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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 1.06 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.13% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Iraq
2100 131,803,615 101,632,594
2099 131,145,502 101,421,266
2098 130,482,225 101,212,536
2097 129,808,066 100,980,835
2096 129,147,895 100,724,441
2095 128,473,977 100,464,590
2094 127,761,785 100,194,041
2093 127,018,448 99,876,174
2092 126,270,202 99,532,041
2091 125,508,788 99,203,830
2090 124,636,092 98,886,956
2089 123,843,293 98,513,025
2088 123,034,495 98,144,039
2087 122,147,758 97,767,537
2086 121,381,088 97,325,026
2085 120,486,343 96,873,007
2084 119,491,780 96,448,602
2083 118,631,246 95,991,166
2082 117,742,446 95,509,663
2081 116,842,143 95,009,326
2080 115,793,841 94,507,216
2079 114,630,140 93,960,228
2078 113,624,958 93,417,384
2077 112,523,374 92,903,983
2076 111,442,221 92,359,592
2075 110,399,328 91,825,254
2074 109,236,338 91,229,266
2073 107,960,305 90,571,021
2072 106,746,984 89,918,374
2071 105,568,382 89,265,548
2070 104,230,485 88,596,492
2069 102,964,062 87,909,474
2068 101,629,164 87,220,494
2067 100,380,826 86,513,996
2066 99,116,663 85,734,530
2065 97,714,113 84,971,898
2064 96,306,602 84,191,350
2063 94,949,108 83,387,951
2062 93,579,065 82,604,577
2061 92,316,077 81,800,637
2060 91,000,643 80,951,008
2059 89,717,353 80,141,868
2058 88,346,732 79,319,543
2057 86,917,997 78,477,339
2056 85,480,219 77,609,202
2055 84,074,268 76,739,924
2054 82,676,432 75,857,125
2053 81,285,014 74,952,948
2052 79,908,081 74,072,580
2051 78,643,202 73,150,234
2050 77,331,830 72,235,938
2049 75,864,863 71,272,122
2048 74,479,782 70,316,860
2047 73,119,204 69,347,823
2046 71,697,214 68,400,664
2045 70,353,118 67,435,953
2044 69,024,959 66,447,309
2043 67,657,423 65,453,565
2042 66,357,363 64,433,831
2041 64,976,778 63,408,709
2040 63,535,531 62,360,117
2039 62,129,737 61,289,355
2038 60,803,646 60,253,073
2037 59,454,331 59,221,658
2036 58,114,874 58,155,990
2035 56,804,011 57,127,999
2034 55,502,408 56,087,695
2033 54,135,876 55,051,140
2032 52,791,273 54,002,289
2031 51,433,991 52,991,443
2030 50,079,746 51,986,773
2029 48,768,949 50,982,563
2028 47,533,470 50,001,133
2027 46,310,865 49,014,822
2026 45,075,045 48,020,334
2025 43,870,455 47,020,527
2024 42,647,492 46,042,015
2023 41,454,761 45,074,049
2022 40,578,842 44,070,551
2021 40,000,412 43,071,211
2020 39,068,979 42,116,605
2019 37,856,121 41,192,171
2018 36,743,039 40,265,624
2017 35,688,935 39,337,353
2016 34,700,612 38,469,627
2015 33,831,764 37,560,535
2014 32,792,523 36,550,059
2013 31,622,704 35,281,989
2012 30,560,034 33,654,842
2011 29,347,708 32,161,424
2010 28,284,089 31,045,366
2009 27,466,101 30,058,206
2008 26,482,622 28,971,036
2007 25,909,852 28,391,607
2006 25,424,094 28,616,515
2005 24,404,567 28,407,448
2004 23,560,654 27,577,878
2003 22,733,049 26,802,659
2002 21,378,117 26,006,559
2001 20,284,307 25,197,840
2000 20,130,327 24,424,056
1999 19,887,785 23,636,527
1998 19,159,996 22,884,399
1997 18,452,091 22,176,593
1996 17,763,266 21,501,321
1995 17,065,836 20,825,860
1994 16,250,794 20,139,807
1993 14,943,172 19,201,195
1992 13,278,974 18,300,845
1991 12,238,879 17,767,253
