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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 91,567,738 people in Iran in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 93,468,444 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 2.06 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Iran is the 17th.
  • The countries together account for 1.68% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.13% for Iran.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.19% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.5M (27.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Iran: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Iran
2100 131,803,615 80,713,760
2099 131,145,502 81,246,718
2098 130,482,225 81,770,953
2097 129,808,066 82,295,714
2096 129,147,895 82,818,575
2095 128,473,977 83,338,446
2094 127,761,785 83,854,648
2093 127,018,448 84,371,569
2092 126,270,202 84,888,626
2091 125,508,788 85,410,099
2090 124,636,092 85,934,675
2089 123,843,293 86,466,409
2088 123,034,495 87,004,165
2087 122,147,758 87,549,685
2086 121,381,088 88,105,571
2085 120,486,343 88,668,329
2084 119,491,780 89,239,709
2083 118,631,246 89,817,194
2082 117,742,446 90,402,538
2081 116,842,143 90,995,822
2080 115,793,841 91,595,122
2079 114,630,140 92,196,842
2078 113,624,958 92,801,160
2077 112,523,374 93,405,954
2076 111,442,221 94,007,669
2075 110,399,328 94,606,607
2074 109,236,338 95,197,577
2073 107,960,305 95,783,994
2072 106,746,984 96,355,853
2071 105,568,382 96,915,335
2070 104,230,485 97,460,813
2069 102,964,062 97,988,897
2068 101,629,164 98,496,927
2067 100,380,826 98,978,509
2066 99,116,663 99,439,391
2065 97,714,113 99,877,457
2064 96,306,602 100,288,977
2063 94,949,108 100,668,199
2062 93,579,065 101,017,348
2061 92,316,077 101,332,810
2060 91,000,643 101,612,261
2059 89,717,353 101,858,931
2058 88,346,732 102,061,144
2057 86,917,997 102,228,085
2056 85,480,219 102,358,266
2055 84,074,268 102,449,092
2054 82,676,432 102,498,594
2053 81,285,014 102,508,245
2052 79,908,081 102,480,373
2051 78,643,202 102,417,847
2050 77,331,830 102,318,917
2049 75,864,863 102,189,816
2048 74,479,782 102,024,233
2047 73,119,204 101,832,213
2046 71,697,214 101,613,554
2045 70,353,118 101,371,784
2044 69,024,959 101,104,998
2043 67,657,423 100,818,045
2042 66,357,363 100,512,032
2041 64,976,778 100,188,214
2040 63,535,531 99,849,875
2039 62,129,737 99,501,869
2038 60,803,646 99,137,385
2037 59,454,331 98,759,167
2036 58,114,874 98,366,612
2035 56,804,011 97,963,082
2034 55,502,408 97,546,148
2033 54,135,876 97,118,106
2032 52,791,273 96,671,440
2031 51,433,991 96,204,118
2030 50,079,746 95,718,604
2029 48,768,949 95,195,996
2028 47,533,470 94,623,034
2027 46,310,865 93,987,260
2026 45,075,045 93,276,075
2025 43,870,455 92,478,162
2024 42,647,492 91,567,738
2023 41,454,761 90,608,707
2022 40,578,842 89,524,246
2021 40,000,412 88,455,488
2020 39,068,979 87,723,443
2019 37,856,121 87,051,648
2018 36,743,039 86,117,998
2017 35,688,935 85,026,754
2016 34,700,612 83,812,228
2015 33,831,764 82,619,362
2014 32,792,523 81,502,045
2013 31,622,704 80,414,686
2012 30,560,034 79,370,580
2011 29,347,708 78,383,598
2010 28,284,089 77,420,842
2009 27,466,101 76,457,825
2008 26,482,622 75,514,204
2007 25,909,852 74,602,648
2006 25,424,094 73,392,747
2005 24,404,567 71,828,455
2004 23,560,654 70,256,316
2003 22,733,049 68,769,340
2002 21,378,117 68,011,317
2001 20,284,307 67,452,005
2000 20,130,327 66,418,659
1999 19,887,785 65,445,391
1998 19,159,996 64,519,859
1997 18,452,091 63,639,638
1996 17,763,266 62,881,300
1995 17,065,836 62,205,567
1994 16,250,794 61,520,598
1993 14,943,172 61,403,543
1992 13,278,974 61,184,983
1991 12,238,879 59,986,931
1990 12,045,660 58,380,092
1989 11,874,088 56,704,914
1988 11,523,298 55,072,694
1987 11,387,818 53,323,493
1986 11,420,074 51,446,045
1985 11,426,852 49,582,289
1984 11,190,221 47,793,998
1983 10,917,982 46,029,535
1982 10,991,378 44,272,141
1981 11,937,581 41,989,312
1980 13,169,311 39,842,324
1979 13,655,567 38,424,952
1978 13,611,441 37,126,535
1977 13,340,756 35,933,181
1976 13,059,851 34,837,271
1975 12,773,954 33,802,973
1974 12,469,127 32,796,463
1973 12,157,999 31,839,838
1972 11,853,696 30,921,179
1971 11,567,667 30,029,071
1970 11,290,128 29,145,100
1969 11,017,409 28,273,482
1968 10,756,922 27,437,391
1967 10,505,959 26,628,432
1966 10,266,395 25,829,270
1965 10,036,008 25,036,978
1964 9,814,318 24,262,859
1963 9,604,487 23,519,005
1962 9,404,406 22,807,907
1961 9,214,083 22,125,726
1960 9,035,043 21,470,434

