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Population in Afghanistan compared to El Salvador: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 6,338,193 people in El Salvador in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 6,399,793 in El Salvador.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 7.1 times bigger than El Salvador's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while El Salvador is the 111th.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.08% for El Salvador.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.29% in El Salvador.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while El Salvador has grown from 6M to 6.4M (6.62% growth).

Afghanistan vs El Salvador: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan El Salvador
2100 131,803,615 5,106,358
2099 131,145,502 5,150,403
2098 130,482,225 5,195,110
2097 129,808,066 5,240,164
2096 129,147,895 5,286,555
2095 128,473,977 5,333,357
2094 127,761,785 5,380,368
2093 127,018,448 5,427,291
2092 126,270,202 5,474,174
2091 125,508,788 5,521,257
2090 124,636,092 5,568,339
2089 123,843,293 5,615,550
2088 123,034,495 5,662,256
2087 122,147,758 5,709,072
2086 121,381,088 5,755,593
2085 120,486,343 5,801,778
2084 119,491,780 5,847,545
2083 118,631,246 5,891,829
2082 117,742,446 5,935,056
2081 116,842,143 5,977,631
2080 115,793,841 6,019,326
2079 114,630,140 6,059,817
2078 113,624,958 6,098,689
2077 112,523,374 6,136,133
2076 111,442,221 6,172,686
2075 110,399,328 6,206,865
2074 109,236,338 6,239,356
2073 107,960,305 6,272,337
2072 106,746,984 6,301,557
2071 105,568,382 6,330,086
2070 104,230,485 6,358,052
2069 102,964,062 6,384,863
2068 101,629,164 6,410,986
2067 100,380,826 6,435,437
2066 99,116,663 6,458,779
2065 97,714,113 6,481,938
2064 96,306,602 6,503,884
2063 94,949,108 6,524,373
2062 93,579,065 6,543,157
2061 92,316,077 6,560,419
2060 91,000,643 6,577,429
2059 89,717,353 6,592,662
2058 88,346,732 6,606,305
2057 86,917,997 6,620,473
2056 85,480,219 6,633,666
2055 84,074,268 6,645,594
2054 82,676,432 6,656,251
2053 81,285,014 6,664,115
2052 79,908,081 6,670,429
2051 78,643,202 6,676,658
2050 77,331,830 6,679,973
2049 75,864,863 6,683,494
2048 74,479,782 6,684,918
2047 73,119,204 6,684,723
2046 71,697,214 6,684,063
2045 70,353,118 6,681,948
2044 69,024,959 6,679,505
2043 67,657,423 6,674,197
2042 66,357,363 6,668,140
2041 64,976,778 6,660,323
2040 63,535,531 6,651,019
2039 62,129,737 6,641,112
2038 60,803,646 6,628,299
2037 59,454,331 6,615,428
2036 58,114,874 6,600,845
2035 56,804,011 6,585,074
2034 55,502,408 6,568,788
2033 54,135,876 6,549,941
2032 52,791,273 6,530,975
2031 51,433,991 6,511,064
2030 50,079,746 6,490,493
2029 48,768,949 6,467,381
2028 47,533,470 6,443,426
2027 46,310,865 6,418,289
2026 45,075,045 6,392,935
2025 43,870,455 6,366,672
2024 42,647,492 6,338,193
2023 41,454,761 6,309,624
2022 40,578,842 6,280,319
2021 40,000,412 6,255,782
2020 39,068,979 6,234,673
2019 37,856,121 6,222,318
2018 36,743,039 6,219,807
2017 35,688,935 6,213,533
2016 34,700,612 6,200,800
2015 33,831,764 6,183,676
2014 32,792,523 6,162,955
2013 31,622,704 6,138,839
2012 30,560,034 6,113,975
2011 29,347,708 6,090,127
2010 28,284,089 6,068,249
2009 27,466,101 6,048,279
2008 26,482,622 6,029,297
2007 25,909,852 6,009,824
2006 25,424,094 6,002,319
2005 24,404,567 6,005,578
2004 23,560,654 6,004,671
2003 22,733,049 5,998,599
2002 21,378,117 5,986,631
2001 20,284,307 5,968,060
2000 20,130,327 5,943,366
1999 19,887,785 5,913,900
1998 19,159,996 5,880,781
1997 18,452,091 5,844,578
1996 17,763,266 5,805,286
1995 17,065,836 5,762,131
1994 16,250,794 5,714,129
1993 14,943,172 5,659,957
1992 13,278,974 5,585,609
1991 12,238,879 5,495,077
1990 12,045,660 5,399,726
1989 11,874,088 5,298,979
1988 11,523,298 5,195,833
1987 11,387,818 5,092,441
1986 11,420,074 4,992,769
1985 11,426,852 4,894,706
1984 11,190,221 4,798,003
1983 10,917,982 4,707,367
1982 10,991,378 4,622,477
1981 11,937,581 4,570,599
1980 13,169,311 4,540,382
1979 13,655,567 4,480,388
1978 13,611,441 4,394,114
1977 13,340,756 4,301,256
1976 13,059,851 4,210,310
1975 12,773,954 4,120,449
1974 12,469,127 4,029,671
1973 12,157,999 3,938,068
1972 11,853,696 3,846,830
1971 11,567,667 3,757,523
1970 11,290,128 3,668,796
1969 11,017,409 3,576,485
1968 10,756,922 3,480,773
1967 10,505,959 3,385,184
1966 10,266,395 3,290,961
1965 10,036,008 3,199,466
1964 9,814,318 3,111,883
1963 9,604,487 3,028,679
1962 9,404,406 2,949,204
1961 9,214,083 2,870,016
1960 9,035,043 2,791,459

