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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 1,450,935,791 people in India in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 1,480,351,380 in India.

Population statistics:

  • India's population is 32.6 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while India is the 1st.
  • The countries together account for 18.4% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 17.9% for India.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.03% in India.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while India has grown from 1.17B to 1.48B (26.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs India: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
India
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan India
2100 131,803,615 1,515,897,176
2099 131,145,502 1,523,583,618
2098 130,482,225 1,531,281,096
2097 129,808,066 1,538,914,978
2096 129,147,895 1,546,515,506
2095 128,473,977 1,554,100,337
2094 127,761,785 1,561,632,624
2093 127,018,448 1,569,112,481
2092 126,270,202 1,576,470,228
2091 125,508,788 1,583,793,450
2090 124,636,092 1,591,038,578
2089 123,843,293 1,598,165,996
2088 123,034,495 1,605,169,643
2087 122,147,758 1,612,023,916
2086 121,381,088 1,618,795,931
2085 120,486,343 1,625,424,591
2084 119,491,780 1,631,854,605
2083 118,631,246 1,638,132,423
2082 117,742,446 1,644,206,476
2081 116,842,143 1,650,106,942
2080 115,793,841 1,655,799,569
2079 114,630,140 1,661,261,962
2078 113,624,958 1,666,477,951
2077 112,523,374 1,671,444,317
2076 111,442,221 1,676,151,275
2075 110,399,328 1,680,606,119
2074 109,236,338 1,684,743,082
2073 107,960,305 1,688,579,113
2072 106,746,984 1,692,138,648
2071 105,568,382 1,695,351,098
2070 104,230,485 1,698,255,829
2069 102,964,062 1,700,813,392
2068 101,629,164 1,703,025,450
2067 100,380,826 1,704,872,725
2066 99,116,663 1,706,347,017
2065 97,714,113 1,707,540,131
2064 96,306,602 1,708,362,011
2063 94,949,108 1,708,845,280
2062 93,579,065 1,709,011,618
2061 92,316,077 1,708,866,368
2060 91,000,643 1,708,344,645
2059 89,717,353 1,707,488,768
2058 88,346,732 1,706,314,224
2057 86,917,997 1,704,805,210
2056 85,480,219 1,703,013,988
2055 84,074,268 1,700,890,479
2054 82,676,432 1,698,473,703
2053 81,285,014 1,695,661,388
2052 79,908,081 1,692,531,993
2051 78,643,202 1,689,057,795
2050 77,331,830 1,685,236,057
2049 75,864,863 1,681,083,344
2048 74,479,782 1,676,576,931
2047 73,119,204 1,671,678,054
2046 71,697,214 1,666,371,707
2045 70,353,118 1,660,667,112
2044 69,024,959 1,654,556,840
2043 67,657,423 1,648,067,988
2042 66,357,363 1,641,136,901
2041 64,976,778 1,633,771,970
2040 63,535,531 1,625,990,392
2039 62,129,737 1,617,818,911
2038 60,803,646 1,609,238,166
2037 59,454,331 1,600,212,760
2036 58,114,874 1,590,731,970
2035 56,804,011 1,580,864,963
2034 55,502,408 1,570,629,033
2033 54,135,876 1,560,043,145
2032 52,791,273 1,549,098,676
2031 51,433,991 1,537,810,507
2030 50,079,746 1,526,192,552
2029 48,768,949 1,514,274,850
2028 47,533,470 1,502,102,657
2027 46,310,865 1,489,628,314
2026 45,075,045 1,476,911,618
2025 43,870,455 1,463,993,377
2024 42,647,492 1,450,935,791
2023 41,454,761 1,438,069,596
2022 40,578,842 1,425,423,212
2021 40,000,412 1,414,203,896
2020 39,068,979 1,402,617,695
2019 37,856,121 1,389,030,312
2018 36,743,039 1,374,659,064
2017 35,688,935 1,359,657,400
2016 34,700,612 1,343,944,296
2015 33,831,764 1,328,024,498
2014 32,792,523 1,312,277,191
2013 31,622,704 1,295,829,511
2012 30,560,034 1,278,674,502
2011 29,347,708 1,261,224,954
2010 28,284,089 1,243,481,564
2009 27,466,101 1,225,524,753
2008 26,482,622 1,207,930,964
2007 25,909,852 1,190,676,021
2006 25,424,094 1,172,878,890
2005 24,404,567 1,154,676,322
2004 23,560,654 1,135,991,513
2003 22,733,049 1,116,803,006
2002 21,378,117 1,097,600,380
2001 20,284,307 1,077,898,575
2000 20,130,327 1,057,922,733
1999 19,887,785 1,038,225,823
1998 19,159,996 1,018,665,080
1997 18,452,091 999,133,762
1996 17,763,266 979,678,458
1995 17,065,836 960,301,044
1994 16,250,794 941,163,767
1993 14,943,172 922,118,387
1992 13,278,974 902,957,070
1991 12,238,879 883,927,600
1990 12,045,660 864,972,221
1989 11,874,088 846,039,529
1988 11,523,298 827,342,990
1987 11,387,818 808,931,270
1986 11,420,074 790,689,978
1985 11,426,852 772,647,793
1984 11,190,221 754,875,449
1983 10,917,982 737,372,681
1982 10,991,378 720,313,473
1981 11,937,581 703,696,250
1980 13,169,311 687,354,025
1979 13,655,567 671,155,747
1978 13,611,441 655,728,229
1977 13,340,756 640,801,103
1976 13,059,851 625,861,883
1975 12,773,954 611,309,535
1974 12,469,127 597,041,391
1973 12,157,999 583,465,598
1972 11,853,696 570,482,142
1971 11,567,667 558,096,387
1970 11,290,128 545,864,268
1969 11,017,409 533,880,544
1968 10,756,922 522,716,889
1967 10,505,959 511,606,372
1966 10,266,395 500,740,247
1965 10,036,008 490,140,146
1964 9,814,318 479,229,598
1963 9,604,487 468,138,575
1962 9,404,406 457,283,090
1961 9,214,083 446,564,729
1960 9,035,043 435,990,338

