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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 117,507,801 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 2.59 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.97% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan DR Congo
2100 131,803,615 436,320,913
2099 131,145,502 433,372,904
2098 130,482,225 430,335,169
2097 129,808,066 427,231,271
2096 129,147,895 424,043,303
2095 128,473,977 420,759,430
2094 127,761,785 417,384,609
2093 127,018,448 413,946,692
2092 126,270,202 410,440,733
2091 125,508,788 406,841,757
2090 124,636,092 403,166,901
2089 123,843,293 399,411,004
2088 123,034,495 395,583,655
2087 122,147,758 391,688,383
2086 121,381,088 387,713,874
2085 120,486,343 383,678,330
2084 119,491,780 379,568,054
2083 118,631,246 375,402,379
2082 117,742,446 371,195,818
2081 116,842,143 366,948,626
2080 115,793,841 362,644,227
2079 114,630,140 358,295,825
2078 113,624,958 353,888,897
2077 112,523,374 349,435,210
2076 111,442,221 344,932,895
2075 110,399,328 340,403,800
2074 109,236,338 335,826,108
2073 107,960,305 331,220,816
2072 106,746,984 326,568,298
2071 105,568,382 321,892,514
2070 104,230,485 317,165,418
2069 102,964,062 312,409,702
2068 101,629,164 307,625,941
2067 100,380,826 302,820,577
2066 99,116,663 297,989,401
2065 97,714,113 293,137,514
2064 96,306,602 288,267,282
2063 94,949,108 283,369,365
2062 93,579,065 278,452,605
2061 92,316,077 273,517,380
2060 91,000,643 268,572,331
2059 89,717,353 263,620,905
2058 88,346,732 258,672,397
2057 86,917,997 253,733,756
2056 85,480,219 248,796,045
2055 84,074,268 243,861,631
2054 82,676,432 238,931,249
2053 81,285,014 234,016,357
2052 79,908,081 229,117,369
2051 78,643,202 224,240,788
2050 77,331,830 219,397,034
2049 75,864,863 214,588,560
2048 74,479,782 209,814,694
2047 73,119,204 205,079,870
2046 71,697,214 200,379,842
2045 70,353,118 195,731,078
2044 69,024,959 191,124,003
2043 67,657,423 186,569,843
2042 66,357,363 182,068,630
2041 64,976,778 177,617,360
2040 63,535,531 173,224,822
2039 62,129,737 168,878,834
2038 60,803,646 164,583,465
2037 59,454,331 160,347,349
2036 58,114,874 156,129,049
2035 56,804,011 151,953,443
2034 55,502,408 147,811,138
2033 54,135,876 143,712,496
2032 52,791,273 139,669,159
2031 51,433,991 135,660,570
2030 50,079,746 131,710,378
2029 48,768,949 127,818,130
2028 47,533,470 123,980,695
2027 46,310,865 120,212,011
2026 45,075,045 116,505,117
2025 43,870,455 112,854,120
2024 42,647,492 109,276,265
2023 41,454,761 105,789,731
2022 40,578,842 102,396,968
2021 40,000,412 99,148,932
2020 39,068,979 95,989,998
2019 37,856,121 92,947,442
2018 36,743,039 90,047,644
2017 35,688,935 87,083,398
2016 34,700,612 83,956,415
2015 33,831,764 81,035,531
2014 32,792,523 78,403,242
2013 31,622,704 75,789,395
2012 30,560,034 73,254,618
2011 29,347,708 70,849,311
2010 28,284,089 68,563,038
2009 27,466,101 66,412,044
2008 26,482,622 64,390,664
2007 25,909,852 62,477,752
2006 25,424,094 60,615,908
2005 24,404,567 58,775,724
2004 23,560,654 56,997,741
2003 22,733,049 55,343,867
2002 21,378,117 53,750,524
2001 20,284,307 52,132,646
2000 20,130,327 50,507,442
1999 19,887,785 48,912,971
1998 19,159,996 47,297,600
1997 18,452,091 46,029,902
1996 17,763,266 45,296,124
1995 17,065,836 44,433,704
1994 16,250,794 42,626,876
1993 14,943,172 40,656,336
1992 13,278,974 39,228,910
1991 12,238,879 37,925,817
1990 12,045,660 36,684,063
1989 11,874,088 35,486,866
1988 11,523,298 34,382,752
1987 11,387,818 33,298,904
1986 11,420,074 32,265,196
1985 11,426,852 31,264,816
1984 11,190,221 30,245,081
1983 10,917,982 29,250,963
1982 10,991,378 28,338,190