1990 12,045,660 17,581,206
1989 11,874,088 17,364,542
1988 11,523,298 16,908,819
1987 11,387,818 16,521,049
1986 11,420,074 16,074,145
1985 11,426,852 15,683,430
1984 11,190,221 15,310,733
1983 10,917,982 14,840,555
1982 10,991,378 14,406,083
1981 11,937,581 14,006,381
1980 13,169,311 13,591,992
1979 13,655,567 13,170,365
1978 13,611,441 12,753,355
1977 13,340,756 12,331,046
1976 13,059,851 11,927,651
1975 12,773,954 11,543,639
1974 12,469,127 11,167,761
1973 12,157,999 10,795,869
1972 11,853,696 10,430,164
1971 11,567,667 10,077,809
1970 11,290,128 9,735,611
1969 11,017,409 9,403,356
1968 10,756,922 9,085,016
1967 10,505,959 8,778,869
1966 10,266,395 8,485,104
1965 10,036,008 8,202,140
1964 9,814,318 7,929,566
1963 9,604,487 7,667,928
1962 9,404,406 7,413,875
1961 9,214,083 7,194,553
1960 9,035,043 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Iraq
2100 0.5% 0.21%
2099 0.51% 0.21%
2098 0.52% 0.23%
2097 0.51% 0.25%
2096 0.52% 0.26%
2095 0.56% 0.27%
2094 0.59% 0.32%
2093 0.59% 0.35%
2092 0.61% 0.33%
2091 0.7% 0.32%
2090 0.64% 0.38%
2089 0.66% 0.38%
2088 0.73% 0.39%
2087 0.63% 0.45%
2086 0.74% 0.47%
2085 0.83% 0.44%
2084 0.73% 0.48%
2083 0.75% 0.5%
2082 0.77% 0.53%
2081 0.91% 0.53%
2080 1.02% 0.58%
2079 0.88% 0.58%
2078 0.98% 0.55%
2077 0.97% 0.59%
2076 0.94% 0.58%
2075 1.06% 0.65%
2074 1.18% 0.73%
2073 1.14% 0.73%
2072 1.12% 0.73%
2071 1.28% 0.76%
2070 1.23% 0.78%
2069 1.31% 0.79%
2068 1.24% 0.82%
2067 1.28% 0.91%
2066 1.44% 0.9%
2065 1.46% 0.93%
2064 1.43% 0.96%
2063 1.46% 0.95%
2062 1.37% 0.98%
2061 1.45% 1.05%
2060 1.43% 1.01%
2059 1.55% 1.04%
2058 1.64% 1.07%
2057 1.68% 1.12%
2056 1.67% 1.13%
2055 1.69% 1.16%
2054 1.71% 1.21%
2053 1.72% 1.19%
2052 1.61% 1.26%
2051 1.7% 1.27%
2050 1.93% 1.35%
2049 1.86% 1.36%
2048 1.86% 1.4%
2047 1.98% 1.38%
2046 1.91% 1.43%
2045 1.92% 1.49%
2044 2.02% 1.52%
2043 1.96% 1.58%
2042 2.12% 1.62%
2041 2.27% 1.68%
2040 2.26% 1.75%
2039 2.18% 1.72%
2038 2.27% 1.74%
2037 2.3% 1.83%
2036 2.31% 1.8%
2035 2.35% 1.85%
2034 2.52% 1.88%
2033 2.55% 1.94%
2032 2.64% 1.91%
2031 2.7% 1.93%
2030 2.69% 1.97%
2029 2.6% 1.96%
2028 2.64% 2.01%
2027 2.74% 2.07%
2026 2.75% 2.13%
2025 2.87% 2.13%
2024 2.88% 2.15%
2023 2.16% 2.28%
2022 1.45% 2.32%
2021 2.38% 2.27%
2020 3.2% 2.24%
2019 3.03% 2.3%
2018 2.95% 2.36%
2017 2.85% 2.26%
2016 2.57% 2.42%
2015 3.17% 2.76%
2014 3.7% 3.59%
2013 3.48% 4.83%
2012 4.13% 4.64%
2011 3.76% 3.59%
2010 2.98% 3.28%
2009 3.71% 3.75%
2008 2.21% 2.04%
2007 1.91% -0.79%
2006 4.18% 0.74%
2005 3.58% 3.01%
2004 3.64% 2.89%
2003 6.34% 3.06%
2002 5.39% 3.21%
2001 0.76% 3.17%
2000 1.22% 3.33%
1999 3.8% 3.29%
1998 3.84% 3.19%
1997 3.88% 3.14%
1996 4.09% 3.24%
1995 5.02% 3.41%
1994 8.75% 4.89%
1993 12.5% 4.92%
1992 8.5% 3%
1991 1.6% 1.06%
1990 1.44% 1.25%
1989 3.04% 2.7%
1988 1.19% 2.35%
1987 -0.28% 2.78%
1986 -0.06% 2.49%
1985 2.11% 2.43%
1984 2.49% 3.17%
1983 -0.67% 3.02%
1982 -7.93% 2.85%
1981 -9.35% 3.05%
1980 -3.56% 3.2%
1979 0.32% 3.27%
1978 2.03% 3.42%
1977 2.15% 3.38%
1976 2.24% 3.33%
1975 2.44% 3.37%
1974 2.56% 3.44%
1973 2.57% 3.51%
1972 2.47% 3.5%
1971 2.46% 3.51%
1970 2.48% 3.53%
1969 2.42% 3.5%
1968 2.39% 3.49%
1967 2.33% 3.46%
1966 2.3% 3.45%
1965 2.26% 3.44%
1964 2.18% 3.41%
1963 2.13% 3.43%
1962 2.07% 3.05%
1961 1.98% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Iraq
