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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 3,535,603 people in Eritrea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 3,700,586 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 12.3 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.28% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.7M (36.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Eritrea
2100 131,803,615 8,514,681
2099 131,145,502 8,489,924
2098 130,482,225 8,466,983
2097 129,808,066 8,444,468
2096 129,147,895 8,422,323
2095 128,473,977 8,396,086
2094 127,761,785 8,370,114
2093 127,018,448 8,344,405
2092 126,270,202 8,309,034
2091 125,508,788 8,278,860
2090 124,636,092 8,243,905
2089 123,843,293 8,209,883
2088 123,034,495 8,172,664
2087 122,147,758 8,136,016
2086 121,381,088 8,093,065
2085 120,486,343 8,046,814
2084 119,491,780 7,999,706
2083 118,631,246 7,956,385
2082 117,742,446 7,911,764
2081 116,842,143 7,871,753
2080 115,793,841 7,815,766
2079 114,630,140 7,765,677
2078 113,624,958 7,711,886
2077 112,523,374 7,656,307
2076 111,442,221 7,600,951
2075 110,399,328 7,538,912
2074 109,236,338 7,484,322
2073 107,960,305 7,420,571
2072 106,746,984 7,358,500
2071 105,568,382 7,296,109
2070 104,230,485 7,231,198
2069 102,964,062 7,164,883
2068 101,629,164 7,094,530
2067 100,380,826 7,026,000
2066 99,116,663 6,952,514
2065 97,714,113 6,884,323
2064 96,306,602 6,814,893
2063 94,949,108 6,733,263
2062 93,579,065 6,659,531
2061 92,316,077 6,580,923
2060 91,000,643 6,500,944
2059 89,717,353 6,422,305
2058 88,346,732 6,343,070
2057 86,917,997 6,265,450
2056 85,480,219 6,194,123
2055 84,074,268 6,114,099
2054 82,676,432 6,039,801
2053 81,285,014 5,957,339
2052 79,908,081 5,871,954
2051 78,643,202 5,791,096
2050 77,331,830 5,711,061
2049 75,864,863 5,632,165
2048 74,479,782 5,549,890
2047 73,119,204 5,468,518
2046 71,697,214 5,387,267
2045 70,353,118 5,300,511
2044 69,024,959 5,215,831
2043 67,657,423 5,131,686
2042 66,357,363 5,044,262
2041 64,976,778 4,960,422
2040 63,535,531 4,870,981
2039 62,129,737 4,782,316
2038 60,803,646 4,693,015
2037 59,454,331 4,599,752
2036 58,114,874 4,506,879
2035 56,804,011 4,420,367
2034 55,502,408 4,332,828
2033 54,135,876 4,248,272
2032 52,791,273 4,165,241
2031 51,433,991 4,083,762
2030 50,079,746 3,998,903
2029 48,768,949 3,917,775
2028 47,533,470 3,836,693
2027 46,310,865 3,756,696
2026 45,075,045 3,679,782
2025 43,870,455 3,603,902
2024 42,647,492 3,535,603
2023 41,454,761 3,470,390
2022 40,578,842 3,409,447
2021 40,000,412 3,350,183
2020 39,068,979 3,291,271
2019 37,856,121 3,240,194
2018 36,743,039 3,192,760
2017 35,688,935 3,150,347
2016 34,700,612 3,124,698
2015 33,831,764 3,105,546
2014 32,792,523 3,095,173
2013 31,622,704 3,074,360
2012 30,560,034 3,036,988
2011 29,347,708 2,998,485
2010 28,284,089 2,945,186
2009 27,466,101 2,887,885
2008 26,482,622 2,816,327
2007 25,909,852 2,743,222
2006 25,424,094 2,703,502
2005 24,404,567 2,661,215
2004 23,560,654 2,598,284
2003 22,733,049 2,493,903
2002 21,378,117 2,392,978
2001 20,284,307 2,312,079
2000 20,130,327 2,247,031
1999 19,887,785 2,212,780
1998 19,159,996 2,180,419
1997 18,452,091 2,152,135
1996 17,763,266 2,128,464
1995 17,065,836 2,025,267
1994 16,250,794 1,913,915
1993 14,943,172 1,856,006
1992 13,278,974 1,798,748
1991 12,238,879 1,919,571
1990 12,045,660 2,032,737
1989 11,874,088 1,987,017
1988 11,523,298 1,938,255
1987 11,387,818 1,888,669
1986 11,420,074 1,845,164
1985 11,426,852 1,807,816
1984 11,190,221 1,771,730
1983 10,917,982 1,736,160
1982 10,991,378 1,695,461
1981 11,937,581 1,649,939
1980 13,169,311 1,605,797
1979 13,655,567 1,563,332
1978 13,611,441 1,522,378
1977 13,340,756 1,482,565
1976 13,059,851 1,443,807
1975 12,773,954 1,408,210
1974 12,469,127 1,375,688
1973 12,157,999 1,342,669
1972 11,853,696 1,309,235
1971 11,567,667 1,276,154
1970 11,290,128 1,243,453
1969 11,017,409 1,212,005
1968 10,756,922 1,181,737
1967 10,505,959 1,152,339
1966 10,266,395 1,124,957
1965 10,036,008 1,098,335
1964 9,814,318 1,071,287
1963 9,604,487 1,045,092
1962 9,404,406 1,019,788
1961 9,214,083 995,573
1960 9,035,043 972,547

