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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 132,059,767 people in Ethiopia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 139,917,664 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 3.08 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 2.24% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.71% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 140M (73.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Ethiopia
2100 131,803,615 371,192,732
2099 131,145,502 369,452,188
2098 130,482,225 367,626,914
2097 129,808,066 365,680,268
2096 129,147,895 363,648,440
2095 128,473,977 361,707,589
2094 127,761,785 359,642,227
2093 127,018,448 357,570,752
2092 126,270,202 355,499,462
2091 125,508,788 353,327,595
2090 124,636,092 351,068,287
2089 123,843,293 348,859,203
2088 123,034,495 346,624,222
2087 122,147,758 344,268,493
2086 121,381,088 341,777,395
2085 120,486,343 339,272,558
2084 119,491,780 336,753,372
2083 118,631,246 334,186,307
2082 117,742,446 331,503,693
2081 116,842,143 328,816,892
2080 115,793,841 326,114,551
2079 114,630,140 323,382,593
2078 113,624,958 320,521,381
2077 112,523,374 317,590,857
2076 111,442,221 314,615,353
2075 110,399,328 311,583,813
2074 109,236,338 308,511,275
2073 107,960,305 305,477,711
2072 106,746,984 302,351,806
2071 105,568,382 299,211,554
2070 104,230,485 296,054,535
2069 102,964,062 292,847,034
2068 101,629,164 289,612,061
2067 100,380,826 286,279,975
2066 99,116,663 282,992,981
2065 97,714,113 279,662,528
2064 96,306,602 276,283,161
2063 94,949,108 272,866,834
2062 93,579,065 269,424,014
2061 92,316,077 265,885,347
2060 91,000,643 262,350,260
2059 89,717,353 258,772,570
2058 88,346,732 255,284,371
2057 86,917,997 251,733,988
2056 85,480,219 248,079,002
2055 84,074,268 244,501,471
2054 82,676,432 240,868,686
2053 81,285,014 237,228,269
2052 79,908,081 233,551,340
2051 78,643,202 229,804,463
2050 77,331,830 226,124,819
2049 75,864,863 222,420,063
2048 74,479,782 218,694,640
2047 73,119,204 214,950,242
2046 71,697,214 211,226,920
2045 70,353,118 207,525,986
2044 69,024,959 203,812,674
2043 67,657,423 200,097,321
2042 66,357,363 196,411,774
2041 64,976,778 192,749,114
2040 63,535,531 189,081,695
2039 62,129,737 185,422,958
2038 60,803,646 181,789,129
2037 59,454,331 178,179,942
2036 58,114,874 174,569,201
2035 56,804,011 170,957,061
2034 55,502,408 167,367,920
2033 54,135,876 163,813,895
2032 52,791,273 160,216,774
2031 51,433,991 156,638,324
2030 50,079,746 153,070,380
2029 48,768,949 149,507,684
2028 47,533,470 145,989,372
2027 46,310,865 142,463,827
2026 45,075,045 138,973,582
2025 43,870,455 135,513,842
2024 42,647,492 132,059,767
2023 41,454,761 128,691,692
2022 40,578,842 125,384,287
2021 40,000,412 122,138,588
2020 39,068,979 118,917,671
2019 37,856,121 115,737,383
2018 36,743,039 112,664,152
2017 35,688,935 109,666,481
2016 34,700,612 106,718,162
2015 33,831,764 103,867,135
2014 32,792,523 101,115,610
2013 31,622,704 98,438,751
2012 30,560,034 95,798,767
2011 29,347,708 93,149,970
2010 28,284,089 90,538,514
2009 27,466,101 88,007,636
2008 26,482,622 85,543,668
2007 25,909,852 83,103,217
2006 25,424,094 80,703,490
2005 24,404,567 78,367,470
2004 23,560,654 76,077,206
2003 22,733,049 73,832,663
2002 21,378,117 71,635,517
2001 20,284,307 69,487,762
2000 20,130,327 67,411,494
1999 19,887,785 65,374,561
1998 19,159,996 63,363,524
1997 18,452,091 61,404,539
1996 17,763,266 59,467,635
1995 17,065,836 57,537,335
1994 16,250,794 55,611,508
