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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.23 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

Afghanistan vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Ireland
2100 131,803,615 5,468,791
2099 131,145,502 5,493,162
2098 130,482,225 5,516,999
2097 129,808,066 5,540,157
2096 129,147,895 5,562,811
2095 128,473,977 5,583,505
2094 127,761,785 5,603,538
2093 127,018,448 5,623,266
2092 126,270,202 5,642,437
2091 125,508,788 5,661,268
2090 124,636,092 5,680,076
2089 123,843,293 5,697,512
2088 123,034,495 5,714,108
2087 122,147,758 5,729,431
2086 121,381,088 5,743,405
2085 120,486,343 5,757,666
2084 119,491,780 5,771,610
2083 118,631,246 5,785,324
2082 117,742,446 5,798,037
2081 116,842,143 5,809,262
2080 115,793,841 5,821,598
2079 114,630,140 5,836,731
2078 113,624,958 5,851,937
2077 112,523,374 5,867,627
2076 111,442,221 5,883,876
2075 110,399,328 5,900,200
2074 109,236,338 5,917,659
2073 107,960,305 5,934,975
2072 106,746,984 5,952,211
2071 105,568,382 5,969,279
2070 104,230,485 5,986,770
2069 102,964,062 6,003,570
2068 101,629,164 6,019,937
2067 100,380,826 6,035,810
2066 99,116,663 6,051,604
2065 97,714,113 6,066,791
2064 96,306,602 6,081,606
2063 94,949,108 6,094,455
2062 93,579,065 6,106,325
2061 92,316,077 6,118,587
2060 91,000,643 6,131,482
2059 89,717,353 6,143,979
2058 88,346,732 6,153,447
2057 86,917,997 6,161,059
2056 85,480,219 6,164,047
2055 84,074,268 6,168,611
2054 82,676,432 6,169,455
2053 81,285,014 6,169,673
2052 79,908,081 6,167,591
2051 78,643,202 6,164,894
2050 77,331,830 6,159,756
2049 75,864,863 6,151,623
2048 74,479,782 6,140,272
2047 73,119,204 6,128,245
2046 71,697,214 6,115,454
2045 70,353,118 6,099,562
2044 69,024,959 6,081,384
2043 67,657,423 6,062,477
2042 66,357,363 6,041,683
2041 64,976,778 6,017,573
2040 63,535,531 5,992,311
2039 62,129,737 5,967,604
2038 60,803,646 5,940,474
2037 59,454,331 5,912,327
2036 58,114,874 5,884,159
2035 56,804,011 5,855,902
2034 55,502,408 5,825,178
2033 54,135,876 5,792,751
2032 52,791,273 5,757,842
2031 51,433,991 5,721,671
2030 50,079,746 5,684,420
2029 48,768,949 5,644,008
2028 47,533,470 5,600,083
2027 46,310,865 5,553,725
2026 45,075,045 5,505,248
2025 43,870,455 5,452,752
2024 42,647,492 5,395,790
2023 41,454,761 5,311,538
2022 40,578,842 5,212,836
2021 40,000,412 5,110,585
2020 39,068,979 5,039,747
2019 37,856,121 4,976,456
2018 36,743,039 4,898,022
2017 35,688,935 4,827,445
2016 34,700,612 4,762,722
2015 33,831,764 4,701,957
2014 32,792,523 4,657,740
2013 31,622,704 4,623,816
2012 30,560,034 4,599,533
2011 29,347,708 4,580,084
2010 28,284,089 4,560,155
2009 27,466,101 4,535,375
2008 26,482,622 4,489,544
2007 25,909,852 4,398,942
2006 25,424,094 4,273,591
2005 24,404,567 4,159,914
2004 23,560,654 4,070,262
2003 22,733,049 3,996,521
2002 21,378,117 3,931,947
2001 20,284,307 3,866,243
2000 20,130,327 3,805,174
1999 19,887,785 3,754,786
1998 19,159,996 3,712,696
1997 18,452,091 3,674,171
1996 17,763,266 3,637,510
1995 17,065,836 3,608,841
1994 16,250,794 3,590,386
1993 14,943,172 3,576,261
1992 13,278,974 3,558,430
1991 12,238,879 3,534,235
1990 12,045,660 3,513,974
1989 11,874,088 3,511,009
1988 11,523,298 3,524,949
1987 11,387,818 3,540,057
