40,000,412 5,059,988
2020 39,068,979 5,034,320
2019 37,856,121 4,999,553
2018 36,743,039 4,957,818
2017 35,688,935 4,913,177
2016 34,700,612 4,866,998
2015 33,831,764 4,818,038
2014 32,792,523 4,767,119
2013 31,622,704 4,716,147
2012 30,560,034 4,663,934
2011 29,347,708 4,609,833
2010 28,284,089 4,555,962
2009 27,466,101 4,499,791
2008 26,482,622 4,440,056
2007 25,909,852 4,380,248
2006 25,424,094 4,321,340
2005 24,404,567 4,261,240
2004 23,560,654 4,200,078
2003 22,733,049 4,138,784
2002 21,378,117 4,075,705
2001 20,284,307 4,008,947
2000 20,130,327 3,937,739
1999 19,887,785 3,862,101
1998 19,159,996 3,782,838
1997 18,452,091 3,701,711
1996 17,763,266 3,619,013
1995 17,065,836 3,535,176
1994 16,250,794 3,451,122
1993 14,943,172 3,367,434
1992 13,278,974 3,284,258
1991 12,238,879 3,202,176
1990 12,045,660 3,121,706
1989 11,874,088 3,043,827
1988 11,523,298 2,968,103
1987 11,387,818 2,892,699
1986 11,420,074 2,817,216
1985 11,426,852 2,741,894
1984 11,190,221 2,667,595
1983 10,917,982 2,595,153
1982 10,991,378 2,524,806
1981 11,937,581 2,456,637
1980 13,169,311 2,390,633
1979 13,655,567 2,326,490
1978 13,611,441 2,264,510
1977 13,340,756 2,205,025
1976 13,059,851 2,147,774
1975 12,773,954 2,092,719
1974 12,469,127 2,039,643
1973 12,157,999 1,988,343
1972 11,853,696 1,938,248
1971 11,567,667 1,888,539
1970 11,290,128 1,838,949
1969 11,017,409 1,789,276
1968 10,756,922 1,739,731
1967 10,505,959 1,689,523
1966 10,266,395 1,638,116
1965 10,036,008 1,586,208
1964 9,814,318 1,533,960
1963 9,604,487 1,481,604
1962 9,404,406 1,429,445
1961 9,214,083 1,377,920
1960 9,035,043 1,327,496

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/costa-rica | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Costa Rica gained 545,658 people (a 12.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Costa Rica's population increased by 314,864 people (a 6.47% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Costa Rica was ranked 119th in 2006 and ranked 126th 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 Costa Rica will increase by 3.65% to 5,371,197 people and will still be ranked 126th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 5.39M people in 2045 for Costa Rica.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Costa Rica
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Costa Rica
2100 0.5% -1%
2099 0.51% -0.99%
2098 0.52% -0.99%
2097 0.51% -0.99%
2096 0.52% -0.99%
2095 0.56% -0.99%
2094 0.59% -0.99%
2093 0.59% -0.98%
2092 0.61% -0.98%
2091 0.7% -0.97%
2090 0.64% -0.96%
2089 0.66% -0.95%
2088 0.73% -0.95%
2087 0.63% -0.93%
2086 0.74% -0.92%
2085 0.83% -0.91%
2084 0.73% -0.89%
2083 0.75% -0.87%
2082 0.77% -0.86%
2081 0.91% -0.84%
2080 1.02% -0.82%
2079 0.88% -0.8%
2078 0.98% -0.78%
2077 0.97% -0.75%
2076 0.94% -0.73%
2075 1.06% -0.71%
2074 1.18% -0.69%
2073 1.14% -0.67%
2072 1.12% -0.65%
2071 1.28% -0.62%
2070 1.23% -0.6%
2069 1.31% -0.58%
2068 1.24% -0.56%
2067 1.28% -0.55%
2066 1.44% -0.53%
2065 1.46% -0.51%
2064 1.43% -0.49%
2063 1.46% -0.47%
2062 1.37% -0.45%
2061 1.45% -0.44%
2060 1.43% -0.41%
2059 1.55% -0.39%
2058 1.64% -0.37%
2057 1.68% -0.34%
2056 1.67% -0.32%
2055 1.69% -0.29%
2054 1.71% -0.26%
2053 1.72% -0.23%
2052 1.61% -0.2%
2051 1.7% -0.17%
2050 1.93% -0.14%
2049 1.86% -0.11%
2048 1.86% -0.09%
2047 1.98% -0.06%
2046 1.91% -0.03%
2045 1.92% 0.002%
2044 2.02% 0.03%
2043 1.96% 0.05%
2042 2.12% 0.08%
2041 2.27% 0.11%
2040 2.26% 0.13%
2039 2.18% 0.16%
2038 2.27% 0.18%
2037 2.3% 0.2%
2036 2.31% 0.23%
2035 2.35% 0.25%
2034 2.52% 0.27%
2033 2.55% 0.29%
2032 2.64% 0.31%
2031 2.7% 0.33%
2030 2.69% 0.35%
2029 2.6% 0.37%
2028 2.64% 0.39%
2027 2.74% 0.41%
2026 2.75% 0.44%
2025 2.87% 0.46%
2024 2.88% 0.48%
2023 2.16% 0.47%
2022 1.45% 0.43%
2021 2.38% 0.51%
2020 3.2% 0.7%
2019 3.03% 0.84%
2018 2.95% 0.91%
2017 2.85% 0.95%
2016 2.57% 1.02%
2015 3.17% 1.07%
2014 3.7% 1.08%
2013 3.48% 1.12%
2012 4.13% 1.17%
2011 3.76% 1.18%
2010 2.98% 1.25%
2009 3.71% 1.35%
2008 2.21% 1.37%
2007 1.91% 1.36%
2006 4.18% 1.41%
2005 3.58% 1.46%
2004 3.64% 1.48%
2003 6.34% 1.55%
2002 5.39% 1.67%
2001 0.76% 1.81%
2000 1.22% 1.96%
1999 3.8% 2.1%
1998 3.84% 2.19%
1997 3.88% 2.29%
1996 4.09% 2.37%
1995 5.02% 2.44%
1994 8.75% 2.49%
1993 12.5% 2.53%
1992 8.5% 2.56%
1991 1.6% 2.58%
1990 1.44% 2.56%
1989 3.04% 2.55%
1988 1.19% 2.61%
1987 -0.28% 2.68%
1986 -0.06% 2.75%
1985 2.11% 2.79%
1984 2.49% 2.79%
1983 -0.67% 2.79%
1982 -7.93% 2.77%
1981 -9.35% 2.76%
1980 -3.56% 2.76%
1979 0.32% 2.74%
1978 2.03% 2.7%
1977 2.15% 2.67%
1976 2.24% 2.63%
1975 2.44% 2.6%
1974 2.56% 2.58%
1973 2.57% 2.58%
1972 2.47% 2.63%
1971 2.46% 2.7%
1970 2.48% 2.78%
1969 2.42% 2.85%
1968 2.39% 2.97%
1967 2.33% 3.14%
1966 2.3% 3.27%
1965 2.26% 3.41%
1964 2.18% 3.53%
1963 2.13% 3.65%
1962 2.07% 3.74%
1961 1.98% 3.8%