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/el-salvador | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while El Salvador gained 198,481 people (a 3.31% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while El Salvador's population increased by 198,993 people (a 3.21% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. El Salvador was ranked 103rd in 2006 and ranked 111th 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 El Salvador will increase by 4.38% to 6,679,973 people and rank change from 111th to 116th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 6.68M people in 2048 for El Salvador.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
El Salvador
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan El Salvador
2100 0.5% -0.86%
2099 0.51% -0.86%
2098 0.52% -0.86%
2097 0.51% -0.88%
2096 0.52% -0.88%
2095 0.56% -0.87%
2094 0.59% -0.86%
2093 0.59% -0.86%
2092 0.61% -0.85%
2091 0.7% -0.85%
2090 0.64% -0.84%
2089 0.66% -0.82%
2088 0.73% -0.82%
2087 0.63% -0.81%
2086 0.74% -0.8%
2085 0.83% -0.78%
2084 0.73% -0.75%
2083 0.75% -0.73%
2082 0.77% -0.71%
2081 0.91% -0.69%
2080 1.02% -0.67%
2079 0.88% -0.64%
2078 0.98% -0.61%
2077 0.97% -0.59%
2076 0.94% -0.55%
2075 1.06% -0.52%
2074 1.18% -0.53%
2073 1.14% -0.46%
2072 1.12% -0.45%
2071 1.28% -0.44%
2070 1.23% -0.42%
2069 1.31% -0.41%
2068 1.24% -0.38%
2067 1.28% -0.36%
2066 1.44% -0.36%
2065 1.46% -0.34%
2064 1.43% -0.31%
2063 1.46% -0.29%
2062 1.37% -0.26%
2061 1.45% -0.26%
2060 1.43% -0.23%
2059 1.55% -0.21%
2058 1.64% -0.21%
2057 1.68% -0.2%
2056 1.67% -0.18%
2055 1.69% -0.16%
2054 1.71% -0.12%
2053 1.72% -0.09%
2052 1.61% -0.09%
2051 1.7% -0.05%
2050 1.93% -0.05%
2049 1.86% -0.02%
2048 1.86% 0.003%
2047 1.98% 0.01%
2046 1.91% 0.03%
2045 1.92% 0.04%
2044 2.02% 0.08%
2043 1.96% 0.09%
2042 2.12% 0.12%
2041 2.27% 0.14%
2040 2.26% 0.15%
2039 2.18% 0.19%
2038 2.27% 0.19%
2037 2.3% 0.22%
2036 2.31% 0.24%
2035 2.35% 0.25%
2034 2.52% 0.29%
2033 2.55% 0.29%
2032 2.64% 0.31%
2031 2.7% 0.32%
2030 2.69% 0.36%
2029 2.6% 0.37%
2028 2.64% 0.39%
2027 2.74% 0.4%
2026 2.75% 0.41%
2025 2.87% 0.45%
2024 2.88% 0.45%
2023 2.16% 0.47%
2022 1.45% 0.39%
2021 2.38% 0.34%
2020 3.2% 0.2%
2019 3.03% 0.04%
2018 2.95% 0.1%
2017 2.85% 0.21%
2016 2.57% 0.28%
2015 3.17% 0.34%
2014 3.7% 0.39%
2013 3.48% 0.41%
2012 4.13% 0.39%
2011 3.76% 0.36%
2010 2.98% 0.33%
2009 3.71% 0.31%
2008 2.21% 0.32%
2007 1.91% 0.13%
2006 4.18% -0.05%
2005 3.58% 0.02%
2004 3.64% 0.1%
2003 6.34% 0.2%
2002 5.39% 0.31%
2001 0.76% 0.42%
2000 1.22% 0.5%
1999 3.8% 0.56%
1998 3.84% 0.62%
1997 3.88% 0.68%
1996 4.09% 0.75%
1995 5.02% 0.84%
1994 8.75% 0.96%
1993 12.5% 1.33%
1992 8.5% 1.65%
1991 1.6% 1.77%
1990 1.44% 1.9%
1989 3.04% 1.99%
1988 1.19% 2.03%
1987 -0.28% 2%
1986 -0.06% 2%
1985 2.11% 2.02%
1984 2.49% 1.93%
1983 -0.67% 1.84%
1982 -7.93% 1.14%
1981 -9.35% 0.67%
1980 -3.56% 1.34%
1979 0.32% 1.96%
1978 2.03% 2.16%
1977 2.15% 2.16%
1976 2.24% 2.18%
1975 2.44% 2.25%
1974 2.56% 2.33%
1973 2.57% 2.37%
1972 2.47% 2.38%
1971 2.46% 2.42%
1970 2.48% 2.58%
1969 2.42% 2.75%
1968 2.39% 2.82%
1967 2.33% 2.86%
1966 2.3% 2.86%
1965 2.26% 2.81%
1964 2.18% 2.75%
1963 2.13% 2.69%
1962 2.07% 2.76%
1961 1.98% 2.81%