1986 11,420,074 3,539,690
1985 11,426,852 3,538,082
1984 11,190,221 3,532,423
1983 10,917,982 3,510,600
1982 10,991,378 3,485,800
1981 11,937,581 3,453,000
1980 13,169,311 3,412,800
1979 13,655,567 3,373,750
1978 13,611,441 3,329,100
1977 13,340,756 3,282,200
1976 13,059,851 3,238,050
1975 12,773,954 3,189,550
1974 12,469,127 3,137,500
1973 12,157,999 3,085,950
1972 11,853,696 3,036,850
1971 11,567,667 2,992,050
1970 11,290,128 2,957,250
1969 11,017,409 2,932,650
1968 10,756,922 2,915,550
1967 10,505,959 2,902,450
1966 10,266,395 2,888,800
1965 10,036,008 2,877,300
1964 9,814,318 2,866,550
1963 9,604,487 2,852,650
1962 9,404,406 2,836,050
1961 9,214,083 2,824,400
1960 9,035,043 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 6.17M people in 2053 for Ireland.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Ireland
2100 0.5% -0.44%
2099 0.51% -0.43%
2098 0.52% -0.42%
2097 0.51% -0.41%
2096 0.52% -0.37%
2095 0.56% -0.36%
2094 0.59% -0.35%
2093 0.59% -0.34%
2092 0.61% -0.33%
2091 0.7% -0.33%
2090 0.64% -0.31%
2089 0.66% -0.29%
2088 0.73% -0.27%
2087 0.63% -0.24%
2086 0.74% -0.25%
2085 0.83% -0.24%
2084 0.73% -0.24%
2083 0.75% -0.22%
2082 0.77% -0.19%
2081 0.91% -0.21%
2080 1.02% -0.26%
2079 0.88% -0.26%
2078 0.98% -0.27%
2077 0.97% -0.28%
2076 0.94% -0.28%
2075 1.06% -0.3%
2074 1.18% -0.29%
2073 1.14% -0.29%
2072 1.12% -0.29%
2071 1.28% -0.29%
2070 1.23% -0.28%
2069 1.31% -0.27%
2068 1.24% -0.26%
2067 1.28% -0.26%
2066 1.44% -0.25%
2065 1.46% -0.24%
2064 1.43% -0.21%
2063 1.46% -0.19%
2062 1.37% -0.2%
2061 1.45% -0.21%
2060 1.43% -0.2%
2059 1.55% -0.15%
2058 1.64% -0.12%
2057 1.68% -0.05%
2056 1.67% -0.07%
2055 1.69% -0.01%
2054 1.71% -0.004%
2053 1.72% 0.03%
2052 1.61% 0.04%
2051 1.7% 0.08%
2050 1.93% 0.13%
2049 1.86% 0.18%
2048 1.86% 0.2%
2047 1.98% 0.21%
2046 1.91% 0.26%
2045 1.92% 0.3%
2044 2.02% 0.31%
2043 1.96% 0.34%
2042 2.12% 0.4%
2041 2.27% 0.42%
2040 2.26% 0.41%
2039 2.18% 0.46%
2038 2.27% 0.48%
2037 2.3% 0.48%
2036 2.31% 0.48%
2035 2.35% 0.53%
2034 2.52% 0.56%
2033 2.55% 0.61%
2032 2.64% 0.63%
2031 2.7% 0.66%
2030 2.69% 0.72%
2029 2.6% 0.78%
2028 2.64% 0.83%
2027 2.74% 0.88%
2026 2.75% 0.96%
2025 2.87% 1.06%
2024 2.88% 1.59%
2023 2.16% 1.89%
2022 1.45% 2%
2021 2.38% 1.41%
2020 3.2% 1.27%
2019 3.03% 1.6%
2018 2.95% 1.46%
2017 2.85% 1.36%
2016 2.57% 1.29%
2015 3.17% 0.95%
2014 3.7% 0.73%
2013 3.48% 0.53%
2012 4.13% 0.42%
2011 3.76% 0.44%
2010 2.98% 0.55%
2009 3.71% 1.02%
2008 2.21% 2.06%
2007 1.91% 2.93%
2006 4.18% 2.73%
2005 3.58% 2.2%
2004 3.64% 1.85%
2003 6.34% 1.64%
2002 5.39% 1.7%
2001 0.76% 1.6%
2000 1.22% 1.34%
1999 3.8% 1.13%
1998 3.84% 1.05%
1997 3.88% 1.01%
1996 4.09% 0.79%
1995 5.02% 0.51%
1994 8.75% 0.39%
1993 12.5% 0.5%
1992 8.5% 0.68%
1991 1.6% 0.58%
1990 1.44% 0.08%
1989 3.04% -0.4%
1988 1.19% -0.43%
1987 -0.28% 0.01%
1986 -0.06% 0.05%
1985 2.11% 0.16%
1984 2.49% 0.62%
1983 -0.67% 0.71%
1982 -7.93% 0.95%
1981 -9.35% 1.18%
1980 -3.56% 1.16%
1979 0.32% 1.34%
1978 2.03% 1.43%
1977 2.15% 1.36%
1976 2.24% 1.52%
1975 2.44% 1.66%
1974 2.56% 1.67%
1973 2.57% 1.62%
1972 2.47% 1.5%
1971 2.46% 1.18%
1970 2.48% 0.84%
1969 2.42% 0.59%
1968 2.39% 0.45%
1967 2.33% 0.47%
1966 2.3% 0.4%
1965 2.26% 0.38%
1964 2.18% 0.49%
1963 2.13% 0.59%
1962 2.07% 0.41%
