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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 3,866,200 people in Croatia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 3,812,193 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 129th.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% 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 +2.76% per year vs -0.82% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.81M (11.6% decline).

Afghanistan vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Croatia
2100 131,803,615 2,137,465
2099 131,145,502 2,155,186
2098 130,482,225 2,173,108
2097 129,808,066 2,190,995
2096 129,147,895 2,209,326
2095 128,473,977 2,227,698
2094 127,761,785 2,246,224
2093 127,018,448 2,264,550
2092 126,270,202 2,283,068
2091 125,508,788 2,301,556
2090 124,636,092 2,319,851
2089 123,843,293 2,338,604
2088 123,034,495 2,357,581
2087 122,147,758 2,376,274
2086 121,381,088 2,395,139
2085 120,486,343 2,414,304
2084 119,491,780 2,433,813
2083 118,631,246 2,453,361
2082 117,742,446 2,473,204
2081 116,842,143 2,493,128
2080 115,793,841 2,513,378
2079 114,630,140 2,534,101
2078 113,624,958 2,554,982
2077 112,523,374 2,576,370
2076 111,442,221 2,597,887
2075 110,399,328 2,619,688
2074 109,236,338 2,641,342
2073 107,960,305 2,663,253
2072 106,746,984 2,685,714
2071 105,568,382 2,708,053
2070 104,230,485 2,730,187
2069 102,964,062 2,753,302
2068 101,629,164 2,776,996
2067 100,380,826 2,800,742
2066 99,116,663 2,824,811
2065 97,714,113 2,848,913
2064 96,306,602 2,872,881
2063 94,949,108 2,897,651
2062 93,579,065 2,922,653
2061 92,316,077 2,947,832
2060 91,000,643 2,973,162
2059 89,717,353 2,998,389
2058 88,346,732 3,023,822
2057 86,917,997 3,049,085
2056 85,480,219 3,074,796
2055 84,074,268 3,100,195
2054 82,676,432 3,125,459
2053 81,285,014 3,151,016
2052 79,908,081 3,176,316
2051 78,643,202 3,201,973
2050 77,331,830 3,227,869
2049 75,864,863 3,253,597
2048 74,479,782 3,279,316
2047 73,119,204 3,305,051
2046 71,697,214 3,330,260
2045 70,353,118 3,355,638
2044 69,024,959 3,381,196
2043 67,657,423 3,406,105
2042 66,357,363 3,430,854
2041 64,976,778 3,455,487
2040 63,535,531 3,479,631
2039 62,129,737 3,503,577
2038 60,803,646 3,527,583
2037 59,454,331 3,551,581
2036 58,114,874 3,574,520
2035 56,804,011 3,596,996
2034 55,502,408 3,620,363
2033 54,135,876 3,643,692
2032 52,791,273 3,667,478
2031 51,433,991 3,691,842
2030 50,079,746 3,715,373
2029 48,768,949 3,739,203
2028 47,533,470 3,762,505
2027 46,310,865 3,787,023
2026 45,075,045 3,812,193
2025 43,870,455 3,838,346
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Croatia's population decreased by 294,674 people (a 7.18% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 129th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,227,869 people and rank change from 129th to 139th.

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 2.14M 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 2.87% -0.72%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Croatia
Current population
45409324
3812193
Population rank 36/197 129/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.05%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.34 hours
One birth every
21.5 seconds
16.4 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
10.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +18
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +6,514
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.17%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 157/197
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 - -44,089 - -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 -20,354 -8,552
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -15,008 -13,239
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -15,557 -25,016
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -16,570 -44,557
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -13,553 -32,144
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -16,607 -27,501
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -11,345 -13,127
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -10,162 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/croatia | 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 Croatia 54.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 177,803 people) and 45.2% is from migration (a loss of 146,770 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 (1960–2024, 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/croatia | 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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