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/india | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while India gained 171,065,406 people (a 14.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while India's population increased by 136,407,084 people (a 10.1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. India was ranked 2nd in 2006 and ranked 1st 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 India will increase by 13.8% to 1,685,236,057 people and will still be ranked 1st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 1.71B people in 2062 for India.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
India
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan India
2100 0.5% -0.5%
2099 0.51% -0.5%
2098 0.52% -0.5%
2097 0.51% -0.49%
2096 0.52% -0.49%
2095 0.56% -0.48%
2094 0.59% -0.48%
2093 0.59% -0.47%
2092 0.61% -0.46%
2091 0.7% -0.46%
2090 0.64% -0.45%
2089 0.66% -0.44%
2088 0.73% -0.43%
2087 0.63% -0.42%
2086 0.74% -0.41%
2085 0.83% -0.39%
2084 0.73% -0.38%
2083 0.75% -0.37%
2082 0.77% -0.36%
2081 0.91% -0.34%
2080 1.02% -0.33%
2079 0.88% -0.31%
2078 0.98% -0.3%
2077 0.97% -0.28%
2076 0.94% -0.27%
2075 1.06% -0.25%
2074 1.18% -0.23%
2073 1.14% -0.21%
2072 1.12% -0.19%
2071 1.28% -0.17%
2070 1.23% -0.15%
2069 1.31% -0.13%
2068 1.24% -0.11%
2067 1.28% -0.09%
2066 1.44% -0.07%
2065 1.46% -0.05%
2064 1.43% -0.03%
2063 1.46% -0.01%
2062 1.37% 0.008%
2061 1.45% 0.03%
2060 1.43% 0.05%
2059 1.55% 0.07%
2058 1.64% 0.09%
2057 1.68% 0.11%
2056 1.67% 0.12%
2055 1.69% 0.14%
2054 1.71% 0.17%
2053 1.72% 0.18%
2052 1.61% 0.21%
2051 1.7% 0.23%
2050 1.93% 0.25%
2049 1.86% 0.27%
2048 1.86% 0.29%
2047 1.98% 0.32%
2046 1.91% 0.34%
2045 1.92% 0.37%
2044 2.02% 0.39%
2043 1.96% 0.42%
2042 2.12% 0.45%
2041 2.27% 0.48%
2040 2.26% 0.51%
2039 2.18% 0.53%
2038 2.27% 0.56%
2037 2.3% 0.6%
2036 2.31% 0.62%
2035 2.35% 0.65%
2034 2.52% 0.68%
2033 2.55% 0.71%
2032 2.64% 0.73%
2031 2.7% 0.76%
2030 2.69% 0.79%
2029 2.6% 0.81%
2028 2.64% 0.84%
2027 2.74% 0.86%
2026 2.75% 0.88%
2025 2.87% 0.9%
2024 2.88% 0.89%
2023 2.16% 0.89%
2022 1.45% 0.79%
2021 2.38% 0.83%
2020 3.2% 0.98%
2019 3.03% 1.05%
2018 2.95% 1.1%
2017 2.85% 1.17%
2016 2.57% 1.2%
2015 3.17% 1.2%
2014 3.7% 1.27%
2013 3.48% 1.34%
2012 4.13% 1.38%
2011 3.76% 1.43%
2010 2.98% 1.47%
2009 3.71% 1.46%
2008 2.21% 1.45%
2007 1.91% 1.52%
2006 4.18% 1.58%
2005 3.58% 1.64%
2004 3.64% 1.72%
2003 6.34% 1.75%
2002 5.39% 1.83%
2001 0.76% 1.89%
2000 1.22% 1.9%
1999 3.8% 1.92%
1998 3.84% 1.95%
1997 3.88% 1.99%
1996 4.09% 2.02%
1995 5.02% 2.03%
1994 8.75% 2.07%
1993 12.5% 2.12%
1992 8.5% 2.15%
1991 1.6% 2.19%
1990 1.44% 2.24%
1989 3.04% 2.26%
1988 1.19% 2.28%
1987 -0.28% 2.31%
1986 -0.06% 2.34%
1985 2.11% 2.35%
1984 2.49% 2.37%
1983 -0.67% 2.37%
1982 -7.93% 2.36%
1981 -9.35% 2.38%
1980 -3.56% 2.41%
1979 0.32% 2.35%
1978 2.03% 2.33%
1977 2.15% 2.39%
1976 2.24% 2.38%
1975 2.44% 2.39%
1974 2.56% 2.33%
1973 2.57% 2.28%
1972 2.47% 2.22%
1971 2.46% 2.24%
1970 2.48% 2.24%
1969 2.42% 2.14%
1968 2.39% 2.17%
1967 2.33% 2.17%
1966 2.3% 2.16%
1965 2.26% 2.28%
1964 2.18% 2.37%
1963 2.13% 2.37%
1962 2.07% 2.4%
1961 1.98% 2.43%

