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Population in Afghanistan compared to the Gambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 2,759,988 people in the Gambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 2,902,554 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 15.6 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.5% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.9M (69.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Gambia
2100 131,803,615 5,767,668
2099 131,145,502 5,765,660
2098 130,482,225 5,762,971
2097 129,808,066 5,759,632
2096 129,147,895 5,755,430
2095 128,473,977 5,750,385
2094 127,761,785 5,744,540
2093 127,018,448 5,737,026
2092 126,270,202 5,728,594
2091 125,508,788 5,719,408
2090 124,636,092 5,708,875
2089 123,843,293 5,697,140
2088 123,034,495 5,684,094
2087 122,147,758 5,669,958
2086 121,381,088 5,655,091
2085 120,486,343 5,638,646
2084 119,491,780 5,621,067
2083 118,631,246 5,602,456
2082 117,742,446 5,582,581
2081 116,842,143 5,561,294
2080 115,793,841 5,538,819
2079 114,630,140 5,515,086
2078 113,624,958 5,489,750
2077 112,523,374 5,463,305
2076 111,442,221 5,435,859
2075 110,399,328 5,406,946
2074 109,236,338 5,376,718
2073 107,960,305 5,345,328
2072 106,746,984 5,313,201
2071 105,568,382 5,279,975
2070 104,230,485 5,245,200
2069 102,964,062 5,209,379
2068 101,629,164 5,172,146
2067 100,380,826 5,134,037
2066 99,116,663 5,094,458
2065 97,714,113 5,053,246
2064 96,306,602 5,011,122
2063 94,949,108 4,968,038
2062 93,579,065 4,923,683
2061 92,316,077 4,877,966
2060 91,000,643 4,831,631
2059 89,717,353 4,784,535
2058 88,346,732 4,736,846
2057 86,917,997 4,688,039
2056 85,480,219 4,638,482
2055 84,074,268 4,588,184
2054 82,676,432 4,536,562
2053 81,285,014 4,484,692
2052 79,908,081 4,431,827
2051 78,643,202 4,378,133
2050 77,331,830 4,323,657
2049 75,864,863 4,268,536
2048 74,479,782 4,212,677
2047 73,119,204 4,155,975
2046 71,697,214 4,098,930
2045 70,353,118 4,041,218
2044 69,024,959 3,982,976
2043 67,657,423 3,924,126
2042 66,357,363 3,864,662
2041 64,976,778 3,805,317
2040 63,535,531 3,745,312
2039 62,129,737 3,685,048
2038 60,803,646 3,624,271
2037 59,454,331 3,563,745
2036 58,114,874 3,502,991
2035 56,804,011 3,442,074
2034 55,502,408 3,381,008
2033 54,135,876 3,319,646
2032 52,791,273 3,258,080
2031 51,433,991 3,196,605
2030 50,079,746 3,134,968
2029 48,768,949 3,072,981
2028 47,533,470 3,010,624
2027 46,310,865 2,948,246
2026 45,075,045 2,885,613
2025 43,870,455 2,822,861
2024 42,647,492 2,759,988
2023 41,454,761 2,697,845
2022 40,578,842 2,636,470
2021 40,000,412 2,576,010
2020 39,068,979 2,515,733
2019 37,856,121 2,456,844
2018 36,743,039 2,399,632
2017 35,688,935 2,342,189
2016 34,700,612 2,283,769
2015 33,831,764 2,224,529
2014 32,792,523 2,164,528
2013 31,622,704 2,103,820
2012 30,560,034 2,043,094
2011 29,347,708 1,983,784
2010 28,284,089 1,926,630
2009 27,466,101 1,871,422
2008 26,482,622 1,817,852
2007 25,909,852 1,765,774
2006 25,424,094 1,715,275
2005 24,404,567 1,667,037
2004 23,560,654 1,621,312
2003 22,733,049 1,577,611
2002 21,378,117 1,535,691
2001 20,284,307 1,495,011
2000 20,130,327 1,455,084
1999 19,887,785 1,415,779
1998 19,159,996 1,376,987
1997 18,452,091 1,338,889
1996 17,763,266 1,301,410
1995 17,065,836 1,264,313
1994 16,250,794 1,227,226
1993 14,943,172 1,188,365
1992 13,278,974 1,145,582
1991 12,238,879 1,099,959
1990 12,045,660 1,054,696
1989 11,874,088 1,011,357
1988 11,523,298 970,160
1987 11,387,818 931,091
1986 11,420,074 894,019
1985 11,426,852 858,874
1984 11,190,221 825,631
1983 10,917,982 794,525
1982 10,991,378 765,753
1981 11,937,581 739,125
1980 13,169,311 713,913
1979 13,655,567 689,781
1978 13,611,441 667,103
1977 13,340,756 645,770
1976 13,059,851 625,667
1975 12,773,954 606,821
1974 12,469,127 589,085
1973 12,157,999 571,991
1972 11,853,696 555,370
1971 11,567,667 539,388
1970 11,290,128 524,105
1969 11,017,409 509,440
1968 10,756,922 495,269
1967 10,505,959 481,588
1966 10,266,395 468,516
1965 10,036,008 455,952
1964 9,814,318 443,687
1963 9,604,487 431,757
1962 9,404,406 420,163
1961 9,214,083 408,930
1960 9,035,043 398,060

