Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 1.29 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 1.25% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

Afghanistan vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Italy
2100 131,803,615 35,208,261
2099 131,145,502 35,444,989
2098 130,482,225 35,676,340
2097 129,808,066 35,914,345
2096 129,147,895 36,150,501
2095 128,473,977 36,386,787
2094 127,761,785 36,619,396
2093 127,018,448 36,850,181
2092 126,270,202 37,089,746
2091 125,508,788 37,323,400
2090 124,636,092 37,560,976
2089 123,843,293 37,802,157
2088 123,034,495 38,040,056
2087 122,147,758 38,280,439
2086 121,381,088 38,517,279
2085 120,486,343 38,761,126
2084 119,491,780 39,008,873
2083 118,631,246 39,255,273
2082 117,742,446 39,509,964
2081 116,842,143 39,767,732
2080 115,793,841 40,030,977
2079 114,630,140 40,302,924
2078 113,624,958 40,579,648
2077 112,523,374 40,860,952
2076 111,442,221 41,151,772
2075 110,399,328 41,455,646
2074 109,236,338 41,779,503
2073 107,960,305 42,111,664
2072 106,746,984 42,459,257
2071 105,568,382 42,814,908
2070 104,230,485 43,187,953
2069 102,964,062 43,571,469
2068 101,629,164 43,964,515
2067 100,380,826 44,361,273
2066 99,116,663 44,771,926
2065 97,714,113 45,197,177
2064 96,306,602 45,628,630
2063 94,949,108 46,066,216
2062 93,579,065 46,517,561
2061 92,316,077 46,971,598
2060 91,000,643 47,424,830
2059 89,717,353 47,879,711
2058 88,346,732 48,332,818
2057 86,917,997 48,778,066
2056 85,480,219 49,222,515
2055 84,074,268 49,653,326
2054 82,676,432 50,073,600
2053 81,285,014 50,488,203
2052 79,908,081 50,886,354
2051 78,643,202 51,276,616
2050 77,331,830 51,663,176
2049 75,864,863 52,034,983
2048 74,479,782 52,392,012
2047 73,119,204 52,745,310
2046 71,697,214 53,080,828
2045 70,353,118 53,408,660
2044 69,024,959 53,723,325
2043 67,657,423 54,042,322
2042 66,357,363 54,342,628
2041 64,976,778 54,629,496
2040 63,535,531 54,916,374
2039 62,129,737 55,205,078
2038 60,803,646 55,481,637
2037 59,454,331 55,757,394
2036 58,114,874 56,025,224
2035 56,804,011 56,295,613
2034 55,502,408 56,562,648
2033 54,135,876 56,822,364
2032 52,791,273 57,078,534
2031 51,433,991 57,345,322
2030 50,079,746 57,606,120
2029 48,768,949 57,851,091
2028 47,533,470 58,091,760
2027 46,310,865 58,333,039
2026 45,075,045 58,562,681
2025 43,870,455 58,769,653
2024 42,647,492 58,952,704
2023 41,454,761 58,984,216
2022 40,578,842 59,013,667
2021 40,000,412 59,133,173
2020 39,068,979 59,438,851
2019 37,856,121 59,729,081
2018 36,743,039 60,148,658
2017 35,688,935 60,002,252
2016 34,700,612 60,115,223
2015 33,831,764 60,229,605
2014 32,792,523 60,320,707
2013 31,622,704 60,311,613
2012 30,560,034 60,191,247
2011 29,347,708 60,026,841
2010 28,284,089 59,819,407
2009 27,466,101 59,555,454
2008 26,482,622 59,211,181
2007 25,909,852 58,756,247
2006 25,424,094 58,399,861
2005 24,404,567 58,166,682
2004 23,560,654 57,828,179
2003 22,733,049 57,399,184
2002 21,378,117 57,089,824
2001 20,284,307 56,976,981
2000 20,130,327 56,942,108
1999 19,887,785 56,916,317
1998 19,159,996 56,906,744
1997 18,452,091 56,890,372
1996 17,763,266 56,860,281
1995 17,065,836 56,844,303
1994 16,250,794 56,843,400
1993 14,943,172 56,831,821
1992 13,278,974 56,797,087
1991 12,238,879 56,758,521
1990 12,045,660 56,719,240
1989 11,874,088 56,671,781
1988 11,523,298 56,629,288
1987 11,387,818 56,601,931
1986 11,420,074 56,596,155
1985 11,426,852 56,593,071
1984 11,190,221 56,576,718
1983 10,917,982 56,564,074
1982 10,991,378 56,543,548
1981 11,937,581 56,501,675
1980 13,169,311 56,433,883
1979 13,655,567 56,317,749
1978 13,611,441 56,155,143
1977 13,340,756 55,955,411
1976 13,059,851 55,718,260
1975 12,773,954 55,441,001
1974 12,469,127 55,110,868
1973 12,157,999 54,751,406
1972 11,853,696 54,381,345
1971 11,567,667 54,073,490
1970 11,290,128 53,821,850
1969 11,017,409 53,537,950
1968 10,756,922 53,235,750
1967 10,505,959 52,900,500
1966 10,266,395 52,519,000
1965 10,036,008 52,112,350
1964 9,814,318 51,675,350
1963 9,604,487 51,252,000
1962 9,404,406 50,879,450
1961 9,214,083 50,536,350
1960 9,035,043 50,199,700