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/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Eritrea's population increased by 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of Eritrea will increase by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people and rank change from 130th to 123rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 8.51M people in 2100 for Eritrea.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Eritrea
2100 0.5% 0.29%
2099 0.51% 0.27%
2098 0.52% 0.27%
2097 0.51% 0.26%
2096 0.52% 0.31%
2095 0.56% 0.31%
2094 0.59% 0.31%
2093 0.59% 0.43%
2092 0.61% 0.36%
2091 0.7% 0.42%
2090 0.64% 0.41%
2089 0.66% 0.46%
2088 0.73% 0.45%
2087 0.63% 0.53%
2086 0.74% 0.57%
2085 0.83% 0.59%
2084 0.73% 0.54%
2083 0.75% 0.56%
2082 0.77% 0.51%
2081 0.91% 0.72%
2080 1.02% 0.65%
2079 0.88% 0.7%
2078 0.98% 0.73%
2077 0.97% 0.73%
2076 0.94% 0.82%
2075 1.06% 0.73%
2074 1.18% 0.86%
2073 1.14% 0.84%
2072 1.12% 0.86%
2071 1.28% 0.9%
2070 1.23% 0.93%
2069 1.31% 0.99%
2068 1.24% 0.98%
2067 1.28% 1.06%
2066 1.44% 0.99%
2065 1.46% 1.02%
2064 1.43% 1.21%
2063 1.46% 1.11%
2062 1.37% 1.19%
2061 1.45% 1.23%
2060 1.43% 1.22%
2059 1.55% 1.25%
2058 1.64% 1.24%
2057 1.68% 1.15%
2056 1.67% 1.31%
2055 1.69% 1.23%
2054 1.71% 1.38%
2053 1.72% 1.45%
2052 1.61% 1.4%
2051 1.7% 1.4%
2050 1.93% 1.4%
2049 1.86% 1.48%
2048 1.86% 1.49%
2047 1.98% 1.51%
2046 1.91% 1.64%
2045 1.92% 1.62%
2044 2.02% 1.64%
2043 1.96% 1.73%
2042 2.12% 1.69%
2041 2.27% 1.84%
2040 2.26% 1.85%
2039 2.18% 1.9%
2038 2.27% 2.03%
2037 2.3% 2.06%
2036 2.31% 1.96%
2035 2.35% 2.02%
2034 2.52% 1.99%
2033 2.55% 1.99%
2032 2.64% 2%
2031 2.7% 2.12%
2030 2.69% 2.07%
2029 2.6% 2.11%
2028 2.64% 2.13%
2027 2.74% 2.09%
2026 2.75% 2.11%
2025 2.87% 1.93%
2024 2.88% 1.88%
2023 2.16% 1.79%
2022 1.45% 1.77%
2021 2.38% 1.79%
2020 3.2% 1.58%
2019 3.03% 1.49%
2018 2.95% 1.35%
2017 2.85% 0.82%
2016 2.57% 0.62%
2015 3.17% 0.34%
2014 3.7% 0.68%
2013 3.48% 1.23%
2012 4.13% 1.28%
2011 3.76% 1.81%
2010 2.98% 1.98%
2009 3.71% 2.54%
2008 2.21% 2.66%
2007 1.91% 1.47%
2006 4.18% 1.59%
2005 3.58% 2.42%
2004 3.64% 4.19%
2003 6.34% 4.22%
2002 5.39% 3.5%
2001 0.76% 2.89%
2000 1.22% 1.55%
1999 3.8% 1.48%
1998 3.84% 1.31%
1997 3.88% 1.11%
1996 4.09% 5.1%
1995 5.02% 5.82%
1994 8.75% 3.12%
1993 12.5% 3.18%
1992 8.5% -6.29%
1991 1.6% -5.57%
1990 1.44% 2.3%
1989 3.04% 2.52%
1988 1.19% 2.63%
1987 -0.28% 2.36%
1986 -0.06% 2.07%
1985 2.11% 2.04%
1984 2.49% 2.05%
1983 -0.67% 2.4%
1982 -7.93% 2.76%
1981 -9.35% 2.75%
1980 -3.56% 2.72%
1979 0.32% 2.69%
1978 2.03% 2.69%
1977 2.15% 2.68%
1976 2.24% 2.53%
1975 2.44% 2.36%
1974 2.56% 2.46%
1973 2.57% 2.55%
1972 2.47% 2.59%
1971 2.46% 2.63%
1970 2.48% 2.59%
1969 2.42% 2.56%
1968 2.39% 2.55%
1967 2.33% 2.43%
1966 2.3% 2.42%
1965 2.26% 2.52%
1964 2.18% 2.51%
1963 2.13% 2.48%
1962 2.07% 2.43%
1961 1.98% 2.37%

