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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 3,876,200 people in Croatia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 3,849,788 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 11.9 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs -0.73% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.85M (10.7% decline).

Afghanistan vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Croatia
2100 131,724,468 2,158,545
2099 131,066,750 2,176,440
2098 130,403,871 2,194,539
2097 129,730,117 2,212,602
2096 129,070,342 2,231,114
2095 128,396,829 2,249,667
2094 127,685,065 2,268,376
2093 126,942,174 2,286,882
2092 126,194,378 2,305,583
2091 125,433,421 2,324,254
2090 124,561,248 2,342,729
2089 123,768,926 2,361,668
2088 122,960,614 2,380,831
2087 122,074,409 2,399,709
2086 121,308,199 2,418,760
2085 120,413,992 2,438,113
2084 119,420,025 2,457,815
2083 118,560,008 2,477,556
2082 117,671,742 2,497,595
2081 116,771,980 2,517,715
2080 115,724,307 2,538,164
2079 114,561,305 2,559,092
2078 113,556,727 2,580,179
2077 112,455,804 2,601,778
2076 111,375,301 2,623,507
2075 110,333,033 2,645,523
2074 109,170,742 2,667,391
2073 107,895,475 2,689,518
2072 106,682,883 2,712,201
2071 105,504,989 2,734,759
2070 104,167,895 2,757,112
2069 102,902,233 2,780,455
2068 101,568,136 2,804,383
2067 100,320,548 2,828,363
2066 99,057,144 2,852,669
2065 97,655,437 2,877,009
2064 96,248,770 2,901,213
2063 94,892,092 2,926,228
2062 93,522,871 2,951,475
2061 92,260,642 2,976,903
2060 90,945,998 3,002,483
2059 89,663,478 3,027,959
2058 88,293,680 3,053,643
2057 86,865,803 3,079,155
2056 85,428,888 3,105,119
2055 84,023,782 3,130,769
2054 82,626,785 3,156,282
2053 81,236,203 3,182,091
2052 79,860,096 3,207,640
2051 78,595,977 3,233,551
2050 77,285,393 3,259,702
2049 75,819,307 3,285,684
2048 74,435,057 3,311,657
2047 73,075,297 3,337,645
2046 71,654,160 3,363,102
2045 70,310,871 3,388,731
2044 68,983,509 3,414,541
2043 67,616,795 3,439,695
2042 66,317,516 3,464,688
2041 64,937,760 3,489,565
2040 63,497,378 3,513,946
2039 62,092,429 3,538,129
2038 60,767,134 3,562,371
2037 59,418,629 3,586,606
2036 58,079,976 3,609,771
2035 56,769,901 3,632,470
2034 55,469,080 3,656,066
2033 54,103,368 3,679,626
2032 52,759,572 3,703,646
2031 51,403,105 3,728,250
2030 50,049,673 3,752,014
2029 48,739,663 3,776,079
2028 47,504,926 3,799,610
2027 46,283,055 3,824,370
2026 45,047,977 3,849,788
2025 43,844,111 3,876,200
2024 42,647,492 3,866,200
2023 41,454,761 3,859,686
2022 40,578,842 3,855,641
2021 40,000,412 3,878,981
2020 39,068,979 3,914,206
2019 37,856,121 3,949,390
2018 36,743,039 3,988,775
2017 35,688,935 4,041,407
2016 34,700,612 4,106,867
2015 33,831,764 4,151,725
2014 32,792,523 4,201,598
2013 31,622,704 4,233,922
2012 30,560,034 4,260,368
2011 29,347,708 4,280,622
2010 28,284,089 4,295,427
2009 27,466,101 4,305,181
2008 26,482,622 4,309,705
2007 25,909,852 4,310,217
2006 25,424,094 4,311,159
2005 24,404,567 4,310,145
2004 23,560,654 4,304,600
2003 22,733,049 4,303,399
2002 21,378,117 4,302,174
2001 20,284,307 4,299,642
2000 20,130,327 4,468,302
1999 19,887,785 4,512,597
1998 19,159,996 4,532,135
1997 18,452,091 4,534,920
1996 17,763,266 4,557,097
1995 17,065,836 4,620,030
1994 16,250,794 4,652,024
1993 14,943,172 4,600,463
1992 13,278,974 4,575,818
1991 12,238,879 4,689,022
1990 12,045,660 4,777,368
1989 11,874,088 4,767,260
1988 11,523,298 4,755,207
1987 11,387,818 4,739,745
1986 11,420,074 4,721,446
1985 11,426,852 4,701,417
1984 11,190,221 4,680,285
1983 10,917,982 4,658,254
1982 10,991,378 4,634,234
1981 11,937,581 4,611,509
1980 13,169,311 4,599,782
1979 13,655,567 4,594,778