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/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the Gambia's population increased by 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th 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 Gambia will increase by 49% to 4,323,657 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 5.77M people in 2100 for the Gambia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Gambia
2100 0.5% 0.03%
2099 0.51% 0.05%
2098 0.52% 0.06%
2097 0.51% 0.07%
2096 0.52% 0.09%
2095 0.56% 0.1%
2094 0.59% 0.13%
2093 0.59% 0.15%
2092 0.61% 0.16%
2091 0.7% 0.18%
2090 0.64% 0.21%
2089 0.66% 0.23%
2088 0.73% 0.25%
2087 0.63% 0.26%
2086 0.74% 0.29%
2085 0.83% 0.31%
2084 0.73% 0.33%
2083 0.75% 0.36%
2082 0.77% 0.38%
2081 0.91% 0.41%
2080 1.02% 0.43%
2079 0.88% 0.46%
2078 0.98% 0.48%
2077 0.97% 0.5%
2076 0.94% 0.53%
2075 1.06% 0.56%
2074 1.18% 0.59%
2073 1.14% 0.6%
2072 1.12% 0.63%
2071 1.28% 0.66%
2070 1.23% 0.69%
2069 1.31% 0.72%
2068 1.24% 0.74%
2067 1.28% 0.78%
2066 1.44% 0.82%
2065 1.46% 0.84%
2064 1.43% 0.87%
2063 1.46% 0.9%
2062 1.37% 0.94%
2061 1.45% 0.96%
2060 1.43% 0.98%
2059 1.55% 1.01%
2058 1.64% 1.04%
2057 1.68% 1.07%
2056 1.67% 1.1%
2055 1.69% 1.14%
2054 1.71% 1.16%
2053 1.72% 1.19%
2052 1.61% 1.23%
2051 1.7% 1.26%
2050 1.93% 1.29%
2049 1.86% 1.33%
2048 1.86% 1.36%
2047 1.98% 1.39%
2046 1.91% 1.43%
2045 1.92% 1.46%
2044 2.02% 1.5%
2043 1.96% 1.54%
2042 2.12% 1.56%
2041 2.27% 1.6%
2040 2.26% 1.64%
2039 2.18% 1.68%
2038 2.27% 1.7%
2037 2.3% 1.73%
2036 2.31% 1.77%
2035 2.35% 1.81%
2034 2.52% 1.85%
2033 2.55% 1.89%
2032 2.64% 1.92%
2031 2.7% 1.97%
2030 2.69% 2.02%
2029 2.6% 2.07%
2028 2.64% 2.12%
2027 2.74% 2.17%
2026 2.75% 2.22%
2025 2.87% 2.28%
2024 2.88% 2.3%
2023 2.16% 2.33%
2022 1.45% 2.35%
2021 2.38% 2.4%
2020 3.2% 2.4%
2019 3.03% 2.38%
2018 2.95% 2.45%
2017 2.85% 2.56%
2016 2.57% 2.66%
2015 3.17% 2.77%
2014 3.7% 2.89%
2013 3.48% 2.97%
2012 4.13% 2.99%
2011 3.76% 2.97%
2010 2.98% 2.95%
2009 3.71% 2.95%
2008 2.21% 2.95%
2007 1.91% 2.94%
2006 4.18% 2.89%
2005 3.58% 2.82%
2004 3.64% 2.77%
2003 6.34% 2.73%
2002 5.39% 2.72%
2001 0.76% 2.74%
2000 1.22% 2.78%
1999 3.8% 2.82%
1998 3.84% 2.85%
1997 3.88% 2.88%
1996 4.09% 2.93%
1995 5.02% 3.02%
1994 8.75% 3.27%
1993 12.5% 3.73%
1992 8.5% 4.15%
1991 1.6% 4.29%
1990 1.44% 4.29%
1989 3.04% 4.25%
1988 1.19% 4.2%
1987 -0.28% 4.15%
1986 -0.06% 4.09%
1985 2.11% 4.03%
1984 2.49% 3.92%
1983 -0.67% 3.76%
1982 -7.93% 3.6%
1981 -9.35% 3.53%
1980 -3.56% 3.5%
1979 0.32% 3.4%
1978 2.03% 3.3%
1977 2.15% 3.21%
1976 2.24% 3.11%
1975 2.44% 3.01%
1974 2.56% 2.99%
1973 2.57% 2.99%
1972 2.47% 2.96%
1971 2.46% 2.92%
1970 2.48% 2.88%
1969 2.42% 2.86%
1968 2.39% 2.84%
1967 2.33% 2.79%
1966 2.3% 2.76%
1965 2.26% 2.76%
1964 2.18% 2.76%
1963 2.13% 2.76%
1962 2.07% 2.75%
1961 1.98% 2.73%