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/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Eritrea's population grew by 1.88%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Eritrea
Current population
45409324
3700586
Population rank 36/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.04%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
8.06 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
5.31 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +179
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +65,213
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.88%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 58/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.31 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -6,698
Net migration rank 179/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -6,698
2024 - -44,089 - -12,696
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 78,073 -15,284
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 76,221 -17,134
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 74,394 -14,966
2020 1,134,407 143,634 73,362 -14,967
2019 1,138,485 9,159 73,572 -29,818
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 72,511 -21,403
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 72,291 -38,579
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 73,002 -55,431
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 73,682 -52,965
2014 1,053,788 233,913 75,729 -75,696
2013 1,033,778 18,119 75,562 -33,974
2012 1,004,814 68,628 76,416 -43,269
2011 966,743 384,486 76,806 -32,949
2010 943,473 -167,460 76,098 -13,361
2009 920,581 -60,602 76,206 -24,348
2008 891,246 215,753 73,391 17,855
2007 889,848 -851,298 73,101 -18,131
2006 875,301 57,673 74,470 -49,998
2005 855,112 250,971 72,930 -12,835
2004 850,940 -269,194 72,147 -6,374
2003 826,165 247,317 66,291 76,703
2002 776,048 860,349 65,436 -6,574
2001 764,090 -212,872 61,180 41,760
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 60,274 -33,133
1999 760,727 -32,400 45,120 -3,769
1998 719,860 7,380 55,332 -31,951
1997 709,778 -21,215 63,953 -30,768
1996 685,005 4,072 66,557 -52,421
1995 653,280 52,505 56,157 136,105
1994 609,096 315,206 56,288 -25,841
1993 541,257 1,149,684 51,679 33,688
1992 440,132 1,197,329 51,443 -22,293
1991 409,954 32,782 57,741 -328,546
1990 402,433 -458,737 56,903 -12,425
1989 381,158 18,296 54,299 -7,330
1988 358,397 -56,263 54,163 -3,612
1987 314,361 -345,535 52,229 -3,613
1986 310,066 -343,397 39,470 -1,073
1985 228,469 -208,685 37,362 -1,073
1984 205,262 248,224 35,101 772
1983 263,778 -172,797 33,420 1,853
1982 263,210 -500,998 44,146 1,985
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 42,924 1,985
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 41,392 1,985
1979 361,750 -525,413 39,577 1,985
1978 369,101 -117,186 38,353 1,985
1977 372,567 -83,115 37,295 1,985
1976 357,775 -85,430 36,250 1,985
1975 343,850 -44,418 30,971 1,985
1974 330,232 -20,009 30,111 1,985
1973 315,062 -3,030 31,969 1,985
1972 300,633 -4,050 30,951 1,953
1971 288,267 -12,801 31,490 1,758
1970 275,129 4,458 30,686 1,480
1969 263,823 2,029 29,535 1,199
1968 251,798 3,333 28,777 1,013
1967 239,967 6,824 27,992 1,004
1966 228,786 3,563 24,713 1,063
1965 217,741 10,695 26,285 1,188
1964 207,867 7,079 25,327 1,300
1963 198,035 6,681 24,393 1,368
1962 188,427 7,016 23,478 1,364
1961 179,094 6,109 22,351 1,235
1960 170,257 2,606 21,424 1,045

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 68.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

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
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

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/eritrea | 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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