1981 11,937,581 27,500,515
1980 13,169,311 26,711,099
1979 13,655,567 25,886,782
1978 13,611,441 24,992,689
1977 13,340,756 24,229,061
1976 13,059,851 23,624,031
1975 12,773,954 23,021,101
1974 12,469,127 22,418,878
1973 12,157,999 21,827,665
1972 11,853,696 21,251,160
1971 11,567,667 20,695,569
1970 11,290,128 20,137,436
1969 11,017,409 19,570,445
1968 10,756,922 19,012,189
1967 10,505,959 18,462,782
1966 10,266,395 17,931,929
1965 10,036,008 17,427,802
1964 9,814,318 16,955,327
1963 9,604,487 16,507,599
1962 9,404,406 16,075,724
1961 9,214,083 15,662,374
1960 9,035,043 15,264,846

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/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 15th 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 DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th to 8th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 436M people in 2100 for the DR Congo.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan DR Congo
2100 0.5% 0.68%
2099 0.51% 0.71%
2098 0.52% 0.73%
2097 0.51% 0.75%
2096 0.52% 0.78%
2095 0.56% 0.81%
2094 0.59% 0.83%
2093 0.59% 0.85%
2092 0.61% 0.88%
2091 0.7% 0.91%
2090 0.64% 0.94%
2089 0.66% 0.97%
2088 0.73% 0.99%
2087 0.63% 1.03%
2086 0.74% 1.05%
2085 0.83% 1.08%
2084 0.73% 1.11%
2083 0.75% 1.13%
2082 0.77% 1.16%
2081 0.91% 1.19%
2080 1.02% 1.21%
2079 0.88% 1.25%
2078 0.98% 1.27%
2077 0.97% 1.31%
2076 0.94% 1.33%
2075 1.06% 1.36%
2074 1.18% 1.39%
2073 1.14% 1.42%
2072 1.12% 1.45%
2071 1.28% 1.49%
2070 1.23% 1.52%
2069 1.31% 1.56%
2068 1.24% 1.59%
2067 1.28% 1.62%
2066 1.44% 1.66%
2065 1.46% 1.69%
2064 1.43% 1.73%
2063 1.46% 1.77%
2062 1.37% 1.8%
2061 1.45% 1.84%
2060 1.43% 1.88%
2059 1.55% 1.91%
2058 1.64% 1.95%
2057 1.68% 1.98%
2056 1.67% 2.02%
2055 1.69% 2.06%
2054 1.71% 2.1%
2053 1.72% 2.14%
2052 1.61% 2.17%
2051 1.7% 2.21%
2050 1.93% 2.24%
2049 1.86% 2.28%
2048 1.86% 2.31%
2047 1.98% 2.35%
2046 1.91% 2.38%
2045 1.92% 2.41%
2044 2.02% 2.44%
2043 1.96% 2.47%
2042 2.12% 2.51%
2041 2.27% 2.54%
2040 2.26% 2.57%
2039 2.18% 2.61%
2038 2.27% 2.64%
2037 2.3% 2.7%
2036 2.31% 2.75%
2035 2.35% 2.8%
2034 2.52% 2.85%
2033 2.55% 2.89%
2032 2.64% 2.95%
2031 2.7% 3%
2030 2.69% 3.05%
2029 2.6% 3.1%
2028 2.64% 3.14%
2027 2.74% 3.18%
2026 2.75% 3.24%
2025 2.87% 3.27%
2024 2.88% 3.3%
2023 2.16% 3.31%
2022 1.45% 3.28%
2021 2.38% 3.29%
2020 3.2% 3.27%
2019 3.03% 3.22%
2018 2.95% 3.4%
2017 2.85% 3.72%
2016 2.57% 3.6%
2015 3.17% 3.36%
2014 3.7% 3.45%
2013 3.48% 3.46%
2012 4.13% 3.39%
2011 3.76% 3.33%
2010 2.98% 3.24%
2009 3.71% 3.14%
2008 2.21% 3.06%
2007 1.91% 3.07%
2006 4.18% 3.13%
2005 3.58% 3.12%
2004 3.64% 2.99%
2003 6.34% 2.96%
2002 5.39% 3.1%
2001 0.76% 3.22%
2000 1.22% 3.26%
1999 3.8% 3.42%
1998 3.84% 2.75%
1997 3.88% 1.62%
1996 4.09% 1.94%
1995 5.02% 4.24%
1994 8.75% 4.85%
1993 12.5% 3.64%
1992 8.5% 3.44%
1991 1.6% 3.38%
1990 1.44% 3.37%
1989 3.04% 3.21%
1988 1.19% 3.25%
1987 -0.28% 3.2%
1986 -0.06% 3.2%
1985 2.11% 3.37%
1984 2.49% 3.4%
1983 -0.67% 3.22%
1982 -7.93% 3.05%
1981 -9.35% 2.96%
1980 -3.56% 3.18%
1979 0.32% 3.58%
1978 2.03% 3.15%
1977 2.15% 2.56%
1976 2.24% 2.62%
1975 2.44% 2.69%
1974 2.56% 2.71%
1973 2.57% 2.71%
1972 2.47% 2.68%
1971 2.46% 2.77%
1970 2.48% 2.9%
1969 2.42% 2.94%
1968 2.39% 2.98%
1967 2.33% 2.96%
1966 2.3% 2.89%
1965 2.26% 2.79%
1964 2.18% 2.71%
1963 2.13% 2.69%
1962 2.07% 2.64%
1961 1.98% 2.6%

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/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan DR Congo
Current population
45409324
117507801
Population rank 36/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.42%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