1993 14,943,172 53,708,891
1992 13,278,974 51,853,747
1991 12,238,879 49,717,198
1990 12,045,660 47,609,755
1989 11,874,088 45,879,690
1988 11,523,298 44,150,825
1987 11,387,818 42,460,039
1986 11,420,074 41,037,656
1985 11,426,852 39,842,136
1984 11,190,221 38,735,722
1983 10,917,982 37,740,817
1982 10,991,378 36,701,290
1981 11,937,581 35,304,012
1980 13,169,311 34,428,514
1979 13,655,567 34,238,652
1978 13,611,441 33,734,592
1977 13,340,756 33,167,272
1976 13,059,851 32,534,418
1975 12,773,954 31,723,252
1974 12,469,127 30,957,273
1973 12,157,999 30,166,785
1972 11,853,696 29,374,608
1971 11,567,667 28,600,106
1970 11,290,128 27,829,128
1969 11,017,409 27,072,571
1968 10,756,922 26,337,930
1967 10,505,959 25,620,276
1966 10,266,395 24,952,689
1965 10,036,008 24,310,612
1964 9,814,318 23,666,548
1963 9,604,487 23,051,637
1962 9,404,406 22,465,126
1961 9,214,083 21,906,102
1960 9,035,043 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Ethiopia
2100 0.5% 0.47%
2099 0.51% 0.5%
2098 0.52% 0.53%
2097 0.51% 0.56%
2096 0.52% 0.54%
2095 0.56% 0.57%
2094 0.59% 0.58%
2093 0.59% 0.58%
2092 0.61% 0.61%
2091 0.7% 0.64%
2090 0.64% 0.63%
2089 0.66% 0.64%
2088 0.73% 0.68%
2087 0.63% 0.73%
2086 0.74% 0.74%
2085 0.83% 0.75%
2084 0.73% 0.77%
2083 0.75% 0.81%
2082 0.77% 0.82%
2081 0.91% 0.83%
2080 1.02% 0.84%
2079 0.88% 0.89%
2078 0.98% 0.92%
2077 0.97% 0.95%
2076 0.94% 0.97%
2075 1.06% 1%
2074 1.18% 0.99%
2073 1.14% 1.03%
2072 1.12% 1.05%
2071 1.28% 1.07%
2070 1.23% 1.1%
2069 1.31% 1.12%
2068 1.24% 1.16%
2067 1.28% 1.16%
2066 1.44% 1.19%
2065 1.46% 1.22%
2064 1.43% 1.25%
2063 1.46% 1.28%
2062 1.37% 1.33%
2061 1.45% 1.35%
2060 1.43% 1.38%
2059 1.55% 1.37%
2058 1.64% 1.41%
2057 1.68% 1.47%
2056 1.67% 1.46%
2055 1.69% 1.51%
2054 1.71% 1.53%
2053 1.72% 1.57%
2052 1.61% 1.63%
2051 1.7% 1.63%
2050 1.93% 1.67%
2049 1.86% 1.7%
2048 1.86% 1.74%
2047 1.98% 1.76%
2046 1.91% 1.78%
2045 1.92% 1.82%
2044 2.02% 1.86%
2043 1.96% 1.88%
2042 2.12% 1.9%
2041 2.27% 1.94%
2040 2.26% 1.97%
2039 2.18% 2%
2038 2.27% 2.03%
2037 2.3% 2.07%
2036 2.31% 2.11%
2035 2.35% 2.14%
2034 2.52% 2.17%
2033 2.55% 2.25%
2032 2.64% 2.28%
2031 2.7% 2.33%
2030 2.69% 2.38%
2029 2.6% 2.41%
2028 2.64% 2.47%
2027 2.74% 2.51%
2026 2.75% 2.55%
2025 2.87% 2.62%
2024 2.88% 2.62%
2023 2.16% 2.64%
2022 1.45% 2.66%
2021 2.38% 2.71%
2020 3.2% 2.75%
2019 3.03% 2.73%
2018 2.95% 2.73%
2017 2.85% 2.76%
2016 2.57% 2.74%
2015 3.17% 2.72%
2014 3.7% 2.72%
2013 3.48% 2.76%
2012 4.13% 2.84%
2011 3.76% 2.88%
2010 2.98% 2.88%
2009 3.71% 2.88%
2008 2.21% 2.94%
2007 1.91% 2.97%
2006 4.18% 2.98%
2005 3.58% 3.01%
2004 3.64% 3.04%
2003 6.34% 3.07%
2002 5.39% 3.09%
2001 0.76% 3.08%
2000 1.22% 3.12%
1999 3.8% 3.17%
1998 3.84% 3.19%
1997 3.88% 3.26%
1996 4.09% 3.35%
1995 5.02% 3.46%
1994 8.75% 3.54%
1993 12.5% 3.58%
1992 8.5% 4.3%
1991 1.6% 4.43%
1990 1.44% 3.77%
1989 3.04% 3.92%
1988 1.19% 3.98%
1987 -0.28% 3.47%
1986 -0.06% 3%
1985 2.11% 2.86%
1984 2.49% 2.64%
1983 -0.67% 2.83%
1982 -7.93% 3.96%
1981 -9.35% 2.54%
1980 -3.56% 0.55%
1979 0.32% 1.49%
1978 2.03% 1.71%
1977 2.15% 1.95%
1976 2.24% 2.56%
1975 2.44% 2.47%
1974 2.56% 2.62%
1973 2.57% 2.7%
1972 2.47% 2.71%
1971 2.46% 2.77%
1970 2.48% 2.79%
1969 2.42% 2.79%
1968 2.39% 2.8%
1967 2.33% 2.68%
1966 2.3% 2.64%
1965 2.26% 2.72%
1964 2.18% 2.67%
1963 2.13% 2.61%
1962 2.07% 2.55%
1961 1.98% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.62%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Ethiopia
Current population
45409324
139917664