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th 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 Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.2M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Italy
2100 0.5% -0.67%
2099 0.51% -0.65%
2098 0.52% -0.66%
2097 0.51% -0.65%
2096 0.52% -0.65%
2095 0.56% -0.64%
2094 0.59% -0.63%
2093 0.59% -0.65%
2092 0.61% -0.63%
2091 0.7% -0.63%
2090 0.64% -0.64%
2089 0.66% -0.63%
2088 0.73% -0.63%
2087 0.63% -0.61%
2086 0.74% -0.63%
2085 0.83% -0.64%
2084 0.73% -0.63%
2083 0.75% -0.64%
2082 0.77% -0.65%
2081 0.91% -0.66%
2080 1.02% -0.67%
2079 0.88% -0.68%
2078 0.98% -0.69%
2077 0.97% -0.71%
2076 0.94% -0.73%
2075 1.06% -0.78%
2074 1.18% -0.79%
2073 1.14% -0.82%
2072 1.12% -0.83%
2071 1.28% -0.86%
2070 1.23% -0.88%
2069 1.31% -0.89%
2068 1.24% -0.89%
2067 1.28% -0.92%
2066 1.44% -0.94%
2065 1.46% -0.95%
2064 1.43% -0.95%
2063 1.46% -0.97%
2062 1.37% -0.97%
2061 1.45% -0.96%
2060 1.43% -0.95%
2059 1.55% -0.94%
2058 1.64% -0.91%
2057 1.68% -0.9%
2056 1.67% -0.87%
2055 1.69% -0.84%
2054 1.71% -0.82%
2053 1.72% -0.78%
2052 1.61% -0.76%
2051 1.7% -0.75%
2050 1.93% -0.71%
2049 1.86% -0.68%
2048 1.86% -0.67%
2047 1.98% -0.63%
2046 1.91% -0.61%
2045 1.92% -0.59%
2044 2.02% -0.59%
2043 1.96% -0.55%
2042 2.12% -0.53%
2041 2.27% -0.52%
2040 2.26% -0.52%
2039 2.18% -0.5%
2038 2.27% -0.49%
2037 2.3% -0.48%
2036 2.31% -0.48%
2035 2.35% -0.47%
2034 2.52% -0.46%
2033 2.55% -0.45%
2032 2.64% -0.47%
2031 2.7% -0.45%
2030 2.69% -0.42%
2029 2.6% -0.41%
2028 2.64% -0.41%
2027 2.74% -0.39%
2026 2.75% -0.35%
2025 2.87% -0.31%
2024 2.88% -0.05%
2023 2.16% -0.05%
2022 1.45% -0.2%
2021 2.38% -0.51%
2020 3.2% -0.49%
2019 3.03% -0.7%
2018 2.95% 0.24%
2017 2.85% -0.19%
2016 2.57% -0.19%
2015 3.17% -0.15%
2014 3.7% 0.02%
2013 3.48% 0.2%
2012 4.13% 0.27%
2011 3.76% 0.35%
2010 2.98% 0.44%
2009 3.71% 0.58%
2008 2.21% 0.77%
2007 1.91% 0.61%
2006 4.18% 0.4%
2005 3.58% 0.59%
2004 3.64% 0.75%
2003 6.34% 0.54%
2002 5.39% 0.2%
2001 0.76% 0.06%
2000 1.22% 0.05%
1999 3.8% 0.02%
1998 3.84% 0.03%
1997 3.88% 0.05%
1996 4.09% 0.03%
1995 5.02% 0.002%
1994 8.75% 0.02%
1993 12.5% 0.06%
1992 8.5% 0.07%
1991 1.6% 0.07%
1990 1.44% 0.08%
1989 3.04% 0.08%
1988 1.19% 0.05%
1987 -0.28% 0.01%
1986 -0.06% 0.005%
1985 2.11% 0.03%
1984 2.49% 0.02%
1983 -0.67% 0.04%
1982 -7.93% 0.07%
1981 -9.35% 0.12%
1980 -3.56% 0.21%
1979 0.32% 0.29%
1978 2.03% 0.36%
1977 2.15% 0.43%
1976 2.24% 0.5%
1975 2.44% 0.6%
1974 2.56% 0.66%
1973 2.57% 0.68%
1972 2.47% 0.57%
1971 2.46% 0.47%
1970 2.48% 0.53%
1969 2.42% 0.57%
1968 2.39% 0.63%
1967 2.33% 0.73%
1966 2.3% 0.78%
1965 2.26% 0.85%
1964 2.18% 0.83%
1963 2.13% 0.73%
1962 2.07% 0.68%
1961 1.98% 0.67%