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/india | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while India's population grew by 0.89%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan India
Current population
45409324
1480351380
Population rank 36/197 1/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 17.9%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.45 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.36 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
3.32 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +35,250
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +12,866,195
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.89%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 107/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.06 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -495,753
Net migration rank 179/196 195/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 4,796,255
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 15/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 181/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
India
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan India
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -495,753
2024 - -44,089 - -630,830
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 13,711,993 -979,179
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 13,912,130 -1,353,478
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 10,227,523 -348,916
2020 1,134,407 143,634 13,366,946 -73,806
2019 1,138,485 9,159 14,859,846 -978,969
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 15,451,168 -589,794
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 15,394,041 -251,642
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 16,202,593 81,248
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 16,211,195 -655,085
2014 1,053,788 233,913 16,165,943 -227,263
2013 1,033,778 18,119 17,107,541 -151,372
2012 1,004,814 68,628 17,552,365 -198,935
2011 966,743 384,486 17,793,362 -247,017
2010 943,473 -167,460 17,991,935 -50,905
2009 920,581 -60,602 18,286,055 -312,905
2008 891,246 215,753 18,234,926 -1,020,047
2007 889,848 -851,298 18,331,648 -1,037,200
2006 875,301 57,673 18,641,737 -342,177
2005 855,112 250,971 19,034,839 -929,454
2004 850,940 -269,194 19,469,758 -206,660
2003 826,165 247,317 19,720,507 -606,970
2002 776,048 860,349 20,024,621 -732,419
2001 764,090 -212,872 20,182,573 -70,346
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 19,984,160 -143,960
1999 760,727 -32,400 19,648,424 -95,320
1998 719,860 7,380 19,569,575 -1,049
1997 709,778 -21,215 19,494,098 880
1996 685,005 4,072 19,442,699 -26,388
1995 653,280 52,505 19,396,161 -57,297
1994 609,096 315,206 19,310,798 -375,253
1993 541,257 1,149,684 19,152,399 2,364
1992 440,132 1,197,329 19,132,757 35,155
1991 409,954 32,782 19,049,524 -157,911
1990 402,433 -458,737 18,893,588 125,514
1989 381,158 18,296 18,848,915 -2,907
1988 358,397 -56,263 18,702,916 -155,676
1987 314,361 -345,535 18,496,213 -219,150
1986 310,066 -343,397 18,455,495 -249,545
1985 228,469 -208,685 17,968,697 -89,991
1984 205,262 248,224 17,698,810 -32,313
1983 263,778 -172,797 17,219,127 119,694
1982 263,210 -500,998 16,790,507 -10,687
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 16,422,159 33,243
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 16,018,786 210,914
1979 361,750 -525,413 15,392,957 774,094
1978 369,101 -117,186 14,898,145 -210,444
1977 372,567 -83,115 14,575,662 590,626
1976 357,775 -85,430 14,435,504 275,984
1975 343,850 -44,418 13,958,642 434,205
1974 330,232 -20,009 13,795,836 347,869
1973 315,062 -3,030 13,412,707 -404,743
1972 300,633 -4,050 13,041,792 -82,816
1971 288,267 -12,801 12,787,104 -974,574
1970 275,129 4,458 12,417,866 233,782
1969 263,823 2,029 12,167,671 -851,844
1968 251,798 3,333 12,006,807 -995,416
1967 239,967 6,824 11,279,897 -70,314
1966 228,786 3,563 11,089,894 -566,982
1965 217,741 10,695 10,925,714 -248,299
1964 207,867 7,079 11,285,378 -141,916
1963 198,035 6,681 11,016,705 21,640
1962 188,427 7,016 10,743,409 -70,514
1961 179,094 6,109 10,468,816 295,177
1960 170,257 2,606 10,237,489 146,955

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/india | 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 India 96.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 145,503,378 people) and 3.56% is from migration (a loss of 5,376,884 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 4,796,255 people or 0.3% in India.

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
India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M

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/india | 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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