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/costa-rica | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Costa Rica's population grew by 0.48%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Costa Rica
Current population
45409324
5181862
Population rank 36/197 126/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.06%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
21.6 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
10.1 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
18.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +67
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +24,385
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.48%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 138/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
8.78 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 +1,000
Net migration rank 179/196 63/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 628,404
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 75/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 55/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Costa Rica
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Costa Rica
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 1,000
2024 - -44,089 - 967
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 24,109 995
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 21,409 1,006
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 20,119 1,018
2020 1,134,407 143,634 29,164 1,029
2019 1,138,485 9,159 37,682 1,653
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 42,469 1,673
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 43,471 1,671
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 45,565 1,649
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 49,077 1,617
2014 1,053,788 233,913 49,559 1,589
2013 1,033,778 18,119 49,227 1,579
2012 1,004,814 68,628 52,036 1,587
2011 966,743 384,486 52,884 1,695
2010 943,473 -167,460 50,803 2,357
2009 920,581 -60,602 55,757 3,432
2008 891,246 215,753 56,491 3,794
2007 889,848 -851,298 55,244 4,080
2006 875,301 57,673 54,177 4,321
2005 855,112 250,971 57,139 4,567
2004 850,940 -269,194 55,769 4,856
2003 826,165 247,317 56,743 5,216
2002 776,048 860,349 58,388 5,812
2001 764,090 -212,872 62,199 7,119
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 64,268 8,826
1999 760,727 -32,400 64,922 13,253
1998 719,860 7,380 64,788 15,556
1997 709,778 -21,215 64,954 16,954
1996 685,005 4,072 66,094 17,393
1995 653,280 52,505 67,585 16,609
1994 609,096 315,206 68,336 15,587
1993 541,257 1,149,684 69,016 14,431
1992 440,132 1,197,329 69,830 13,069
1991 409,954 32,782 70,506 10,757
1990 402,433 -458,737 71,727 7,949
1989 381,158 18,296 72,327 3,758
1988 358,397 -56,263 72,944 2,414
1987 314,361 -345,535 73,188 2,267
1986 310,066 -343,397 73,211 2,302
1985 228,469 -208,685 72,776 2,357
1984 205,262 248,224 71,062 2,402
1983 263,778 -172,797 68,972 2,449
1982 263,210 -500,998 66,826 2,453
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 64,632 2,431
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 62,561 2,387
1979 361,750 -525,413 60,984 2,349
1978 369,101 -117,186 58,327 2,296
1977 372,567 -83,115 56,122 2,228
1976 357,775 -85,430 54,019 2,129
1975 343,850 -44,418 51,979 1,992
1974 330,232 -20,009 50,349 1,839
1973 315,062 -3,030 48,943 1,468
1972 300,633 -4,050 48,417 1,366
1971 288,267 -12,801 48,341 1,296
1970 275,129 4,458 48,398 1,137
1969 263,823 2,029 48,790 1,017
1968 251,798 3,333 48,361 939
1967 239,967 6,824 50,193 926
1966 228,786 3,563 50,755 930
1965 217,741 10,695 51,196 932
1964 207,867 7,079 51,435 934
1963 198,035 6,681 51,403 938
1962 188,427 7,016 51,046 934
1961 179,094 6,109 50,149 924
1960 170,257 2,606 48,857 910

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/costa-rica | 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 Costa Rica 96.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 362,624 people) and 3.69% is from migration (a gain of 13,900 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 628,404 people or 12.2% in Costa Rica.

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
Costa Rica
City Population
San Jose 335K
Limon 71.5K
Liberia 65.9K
Alajuela 44.4K
Puntarenas 41.5K
Cartago 22.8K
Heredia 16.7K
Tamarindo 7.13K
Santa Teresa 3K

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/costa-rica | 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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