Current population
45409324
48289334
Population rank 36/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.58%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
32.6 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
27.2 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 46/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -1,064
Net migration rank 179/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -1,064
2024 - -44,089 - -17,735
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 973,420 -5,710
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 962,501 76,821
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 941,924 17,474
2020 1,134,407 143,634 919,953 29,858
2019 1,138,485 9,159 942,972 -43,919
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 938,310 15,775
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 924,507 -21,998
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 946,968 -113,980
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 1,053,788 233,913 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 1,033,778 18,119 1,026,036 474,379
2012 1,004,814 68,628 999,987 753,907
2011 966,743 384,486 971,082 261,880
2010 943,473 -167,460 906,369 92,779
2009 920,581 -60,602 855,096 120,092
2008 891,246 215,753 802,382 396,792
2007 889,848 -851,298 784,119 -824,428
2006 875,301 57,673 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 855,112 250,971 776,603 51,019
2004 850,940 -269,194 761,563 69,948
2003 826,165 247,317 746,159 -27,236
2002 776,048 860,349 739,419 133,839
2001 764,090 -212,872 729,704 14,451
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 715,771 87,624
1999 760,727 -32,400 702,170 69,491
1998 719,860 7,380 684,152 48,446
1997 709,778 -21,215 667,582 15,429
1996 685,005 4,072 652,866 14,652
1995 653,280 52,505 642,977 40,424
1994 609,096 315,206 634,344 54,355
1993 541,257 1,149,684 606,700 581,818
1992 440,132 1,197,329 591,886 20,292
1991 409,954 32,782 550,146 -95,155
1990 402,433 -458,737 518,575 -601,469
1989 381,158 18,296 496,852 19,392
1988 358,397 -56,263 476,778 -81,562
1987 314,361 -345,535 488,742 -108,426
1986 310,066 -343,397 474,348 39,136
1985 228,469 -208,685 467,445 -199,505
1984 205,262 248,224 455,740 21,709
1983 263,778 -172,797 439,800 23,115
1982 263,210 -500,998 428,336 -22,302
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 416,998 -23,640
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 419,653 15,757
1979 361,750 -525,413 428,458 -20,617
1978 369,101 -117,186 418,756 7,434
1977 372,567 -83,115 410,229 8,204
1976 357,775 -85,430 402,260 -13,915
1975 343,850 -44,418 385,916 -6,237
1974 330,232 -20,009 376,197 -4,090
1973 315,062 -3,030 373,191 -1,507
1972 300,633 -4,050 362,334 -2,600
1971 288,267 -12,801 351,464 -6,479
1970 275,129 4,458 338,030 1,377
1969 263,823 2,029 324,792 312
1968 251,798 3,333 310,644 928
1967 239,967 6,824 298,192 2,531
1966 228,786 3,563 285,507 1,298
1965 217,741 10,695 274,551 4,555
1964 207,867 7,079 262,825 3,224
1963 198,035 6,681 254,046 3,197
1962 188,427 7,016 247,520 3,343
1961 179,094 6,109 184,792 2,981
1960 170,257 2,606 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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