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/gambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Gambia
Current population
45409324
2902554
Population rank 36/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.04%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
8.46 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
6.4 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
31 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +170
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +62,143
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 37/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.94 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -2,984
Net migration rank 179/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -2,984
2024 - -44,089 - -2,989
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 65,118 -3,000
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 63,634 -3,000
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 62,239 -1,949
2020 1,134,407 143,634 62,209 -1,949
2019 1,138,485 9,159 61,701 -4,186
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 60,854 -3,944
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 61,665 -3,696
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 62,358 -3,486
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 62,832 -3,224
2014 1,053,788 233,913 63,185 -2,793
2013 1,033,778 18,119 63,510 -2,476
2012 1,004,814 68,628 62,745 -2,332
2011 966,743 384,486 60,571 -2,360
2010 943,473 -167,460 58,554 -2,456
2009 920,581 -60,602 56,575 -2,259
2008 891,246 215,753 55,032 -2,204
2007 889,848 -851,298 53,653 -2,320
2006 875,301 57,673 52,335 -2,666
2005 855,112 250,971 50,010 -3,209
2004 850,940 -269,194 48,276 -3,636
2003 826,165 247,317 46,473 -3,713
2002 776,048 860,349 45,156 -4,067
2001 764,090 -212,872 44,154 -3,882
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 43,249 -3,670
1999 760,727 -32,400 42,533 -3,493
1998 719,860 7,380 41,842 -3,291
1997 709,778 -21,215 40,742 -3,098
1996 685,005 4,072 40,253 -2,948
1995 653,280 52,505 39,681 -2,797
1994 609,096 315,206 38,880 -1,586
1993 541,257 1,149,684 37,302 3,131
1992 440,132 1,197,329 35,951 9,182
1991 409,954 32,782 34,584 11,530
1990 402,433 -458,737 33,163 11,242
1989 381,158 18,296 31,504 10,765
1988 358,397 -56,263 29,938 10,187
1987 314,361 -345,535 28,452 9,563
1986 310,066 -343,397 27,195 8,934
1985 228,469 -208,685 25,795 8,373
1984 205,262 248,224 24,586 7,733
1983 263,778 -172,797 23,175 6,713
1982 263,210 -500,998 21,894 5,757
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 20,156 5,438
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 19,566 5,268
1979 361,750 -525,413 18,543 4,898
1978 369,101 -117,186 17,424 4,493
1977 372,567 -83,115 16,773 3,969
1976 357,775 -85,430 16,032 3,436
1975 343,850 -44,418 15,256 2,979
1974 330,232 -20,009 14,628 2,610
1973 315,062 -3,030 14,046 2,907
1972 300,633 -4,050 13,432 2,861
1971 288,267 -12,801 12,842 2,817
1970 275,129 4,458 12,128 2,777
1969 263,823 2,029 11,670 2,757
1968 251,798 3,333 11,215 2,705
1967 239,967 6,824 10,823 2,617
1966 228,786 3,563 10,422 2,272
1965 217,741 10,695 10,162 2,272
1964 207,867 7,079 9,825 2,272
1963 198,035 6,681 9,493 2,272
1962 188,427 7,016 9,150 2,272
1961 179,094 6,109 8,778 2,272
1960 170,257 2,606 8,420 2,272

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/gambia | 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 Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

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
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

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/gambia | 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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