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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 34,427,414 people in Ghana in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 35,885,254 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.27 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Ghana is the 46th.
  • The countries together account for 0.98% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.43% for Ghana.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.1% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 35.9M (55.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Ghana
2100 131,803,615 68,131,252
2099 131,145,502 68,021,644
2098 130,482,225 67,902,002
2097 129,808,066 67,772,694
2096 129,147,895 67,638,801
2095 128,473,977 67,494,855
2094 127,761,785 67,339,471
2093 127,018,448 67,176,337
2092 126,270,202 67,005,259
2091 125,508,788 66,817,473
2090 124,636,092 66,618,611
2089 123,843,293 66,408,323
2088 123,034,495 66,186,701
2087 122,147,758 65,950,524
2086 121,381,088 65,712,980
2085 120,486,343 65,464,770
2084 119,491,780 65,209,090
2083 118,631,246 64,935,455
2082 117,742,446 64,651,183
2081 116,842,143 64,355,091
2080 115,793,841 64,047,069
2079 114,630,140 63,730,285
2078 113,624,958 63,397,338
2077 112,523,374 63,059,578
2076 111,442,221 62,711,928
2075 110,399,328 62,350,445
2074 109,236,338 61,987,133
2073 107,960,305 61,616,792
2072 106,746,984 61,239,369
2071 105,568,382 60,847,204
2070 104,230,485 60,454,501
2069 102,964,062 60,053,700
2068 101,629,164 59,639,035
2067 100,380,826 59,215,226
2066 99,116,663 58,786,613
2065 97,714,113 58,353,059
2064 96,306,602 57,904,896
2063 94,949,108 57,451,482
2062 93,579,065 56,986,329
2061 92,316,077 56,511,652
2060 91,000,643 56,031,122
2059 89,717,353 55,540,726
2058 88,346,732 55,042,478
2057 86,917,997 54,535,407
2056 85,480,219 54,018,018
2055 84,074,268 53,492,136
2054 82,676,432 52,959,604
2053 81,285,014 52,417,582
2052 79,908,081 51,869,801
2051 78,643,202 51,311,110
2050 77,331,830 50,740,453
2049 75,864,863 50,163,262
2048 74,479,782 49,577,819
2047 73,119,204 48,982,219
2046 71,697,214 48,383,052
2045 70,353,118 47,776,375
2044 69,024,959 47,163,926
2043 67,657,423 46,548,210
2042 66,357,363 45,925,724
2041 64,976,778 45,300,725
2040 63,535,531 44,669,515
2039 62,129,737 44,038,043
2038 60,803,646 43,402,009
2037 59,454,331 42,760,604
2036 58,114,874 42,120,700
2035 56,804,011 41,478,927
2034 55,502,408 40,831,962
2033 54,135,876 40,184,070
2032 52,791,273 39,540,131
2031 51,433,991 38,900,194
2030 50,079,746 38,258,832
2029 48,768,949 37,623,609
2028 47,533,470 36,986,250
2027 46,310,865 36,349,705
2026 45,075,045 35,713,042
2025 43,870,455 35,071,292
2024 42,647,492 34,427,414
2023 41,454,761 33,787,914
2022 40,578,842 33,149,152
2021 40,000,412 32,518,665
2020 39,068,979 31,887,809
2019 37,856,121 31,258,945
2018 36,743,039 30,637,585
2017 35,688,935 30,008,354
2016 34,700,612 29,356,742
2015 33,831,764 28,696,068
2014 32,792,523 28,041,592
2013 31,622,704 27,386,193
2012 30,560,034 26,734,268
2011 29,347,708 26,095,088
2010 28,284,089 25,474,995
2009 27,466,101 24,862,664
2008 26,482,622 24,249,946
2007 25,909,852 23,642,279
2006 25,424,094 23,040,702
2005 24,404,567 22,449,438
2004 23,560,654 21,868,298
2003 22,733,049 21,296,705
2002 21,378,117 20,729,388
2001 20,284,307 20,167,069
2000 20,130,327 19,637,087
1999 19,887,785 19,149,864
1998 19,159,996 18,688,036
1997 18,452,091 18,238,958
1996 17,763,266 17,810,181
1995 17,065,836 17,399,017
1994 16,250,794 16,993,190
1993 14,943,172 16,589,519
1992 13,278,974 16,184,855
1991 12,238,879 15,787,496
1990 12,045,660 15,394,648
1989 11,874,088 15,006,813
1988 11,523,298 14,636,568
1987 11,387,818 14,289,108
1986 11,420,074 13,965,217
1985 11,426,852 13,661,229
1984 11,190,221 13,370,590
1983 10,917,982 13,029,836
1982 10,991,378 12,643,819
1981 11,937,581 12,281,712
1980 13,169,311 11,941,448
1979 13,655,567 11,597,255
1978 13,611,441 11,248,450
1977 13,340,756 10,911,871
1976 13,059,851 10,594,913
1975 12,773,954 10,294,308
1974 12,469,127 10,000,523
1973 12,157,999 9,714,617
1972 11,853,696 9,438,187
1971 11,567,667 9,176,264
1970 11,290,128 8,925,813
1969 11,017,409 8,690,383
1968 10,756,922 8,475,729
1967 10,505,959 8,271,913
1966 10,266,395 8,074,521
1965 10,036,008 7,882,606
1964 9,814,318 7,695,739
1963 9,604,487 7,514,714
1962 9,404,406 7,337,375
1961 9,214,083 7,162,667
1960 9,035,043 6,961,215