1978 13,611,441 4,581,085
1977 13,340,756 4,559,571
1976 13,059,851 4,535,934
1975 12,773,954 4,512,082
1974 12,469,127 4,490,660
1973 12,157,999 4,470,161
1972 11,853,696 4,450,564
1971 11,567,667 4,431,275
1970 11,290,128 4,412,252
1969 11,017,409 4,391,490
1968 10,756,922 4,365,628
1967 10,505,959 4,338,683
1966 10,266,395 4,310,701
1965 10,036,008 4,280,923
1964 9,814,318 4,252,876
1963 9,604,487 4,225,675
1962 9,404,406 4,196,712
1961 9,214,083 4,167,292
1960 9,035,043 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 130th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,259,702 people and rank change from 130th to 138th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Croatia's population already peaked in 1990 at 4.78M people and is projected to decrease to 2.16M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Croatia
2100 0.5% -0.82%
2099 0.51% -0.82%
2098 0.52% -0.82%
2097 0.51% -0.83%
2096 0.52% -0.82%
2095 0.56% -0.82%
2094 0.59% -0.81%
2093 0.59% -0.81%
2092 0.61% -0.8%
2091 0.7% -0.79%
2090 0.64% -0.8%
2089 0.66% -0.8%
2088 0.73% -0.79%
2087 0.63% -0.79%
2086 0.74% -0.79%
2085 0.83% -0.8%
2084 0.73% -0.8%
2083 0.75% -0.8%
2082 0.77% -0.8%
2081 0.91% -0.81%
2080 1.02% -0.82%
2079 0.88% -0.82%
2078 0.98% -0.83%
2077 0.97% -0.83%
2076 0.94% -0.83%
2075 1.06% -0.82%
2074 1.18% -0.82%
2073 1.14% -0.84%
2072 1.12% -0.82%
2071 1.28% -0.81%
2070 1.23% -0.84%
2069 1.31% -0.85%
2068 1.24% -0.85%
2067 1.28% -0.85%
2066 1.44% -0.85%
2065 1.46% -0.83%
2064 1.43% -0.85%
2063 1.46% -0.86%
2062 1.37% -0.85%
2061 1.45% -0.85%
2060 1.43% -0.84%
2059 1.55% -0.84%
2058 1.64% -0.83%
2057 1.68% -0.84%
2056 1.67% -0.82%
2055 1.69% -0.81%
2054 1.71% -0.81%
2053 1.72% -0.8%
2052 1.61% -0.8%
2051 1.7% -0.8%
2050 1.93% -0.79%
2049 1.86% -0.78%
2048 1.86% -0.78%
2047 1.98% -0.76%
2046 1.91% -0.76%
2045 1.92% -0.76%
2044 2.02% -0.73%
2043 1.96% -0.72%
2042 2.12% -0.71%
2041 2.27% -0.69%
2040 2.26% -0.68%
2039 2.18% -0.68%
2038 2.27% -0.68%
2037 2.3% -0.64%
2036 2.31% -0.62%
2035 2.35% -0.65%
2034 2.52% -0.64%
2033 2.55% -0.65%
2032 2.64% -0.66%
2031 2.7% -0.63%
2030 2.69% -0.64%
2029 2.6% -0.62%
2028 2.64% -0.65%
2027 2.74% -0.66%
2026 2.75% -0.68%
2025 2.81% 0.26%
2024 2.88% 0.17%
2023 2.16% 0.1%
2022 1.45% -0.6%
2021 2.38% -0.9%
2020 3.2% -0.89%
2019 3.03% -0.99%
2018 2.95% -1.3%
2017 2.85% -1.59%
2016 2.57% -1.08%
2015 3.17% -1.19%
2014 3.7% -0.76%
2013 3.48% -0.62%
2012 4.13% -0.47%
2011 3.76% -0.34%
2010 2.98% -0.23%
2009 3.71% -0.1%
2008 2.21% -0.01%
2007 1.91% -0.02%
2006 4.18% 0.02%
2005 3.58% 0.13%
2004 3.64% 0.03%
2003 6.34% 0.03%
2002 5.39% 0.06%
2001 0.76% -3.77%
2000 1.22% -0.98%
1999 3.8% -0.43%
1998 3.84% -0.06%
1997 3.88% -0.49%
1996 4.09% -1.36%
1995 5.02% -0.69%
1994 8.75% 1.12%
1993 12.5% 0.54%
1992 8.5% -2.41%
1991 1.6% -1.85%
1990 1.44% 0.21%
1989 3.04% 0.25%
1988 1.19% 0.33%
1987 -0.28% 0.39%
1986 -0.06% 0.43%
1985 2.11% 0.45%
1984 2.49% 0.47%
1983 -0.67% 0.52%
1982 -7.93% 0.49%
1981 -9.35% 0.25%
1980 -3.56% 0.11%
1979 0.32% 0.3%
1978 2.03% 0.47%
1977 2.15% 0.52%
1976 2.24% 0.53%
1975 2.44% 0.48%
1974 2.56% 0.46%
1973 2.57% 0.44%
1972 2.47% 0.44%
1971 2.46% 0.43%
1970 2.48% 0.47%
1969 2.42% 0.59%
1968 2.39% 0.62%
1967 2.33% 0.65%
1966 2.3% 0.7%
1965 2.26% 0.66%
1964 2.18% 0.64%
1963 2.13% 0.69%
1962 2.07% 0.71%
1961 1.98% 0.65%

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/croatia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Croatia
Current population
45682388
3849788
Population rank 36/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.05%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
52.7 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
16.4 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