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/el-salvador | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while El Salvador's population grew by 0.45%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan El Salvador
Current population
45409324
6399793
Population rank 36/197 111/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.08%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
18.4 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
5.29 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
11.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +78
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +28,569
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.45%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 140/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
22 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -23,934
Net migration rank 179/196 155/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 43,342
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 155/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 164/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
El Salvador
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan El Salvador
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -23,934
2024 - -44,089 - -23,102
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 51,985 -23,253
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 53,138 -23,255
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 46,530 -27,343
2020 1,134,407 143,634 48,244 -25,213
2019 1,138,485 9,159 56,816 -55,144
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 57,509 -54,163
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 59,824 -50,608
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 63,751 -47,491
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 69,263 -51,278
2014 1,053,788 233,913 72,581 -49,126
2013 1,033,778 18,119 73,869 -49,087
2012 1,004,814 68,628 75,495 -50,546
2011 966,743 384,486 76,182 -53,433
2010 943,473 -167,460 75,695 -54,688
2009 920,581 -60,602 74,908 -55,966
2008 891,246 215,753 75,107 -56,086
2007 889,848 -851,298 76,776 -56,857
2006 875,301 57,673 80,887 -85,789
2005 855,112 250,971 84,883 -86,501
2004 850,940 -269,194 90,905 -87,466
2003 826,165 247,317 97,849 -89,146
2002 776,048 860,349 106,137 -90,908
2001 764,090 -212,872 114,313 -92,389
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 122,315 -94,861
1999 760,727 -32,400 128,947 -97,475
1998 719,860 7,380 134,065 -99,293
1997 709,778 -21,215 134,448 -96,820
1996 685,005 4,072 136,929 -95,977
1995 653,280 52,505 138,268 -92,912
1994 609,096 315,206 137,974 -87,318
1993 541,257 1,149,684 138,432 -80,736
1992 440,132 1,197,329 139,221 -48,232
1991 409,954 32,782 140,691 -50,622
1990 402,433 -458,737 140,311 -39,689
1989 381,158 18,296 139,093 -38,211
1988 358,397 -56,263 136,230 -30,806
1987 314,361 -345,535 133,667 -32,308
1986 310,066 -343,397 130,177 -32,181
1985 228,469 -208,685 127,248 -29,111
1984 205,262 248,224 125,036 -29,767
1983 263,778 -172,797 121,700 -35,694
1982 263,210 -500,998 120,938 -37,159
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 117,346 -97,365
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 111,771 -71,318
1979 361,750 -525,413 123,838 -44,302
1978 369,101 -117,186 124,468 -31,463
1977 372,567 -83,115 121,446 -28,742
1976 357,775 -85,430 120,511 -31,317
1975 343,850 -44,418 116,737 -26,198
1974 330,232 -20,009 113,846 -22,844
1973 315,062 -3,030 111,546 -19,347
1972 300,633 -4,050 107,604 -17,317
1971 288,267 -12,801 104,714 -16,389
1970 275,129 4,458 100,499 -11,367
1969 263,823 2,029 99,848 -4,355
1968 251,798 3,333 98,851 -2,919
1967 239,967 6,824 98,424 -3,192
1966 228,786 3,563 97,156 -3,945
1965 217,741 10,695 95,341 -5,560
1964 207,867 7,079 93,328 -7,937
1963 198,035 6,681 90,794 -9,774
1962 188,427 7,016 88,237 -10,307
1961 179,094 6,109 84,614 -4,159
1960 170,257 2,606 81,544 -4,885

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/el-salvador | 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 El Salvador 58.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 579,641 people) and 41.2% is from migration (a loss of 406,874 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 43,342 people or 0.7% in El Salvador.

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
El Salvador
City Population
San Salvador 331K
Santa Ana 251K
San Miguel 233K
Soyapango 230K
Mejicanos 137K
Apopa 129K
Ahuachapan 127K
Santa Tecla 126K
Sonsonate 72.2K
Usulutan 66.1K

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/el-salvador | 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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