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/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Iran gained 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Iran's population increased by 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Iran was ranked 17th in 2006 and still ranked 17th 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 Iran will increase by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 103M people in 2053 for Iran.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Iran
2100 0.5% -0.66%
2099 0.51% -0.64%
2098 0.52% -0.64%
2097 0.51% -0.63%
2096 0.52% -0.62%
2095 0.56% -0.62%
2094 0.59% -0.61%
2093 0.59% -0.61%
2092 0.61% -0.61%
2091 0.7% -0.61%
2090 0.64% -0.61%
2089 0.66% -0.62%
2088 0.73% -0.62%
2087 0.63% -0.63%
2086 0.74% -0.63%
2085 0.83% -0.64%
2084 0.73% -0.64%
2083 0.75% -0.65%
2082 0.77% -0.65%
2081 0.91% -0.65%
2080 1.02% -0.65%
2079 0.88% -0.65%
2078 0.98% -0.65%
2077 0.97% -0.64%
2076 0.94% -0.63%
2075 1.06% -0.62%
2074 1.18% -0.61%
2073 1.14% -0.59%
2072 1.12% -0.58%
2071 1.28% -0.56%
2070 1.23% -0.54%
2069 1.31% -0.52%
2068 1.24% -0.49%
2067 1.28% -0.46%
2066 1.44% -0.44%
2065 1.46% -0.41%
2064 1.43% -0.38%
2063 1.46% -0.35%
2062 1.37% -0.31%
2061 1.45% -0.28%
2060 1.43% -0.24%
2059 1.55% -0.2%
2058 1.64% -0.16%
2057 1.68% -0.13%
2056 1.67% -0.09%
2055 1.69% -0.05%
2054 1.71% -0.009%
2053 1.72% 0.03%
2052 1.61% 0.06%
2051 1.7% 0.1%
2050 1.93% 0.13%
2049 1.86% 0.16%
2048 1.86% 0.19%
2047 1.98% 0.22%
2046 1.91% 0.24%
2045 1.92% 0.26%
2044 2.02% 0.28%
2043 1.96% 0.3%
2042 2.12% 0.32%
2041 2.27% 0.34%
2040 2.26% 0.35%
2039 2.18% 0.37%
2038 2.27% 0.38%
2037 2.3% 0.4%
2036 2.31% 0.41%
2035 2.35% 0.43%
2034 2.52% 0.44%
2033 2.55% 0.46%
2032 2.64% 0.49%
2031 2.7% 0.51%
2030 2.69% 0.55%
2029 2.6% 0.61%
2028 2.64% 0.68%
2027 2.74% 0.76%
2026 2.75% 0.86%
2025 2.87% 0.99%
2024 2.88% 1.06%
2023 2.16% 1.21%
2022 1.45% 1.21%
2021 2.38% 0.83%
2020 3.2% 0.77%
2019 3.03% 1.08%
2018 2.95% 1.28%
2017 2.85% 1.45%
2016 2.57% 1.44%
2015 3.17% 1.37%
2014 3.7% 1.35%
2013 3.48% 1.32%
2012 4.13% 1.26%
2011 3.76% 1.24%
2010 2.98% 1.26%
2009 3.71% 1.25%
2008 2.21% 1.22%
2007 1.91% 1.65%
2006 4.18% 2.18%
2005 3.58% 2.24%
2004 3.64% 2.16%
2003 6.34% 1.11%
2002 5.39% 0.83%
2001 0.76% 1.56%
2000 1.22% 1.49%
1999 3.8% 1.43%
1998 3.84% 1.38%
1997 3.88% 1.21%
1996 4.09% 1.09%
1995 5.02% 1.11%
1994 8.75% 0.19%
1993 12.5% 0.36%
1992 8.5% 2%
1991 1.6% 2.75%
1990 1.44% 2.95%
1989 3.04% 2.96%
1988 1.19% 3.28%
1987 -0.28% 3.65%
1986 -0.06% 3.76%
1985 2.11% 3.74%
1984 2.49% 3.83%
1983 -0.67% 3.97%
1982 -7.93% 5.44%
1981 -9.35% 5.39%
1980 -3.56% 3.69%
1979 0.32% 3.5%
1978 2.03% 3.32%
1977 2.15% 3.15%
1976 2.24% 3.06%
1975 2.44% 3.07%
1974 2.56% 3%
1973 2.57% 2.97%
1972 2.47% 2.97%
1971 2.46% 3.03%
1970 2.48% 3.08%
1969 2.42% 3.05%
1968 2.39% 3.04%
1967 2.33% 3.09%
1966 2.3% 3.16%
1965 2.26% 3.19%
1964 2.18% 3.16%
1963 2.13% 3.12%
1962 2.07% 3.08%
1961 1.98% 3.05%