1961 1.98% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Ireland
Current population
45409324
5518360
Population rank 36/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.07%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
6.24 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
9.61 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +231
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 68/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +35,417
Net migration rank 179/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 35,417
2024 - -44,089 - 39,059
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 19,652 43,873
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 19,287 93,535
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 26,064 27,419
2020 1,134,407 143,634 23,687 15,746
2019 1,138,485 9,159 28,365 29,663
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 29,878 33,387
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 31,379 28,883
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 33,339 18,967
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 35,265 13,376
2014 1,053,788 233,913 37,728 448
2013 1,033,778 18,119 39,302 -12,309
2012 1,004,814 68,628 42,775 -22,411
2011 966,743 384,486 45,801 -26,529
2010 943,473 -167,460 47,426 -26,974
2009 920,581 -60,602 47,168 -18,524
2008 891,246 215,753 46,691 18,979
2007 889,848 -851,298 43,109 76,465
2006 875,301 57,673 36,752 94,513
2005 855,112 250,971 33,279 63,983
2004 850,940 -269,194 33,376 49,102
2003 826,165 247,317 32,372 32,220
2002 776,048 860,349 31,062 34,286
2001 764,090 -212,872 27,837 39,220
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 23,592 31,298
1999 760,727 -32,400 21,402 23,592
1998 719,860 7,380 22,277 16,615
1997 709,778 -21,215 21,311 17,425
1996 685,005 4,072 18,915 9,959
1995 653,280 52,505 16,601 10,019
1994 609,096 315,206 17,234 -3,118
1993 541,257 1,149,684 17,166 -3,762
1992 440,132 1,197,329 20,283 1,335
1991 409,954 32,782 21,206 4,944
1990 402,433 -458,737 21,787 -8,203
1989 381,158 18,296 20,012 -28,752
1988 358,397 -56,263 22,912 -44,020
1987 314,361 -345,535 26,904 -38,426
1986 310,066 -343,397 27,963 -21,139
1985 228,469 -208,685 29,013 -16,178
1984 205,262 248,224 31,791 -15,549
1983 263,778 -172,797 34,053 -15,043
1982 263,210 -500,998 38,344 -14,464
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 39,364 -10,834
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 40,612 -2,876
1979 361,750 -525,413 38,798 1,486
1978 369,101 -117,186 36,288 15,543
1977 372,567 -83,115 35,448 14,505
1976 357,775 -85,430 33,676 14,200
1975 343,850 -44,418 34,128 13,828
1974 330,232 -20,009 34,199 13,482
1973 315,062 -3,030 34,562 13,164
1972 300,633 -4,050 34,316 12,858
1971 288,267 -12,801 35,606 5,851
1970 275,129 4,458 30,756 -8,892
1969 263,823 2,029 29,326 -10,250
1968 251,798 3,333 27,697 -11,132
1967 239,967 6,824 29,895 -11,708
1966 228,786 3,563 26,866 -11,858
1965 217,741 10,695 30,500 -14,016
1964 207,867 7,079 31,532 -15,640
1963 198,035 6,681 29,667 -16,615
1962 188,427 7,016 28,077 -17,438
1961 179,094 6,109 25,137 -22,237
1960 170,257 2,606 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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