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/ghana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Ghana gained 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Ghana was ranked 48th in 2006 and ranked 46th 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 Ghana will increase by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people and rank change from 46th to 42nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 68.1M people in 2100 for Ghana.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Ghana
2100 0.5% 0.16%
2099 0.51% 0.18%
2098 0.52% 0.19%
2097 0.51% 0.2%
2096 0.52% 0.21%
2095 0.56% 0.23%
2094 0.59% 0.24%
2093 0.59% 0.26%
2092 0.61% 0.28%
2091 0.7% 0.3%
2090 0.64% 0.32%
2089 0.66% 0.33%
2088 0.73% 0.36%
2087 0.63% 0.36%
2086 0.74% 0.38%
2085 0.83% 0.39%
2084 0.73% 0.42%
2083 0.75% 0.44%
2082 0.77% 0.46%
2081 0.91% 0.48%
2080 1.02% 0.5%
2079 0.88% 0.53%
2078 0.98% 0.54%
2077 0.97% 0.55%
2076 0.94% 0.58%
2075 1.06% 0.59%
2074 1.18% 0.6%
2073 1.14% 0.62%
2072 1.12% 0.64%
2071 1.28% 0.65%
2070 1.23% 0.67%
2069 1.31% 0.7%
2068 1.24% 0.72%
2067 1.28% 0.73%
2066 1.44% 0.74%
2065 1.46% 0.77%
2064 1.43% 0.79%
2063 1.46% 0.82%
2062 1.37% 0.84%
2061 1.45% 0.86%
2060 1.43% 0.88%
2059 1.55% 0.91%
2058 1.64% 0.93%
2057 1.68% 0.96%
2056 1.67% 0.98%
2055 1.69% 1.01%
2054 1.71% 1.03%
2053 1.72% 1.06%
2052 1.61% 1.09%
2051 1.7% 1.12%
2050 1.93% 1.15%
2049 1.86% 1.18%
2048 1.86% 1.22%
2047 1.98% 1.24%
2046 1.91% 1.27%
2045 1.92% 1.3%
2044 2.02% 1.32%
2043 1.96% 1.36%
2042 2.12% 1.38%
2041 2.27% 1.41%
2040 2.26% 1.43%
2039 2.18% 1.47%
2038 2.27% 1.5%
2037 2.3% 1.52%
2036 2.31% 1.55%
2035 2.35% 1.58%
2034 2.52% 1.61%
2033 2.55% 1.63%
2032 2.64% 1.65%
2031 2.7% 1.68%
2030 2.69% 1.69%
2029 2.6% 1.72%
2028 2.64% 1.75%
2027 2.74% 1.78%
2026 2.75% 1.83%
2025 2.87% 1.87%
2024 2.88% 1.89%
2023 2.16% 1.93%
2022 1.45% 1.94%
2021 2.38% 1.98%
2020 3.2% 2.01%
2019 3.03% 2.03%
2018 2.95% 2.1%
2017 2.85% 2.22%
2016 2.57% 2.3%
2015 3.17% 2.33%
2014 3.7% 2.39%
2013 3.48% 2.44%
2012 4.13% 2.45%
2011 3.76% 2.43%
2010 2.98% 2.46%
2009 3.71% 2.53%
2008 2.21% 2.57%
2007 1.91% 2.61%
2006 4.18% 2.63%
2005 3.58% 2.66%
2004 3.64% 2.68%
2003 6.34% 2.74%
2002 5.39% 2.79%
2001 0.76% 2.7%
2000 1.22% 2.54%
1999 3.8% 2.47%
1998 3.84% 2.46%
1997 3.88% 2.41%
1996 4.09% 2.36%
1995 5.02% 2.39%
1994 8.75% 2.43%
1993 12.5% 2.5%
1992 8.5% 2.52%
1991 1.6% 2.55%
1990 1.44% 2.58%
1989 3.04% 2.53%
1988 1.19% 2.43%
1987 -0.28% 2.32%
1986 -0.06% 2.23%
1985 2.11% 2.17%
1984 2.49% 2.62%
1983 -0.67% 3.05%
1982 -7.93% 2.95%
1981 -9.35% 2.85%
1980 -3.56% 2.97%
1979 0.32% 3.1%
1978 2.03% 3.08%
1977 2.15% 2.99%
1976 2.24% 2.92%
1975 2.44% 2.94%
1974 2.56% 2.94%
1973 2.57% 2.93%
1972 2.47% 2.85%
1971 2.46% 2.81%
1970 2.48% 2.71%
1969 2.42% 2.53%
1968 2.39% 2.46%
1967 2.33% 2.44%
1966 2.3% 2.43%
1965 2.26% 2.43%
1964 2.18% 2.41%
1963 2.13% 2.42%
1962 2.07% 2.44%
1961 1.98% 2.89%