Population rank 36/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.69%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
9.36 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
7.68 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
41.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +9,228
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +3,368,075
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.62%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 25/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +24,054
Net migration rank 179/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 24,054
2024 - -44,089 - 30,069
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 1,134,407 143,634 3,199,718 38,866
2019 1,138,485 9,159 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 3,015,231 9,302
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 2,899,143 71,766
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 2,809,889 115,823
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 2,713,529 62,785
2014 1,053,788 233,913 2,623,647 103,122
2013 1,033,778 18,119 2,546,020 80,955
2012 1,004,814 68,628 2,533,398 119,517
2011 966,743 384,486 2,527,811 116,793
2010 943,473 -167,460 2,498,048 80,213
2009 920,581 -60,602 2,467,118 16,315
2008 891,246 215,753 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 889,848 -851,298 2,436,753 -381
2006 875,301 57,673 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 855,112 250,971 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 850,940 -269,194 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 826,165 247,317 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 776,048 860,349 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 764,090 -212,872 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 760,727 -32,400 2,010,987 29,142
1998 719,860 7,380 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 709,778 -21,215 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 685,005 4,072 1,896,364 41,456
1995 653,280 52,505 1,831,068 91,727
1994 609,096 315,206 1,788,133 140,715
1993 541,257 1,149,684 1,734,851 141,545
1992 440,132 1,197,329 1,673,839 160,106
1991 409,954 32,782 1,579,416 859,737
1990 402,433 -458,737 1,479,663 296,014
1989 381,158 18,296 1,441,769 242,614
1988 358,397 -56,263 1,393,356 379,966
1987 314,361 -345,535 1,356,853 251,387
1986 310,066 -343,397 1,050,277 186,227
1985 228,469 -208,685 997,050 157,476
1984 205,262 248,224 920,670 137,632
1983 263,778 -172,797 863,472 68,022
1982 263,210 -500,998 1,080,853 66,702
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 1,018,838 628,135
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 361,750 -525,413 987,203 -711,455
1978 369,101 -117,186 943,388 -210,991
1977 372,567 -83,115 929,381 -527,133
1976 357,775 -85,430 899,577 -36,125
1975 343,850 -44,418 801,425 -42,540
1974 330,232 -20,009 777,306 -4,232
1973 315,062 -3,030 807,535 347
1972 300,633 -4,050 779,808 -3,375
1971 288,267 -12,801 787,047 -14,510
1970 275,129 4,458 760,821 8,589
1969 263,823 2,029 736,428 7,258
1968 251,798 3,333 715,602 9,992
1967 239,967 6,824 695,283 14,437
1966 228,786 3,563 616,281 9,160
1965 217,741 10,695 642,359 16,348
1964 207,867 7,079 618,667 10,749
1963 198,035 6,681 590,998 9,418
1962 188,427 7,016 563,650 8,960
1961 179,094 6,109 538,518 6,938
1960 170,257 2,606 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | 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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