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/iran | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Iran's population grew by 1.06%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Iran
Current population
45409324
93468444
Population rank 36/197 17/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.13%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
32.9 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
26.9 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +2,627
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +959,031
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.06%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 98/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
4.51 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +116,786
Net migration rank 179/196 14/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 3,840,654
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Iran
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Iran
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 116,786
2024 - -44,089 - 190,156
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 750,150 262,044
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 753,525 403,190
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 645,725 334,967
2020 1,134,407 143,634 663,978 -180,680
2019 1,138,485 9,159 893,063 -32,794
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 1,035,052 -27,946
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 1,140,549 34,849
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 1,186,949 66,630
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 1,178,317 -46,239
2014 1,053,788 233,913 1,158,552 -56,042
2013 1,033,778 18,119 1,119,533 -47,322
2012 1,004,814 68,628 1,073,804 -57,823
2011 966,743 384,486 1,023,925 -65,924
2010 943,473 -167,460 980,380 -12,849
2009 920,581 -60,602 958,322 211
2008 891,246 215,753 940,983 -12,184
2007 889,848 -851,298 919,254 -24,950
2006 875,301 57,673 884,529 640,932
2005 855,112 250,971 837,305 765,873
2004 850,940 -269,194 801,203 739,996
2003 826,165 247,317 732,600 700,222
2002 776,048 860,349 752,205 -668,962
2001 764,090 -212,872 743,658 291,692
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 731,203 300,133
1999 760,727 -32,400 723,237 191,988
1998 719,860 7,380 717,655 218,171
1997 709,778 -21,215 726,574 98,009
1996 685,005 4,072 784,508 -92,435
1995 653,280 52,505 879,648 -220,258
1994 609,096 315,206 1,008,076 -297,487
1993 541,257 1,149,684 1,219,658 -1,696,091
1992 440,132 1,197,329 1,365,466 -451,945
1991 409,954 32,782 1,495,594 -13,059
1990 402,433 -458,737 1,530,434 200,711
1989 381,158 18,296 1,609,739 9,460
1988 358,397 -56,263 1,614,512 30,688
1987 314,361 -345,535 1,639,644 213,524
1986 310,066 -343,397 1,659,289 242,411
1985 228,469 -208,685 1,661,750 163,999
1984 205,262 248,224 1,653,051 97,748
1983 263,778 -172,797 1,573,612 204,544
1982 263,210 -500,998 1,514,240 222,390
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 1,376,830 1,452,169
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 1,361,293 103,674
1979 361,750 -525,413 1,294,306 75,451
1978 369,101 -117,186 1,156,974 70,088
1977 372,567 -83,115 1,091,542 68,093
1976 357,775 -85,430 1,013,347 18,825
1975 343,850 -44,418 929,481 106,921
1974 330,232 -20,009 873,369 103,252
1973 315,062 -3,030 831,880 104,779
1972 300,633 -4,050 804,043 96,614
1971 288,267 -12,801 805,830 77,717
1970 275,129 4,458 794,612 89,757
1969 263,823 2,029 780,660 78,196
1968 251,798 3,333 743,992 69,342
1967 239,967 6,824 727,276 77,313
1966 228,786 3,563 695,040 98,709
1965 217,741 10,695 663,029 127,808
1964 207,867 7,079 635,589 121,817
1963 198,035 6,681 620,126 110,190
1962 188,427 7,016 595,538 96,332
1961 179,094 6,109 594,674 77,811
1960 170,257 2,606 584,060 54,041

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/iran | 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 Iran 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 3,840,654 people or 4.2% in Iran.

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
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

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/iran | 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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