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/italy | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Italy
Current population
45409324
58562681
Population rank 36/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.71%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
16.7 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.39 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -86
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 170/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +75,448
Net migration rank 179/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 75,448
2024 - -44,089 - 95,246
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -283,125 150,189
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -318,674 231,228
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -301,579 157,327
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -338,801 85,281
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -215,025 46,634
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -192,475 83,686
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -192,007 95,147
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -138,265 84,568
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -162,620 39,389
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -96,513 52,679
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -90,468 158,090
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -78,248 252,524
2011 966,743 384,486 -48,021 198,544
2010 943,473 -167,460 -23,928 274,387
2009 920,581 -60,602 -17,866 283,676
2008 891,246 215,753 -11,842 422,534
2007 889,848 -851,298 -5,876 495,092
2006 875,301 57,673 0 215,995
2005 855,112 250,971 -17,450 258,702
2004 850,940 -269,194 11,566 417,970
2003 826,165 247,317 -40,179 478,578
2002 776,048 860,349 -22,836 223,861
2001 764,090 -212,872 -11,396 48,903
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -17,082 56,065
1999 760,727 -32,400 -22,766 54,405
1998 719,860 7,380 -39,835 67,985
1997 709,778 -21,215 -22,756 50,539
1996 685,005 4,072 -22,744 53,450
1995 653,280 52,505 -34,107 -460,287
1994 609,096 315,206 -17,053 502,750
1993 541,257 1,149,684 0 24,321
1992 440,132 1,197,329 22,718 51,747
1991 409,954 32,782 11,352 19,721
1990 402,433 -458,737 22,688 35,317
1989 381,158 18,296 28,336 19,540
1988 358,397 -56,263 33,977 18,553
1987 314,361 -345,535 16,980 7,825
1986 310,066 -343,397 11,319 -6,206
1985 228,469 -208,685 28,297 6,911
1984 205,262 248,224 50,919 203
1983 263,778 -172,797 33,939 -3,733
1982 263,210 -500,998 79,161 -24,223
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 73,452 7,182
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 84,650 295,642
1979 361,750 -525,413 129,531 42,637
1978 369,101 -117,186 168,465 43,932
1977 372,567 -83,115 190,248 42,246
1976 357,775 -85,430 228,445 40,885
1975 343,850 -44,418 271,660 43,051
1974 330,232 -20,009 336,176 42,487
1973 315,062 -3,030 328,508 41,631
1972 300,633 -4,050 364,355 43,182
1971 288,267 -12,801 383,922 -58,627
1970 275,129 4,458 376,753 -62,216
1969 263,823 2,029 390,827 -45,346
1968 251,798 3,333 399,268 -50,149
1967 239,967 6,824 439,074 -37,992
1966 228,786 3,563 488,427 -35,352
1965 217,741 10,695 474,222 -36,267
1964 207,867 7,079 527,089 -27,368
1963 198,035 6,681 440,767 -28,198
1962 188,427 7,016 427,387 -25,840
1961 179,094 6,109 459,880 -129,761
1960 170,257 2,606 426,697 -140,765

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/italy | 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 Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

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
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.