10.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +27
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +10,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 147/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.52 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -3,481
Net migration rank 179/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -3,481
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 -18,944 -5,186
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -19,298 10,202
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -23,134 11,681
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -26,377 -4,517
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -21,137 -8,552
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -15,798 -13,239
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -15,556 -25,016
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -16,974 -44,557
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -14,374 -32,144
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -17,022 -27,501
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -11,344 -13,127
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -10,585 -6,245
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -9,799 -4,794
2011 966,743 384,486 -9,846 -17,463
2010 943,473 -167,460 -8,591 -3,995
2009 920,581 -60,602 -7,319 1,358
2008 891,246 215,753 -8,188 6,495
2007 889,848 -851,298 -10,335 8,893
2006 875,301 57,673 -8,669 10,852
2005 855,112 250,971 -9,022 10,629
2004 850,940 -269,194 -9,040 15,445
2003 826,165 247,317 -12,480 12,556
2002 776,048 860,349 -10,325 10,306
2001 764,090 -212,872 -8,599 19,298
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -6,255 -47,629
1999 760,727 -32,400 -6,769 -47,418
1998 719,860 7,380 -4,985 -47,931
1997 709,778 -21,215 3,175 -52,897
1996 685,005 4,072 3,190 -53,688
1995 653,280 52,505 0 -51,882
1994 609,096 315,206 -930 -50,444
1993 541,257 1,149,684 -2,301 -49,615
1992 440,132 1,197,329 -4,576 -47,865
1991 409,954 32,782 -2,813 -31,968
1990 402,433 -458,737 3,344 9,538
1989 381,158 18,296 3,337 8,471
1988 358,397 -56,263 5,707 7,242
1987 314,361 -345,535 6,161 6,956
1986 310,066 -343,397 8,499 6,261
1985 228,469 -208,685 10,343 5,550
1984 205,262 248,224 10,764 5,757
1983 263,778 -172,797 10,714 6,323
1982 263,210 -500,998 15,756 7,475
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 15,680 4,872
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 17,939 -5,486
1979 361,750 -525,413 21,136 -5,740
1978 369,101 -117,186 20,157 -7,329
1977 372,567 -83,115 22,798 -7,339
1976 357,775 -85,430 22,226 -7,400
1975 343,850 -44,418 21,658 -7,366
1974 330,232 -20,009 22,453 -8,076
1973 315,062 -3,030 21,904 -8,335
1972 300,633 -4,050 17,802 -7,277
1971 288,267 -12,801 19,941 -5,608
1970 275,129 4,458 16,767 -2,359
1969 263,823 2,029 16,688 -2,796
1968 251,798 3,333 21,828 -2,799
1967 239,967 6,824 26,032 -3,518
1966 228,786 3,563 33,192 -6,341
1965 217,741 10,695 31,251 -5,253
1964 207,867 7,079 25,942 -2,090
1963 198,035 6,681 31,270 -1,289
1962 188,427 7,016 30,216 -2,176
1961 179,094 6,109 36,255 -6,567
1960 170,257 2,606 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/croatia | 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 Croatia 57.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 188,614 people) and 42.4% is from migration (a loss of 138,829 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

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
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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

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