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/ghana | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.89%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Ghana
Current population
45409324
35885254
Population rank 36/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.43%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
49.3 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
35.5 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,752
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +639,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.89%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 57/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
30.9 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -17,079
Net migration rank 179/196 150/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 532,286
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 77/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 145/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Ghana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Ghana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -17,079
2024 - -44,089 - -13,114
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 651,094 -10,003
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 646,441 -10,003
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 635,805 -11,259
2020 1,134,407 143,634 637,469 -291
2019 1,138,485 9,159 642,403 -21,857
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 641,551 -19,375
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 641,218 -4,913
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 659,910 7,009
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 667,729 -13,306
2014 1,053,788 233,913 660,829 -6,312
2013 1,033,778 18,119 658,638 -2,377
2012 1,004,814 68,628 646,595 1,005
2011 966,743 384,486 631,501 -720
2010 943,473 -167,460 613,133 -3,726
2009 920,581 -60,602 592,825 22,416
2008 891,246 215,753 579,695 30,506
2007 889,848 -851,298 572,332 32,813
2006 875,301 57,673 569,474 28,536
2005 855,112 250,971 563,234 21,272
2004 850,940 -269,194 543,339 34,433
2003 826,165 247,317 536,656 28,768
2002 776,048 860,349 528,620 40,573
2001 764,090 -212,872 519,382 36,050
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 508,738 -4,206
1999 760,727 -32,400 487,210 -17,304
1998 719,860 7,380 471,313 -17,564
1997 709,778 -21,215 459,822 -15,409
1996 685,005 4,072 450,259 -37,113
1995 653,280 52,505 451,748 -42,558
1994 609,096 315,206 449,589 -47,120
1993 541,257 1,149,684 454,669 -49,792
1992 440,132 1,197,329 452,156 -47,736
1991 409,954 32,782 448,159 -57,878
1990 402,433 -458,737 442,211 -46,789
1989 381,158 18,296 432,541 -52,293
1988 358,397 -56,263 425,031 -64,810
1987 314,361 -345,535 419,328 -84,648
1986 310,066 -343,397 411,191 -98,099
1985 228,469 -208,685 401,722 -106,855
1984 205,262 248,224 392,053 -105,655
1983 263,778 -172,797 379,846 15,276
1982 263,210 -500,998 369,061 7,863
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 359,572 -12,296
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 346,816 -13,564
1979 361,750 -525,413 334,848 20,291
1978 369,101 -117,186 324,428 18,041
1977 372,567 -83,115 315,429 15,243
1976 357,775 -85,430 305,769 -2,528
1975 343,850 -44,418 298,267 -292
1974 330,232 -20,009 290,796 -1,197
1973 315,062 -3,030 283,385 -1,168
1972 300,633 -4,050 275,236 -4,589
1971 288,267 -12,801 265,442 -12,238
1970 275,129 4,458 257,938 -10,233
1969 263,823 2,029 251,925 -28,752
1968 251,798 3,333 242,821 -36,683
1967 239,967 6,824 237,156 -35,666
1966 228,786 3,563 231,440 -38,143
1965 217,741 10,695 229,061 -38,519
1964 207,867 7,079 226,685 -43,480
1963 198,035 6,681 225,367 -46,516
1962 188,427 7,016 223,842 -48,017
1961 179,094 6,109 222,372 -48,777
1960 170,257 2,606 217,134 12,181

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/ghana | 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 Ghana 98.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 532,286 people or 1.5% in Ghana.

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
Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K

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/ghana | 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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