9.05 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
7.22 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +9,552
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 11/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -27,309
Net migration rank 179/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -27,309
2024 - -44,089 - -26,968
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 1,134,407 143,634 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 1,138,485 9,159 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 2,883,245 176,290
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 2,753,687 440,748
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 1,053,788 233,913 2,580,251 36,966
2013 1,033,778 18,119 2,489,378 121,097
2012 1,004,814 68,628 2,405,462 53,668
2011 966,743 384,486 2,310,679 40,891
2010 943,473 -167,460 2,212,255 8,823
2009 920,581 -60,602 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 891,246 215,753 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 889,848 -851,298 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 875,301 57,673 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 855,112 250,971 1,800,300 20,384
2004 850,940 -269,194 1,731,022 4,260
2003 826,165 247,317 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 776,048 860,349 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 764,090 -212,872 1,594,999 26,523
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 1,549,518 79,340
1999 760,727 -32,400 1,450,318 109,761
1998 719,860 7,380 1,375,130 295,560
1997 709,778 -21,215 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 685,005 4,072 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 653,280 52,505 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 609,096 315,206 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 541,257 1,149,684 1,209,242 240,176
1992 440,132 1,197,329 1,152,781 252,666
1991 409,954 32,782 1,114,033 86,721
1990 402,433 -458,737 1,063,508 219,270
1989 381,158 18,296 1,027,238 84,415
1988 358,397 -56,263 995,278 101,314
1987 314,361 -345,535 959,875 111,220
1986 310,066 -343,397 925,334 70,988
1985 228,469 -208,685 885,670 118,791
1984 205,262 248,224 844,956 190,045
1983 263,778 -172,797 807,122 146,095
1982 263,210 -500,998 774,823 97,495
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 748,371 54,656
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 724,111 51,685
1979 361,750 -525,413 691,773 181,028
1978 369,101 -117,186 646,411 268,974
1977 372,567 -83,115 638,242 -26,355
1976 357,775 -85,430 624,147 -25,965
1975 343,850 -44,418 608,655 -972
1974 330,232 -20,009 593,539 3,216
1973 315,062 -3,030 578,280 7,414
1972 300,633 -4,050 564,495 2,840
1971 288,267 -12,801 549,343 -5,497
1970 275,129 4,458 533,300 39,116
1969 263,823 2,029 514,800 46,778
1968 251,798 3,333 497,682 57,274
1967 239,967 6,824 479,552 64,307
1966 228,786 3,563 463,397 54,443
1965 217,741 10,695 429,002 61,397
1964 207,867 7,079 406,334 48,207
1963 198,035 6,681 398,972 41,960
1962 188,427 7,016 383,406 39,431
1961 179,094 6,109 368,207 35,654
1960 170,257 2,606 363,517 27,673

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/dr-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 DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR 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
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 480K
Mbandaka 470K

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/dr-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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