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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 2.7 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 2.03% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Afghanistan vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Japan
2100 131,803,615 76,978,998
2099 131,145,502 77,363,458
2098 130,482,225 77,742,445
2097 129,808,066 78,118,375
2096 129,147,895 78,498,614
2095 128,473,977 78,875,245
2094 127,761,785 79,250,325
2093 127,018,448 79,628,057
2092 126,270,202 80,007,967
2091 125,508,788 80,383,529
2090 124,636,092 80,760,724
2089 123,843,293 81,140,553
2088 123,034,495 81,521,696
2087 122,147,758 81,908,373
2086 121,381,088 82,304,497
2085 120,486,343 82,709,534
2084 119,491,780 83,123,058
2083 118,631,246 83,544,006
2082 117,742,446 83,980,325
2081 116,842,143 84,429,305
2080 115,793,841 84,899,768
2079 114,630,140 85,387,247
2078 113,624,958 85,897,934
2077 112,523,374 86,434,291
2076 111,442,221 86,993,007
2075 110,399,328 87,577,777
2074 109,236,338 88,190,392
2073 107,960,305 88,834,763
2072 106,746,984 89,499,356
2071 105,568,382 90,184,464
2070 104,230,485 90,899,136
2069 102,964,062 91,625,421
2068 101,629,164 92,367,969
2067 100,380,826 93,113,499
2066 99,116,663 93,869,240
2065 97,714,113 94,633,430
2064 96,306,602 95,391,433
2063 94,949,108 96,148,081
2062 93,579,065 96,902,907
2061 92,316,077 97,654,031
2060 91,000,643 98,400,894
2059 89,717,353 99,144,216
2058 88,346,732 99,868,968
2057 86,917,997 100,585,601
2056 85,480,219 101,295,868
2055 84,074,268 101,989,736
2054 82,676,432 102,683,462
2053 81,285,014 103,359,083
2052 79,908,081 104,036,901
2051 78,643,202 104,706,698
2050 77,331,830 105,377,283
2049 75,864,863 106,053,011
2048 74,479,782 106,731,207
2047 73,119,204 107,419,237
2046 71,697,214 108,115,358
2045 70,353,118 108,820,982
2044 69,024,959 109,529,333
2043 67,657,423 110,245,586
2042 66,357,363 110,968,174
2041 64,976,778 111,704,629
2040 63,535,531 112,438,759
2039 62,129,737 113,175,948
2038 60,803,646 113,915,783
2037 59,454,331 114,662,374
2036 58,114,874 115,410,956
2035 56,804,011 116,162,381
2034 55,502,408 116,911,001
2033 54,135,876 117,652,676
2032 52,791,273 118,393,188
2031 51,433,991 119,127,425
2030 50,079,746 119,856,131
2029 48,768,949 120,574,242
2028 47,533,470 121,287,543
2027 46,310,865 121,989,133
2026 45,075,045 122,677,250
2025 43,870,455 123,339,586
2024 42,647,492 123,975,371
2023 41,454,761 124,516,650
2022 40,578,842 125,124,989
2021 40,000,412 125,681,593
2020 39,068,979 126,261,000
2019 37,856,121 126,633,000
2018 36,743,039 126,811,000
2017 35,688,935 126,972,000
2016 34,700,612 127,076,000
2015 33,831,764 127,141,000
2014 32,792,523 127,276,000
2013 31,622,704 127,445,000
2012 30,560,034 127,629,000
2011 29,347,708 127,833,000
2010 28,284,089 128,070,000
2009 27,466,101 128,047,000
2008 26,482,622 128,063,000
2007 25,909,852 128,001,000
2006 25,424,094 127,854,000
2005 24,404,567 127,773,000
2004 23,560,654 127,761,000
2003 22,733,049 127,718,000
2002 21,378,117 127,445,000
2001 20,284,307 127,149,000
2000 20,130,327 126,843,000
1999 19,887,785 126,631,000
1998 19,159,996 126,400,000
1997 18,452,091 126,057,000
1996 17,763,266 125,757,000
1995 17,065,836 125,472,000
1994 16,250,794 125,178,000
1993 14,943,172 124,829,000
1992 13,278,974 124,425,000
1991 12,238,879 123,964,000
1990 12,045,660 123,478,000
1989 11,874,088 123,069,000
1988 11,523,298 122,578,000
1987 11,387,818 122,069,000
1986 11,420,074 121,482,000
1985 11,426,852 120,837,000
1984 11,190,221 120,083,000
1983 10,917,982 119,307,000
1982 10,991,378 118,480,000
1981 11,937,581 117,661,000
1980 13,169,311 116,807,000
1979 13,655,567 115,890,000
1978 13,611,441 114,913,000
1977 13,340,756 113,872,000
1976 13,059,851 112,775,000
1975 12,773,954 111,573,000
1974 12,469,127 110,162,000
1973 12,157,999 108,707,000
1972 11,853,696 107,188,000
1971 11,567,667 105,697,000
1970 11,290,128 103,403,000
1969 11,017,409 102,219,000
1968 10,756,922 101,011,000
1967 10,505,959 99,879,000
1966 10,266,395 98,851,000
1965 10,036,008 97,952,000
1964 9,814,318 96,903,000
1963 9,604,487 95,900,000
1962 9,404,406 94,933,000
1961 9,214,083 94,055,000
1960 9,035,043 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Japan
2100 0.5% -0.5%
2099 0.51% -0.49%
2098 0.52% -0.48%
2097 0.51% -0.48%
2096 0.52% -0.48%
2095 0.56% -0.47%
2094 0.59% -0.47%
2093 0.59% -0.47%
2092 0.61% -0.47%
2091 0.7% -0.47%
2090 0.64% -0.47%
2089 0.66% -0.47%
2088 0.73% -0.47%
2087 0.63% -0.48%
2086 0.74% -0.49%
2085 0.83% -0.5%
2084 0.73% -0.5%
2083 0.75% -0.52%
2082 0.77% -0.53%
2081 0.91% -0.55%
2080 1.02% -0.57%
2079 0.88% -0.59%
2078 0.98% -0.62%
2077 0.97% -0.64%
2076 0.94% -0.67%
2075 1.06% -0.69%
2074 1.18% -0.73%
2073 1.14% -0.74%
2072 1.12% -0.76%
2071 1.28% -0.79%
2070 1.23% -0.79%
2069 1.31% -0.8%
2068 1.24% -0.8%
2067 1.28% -0.81%
2066 1.44% -0.81%
2065 1.46% -0.79%
2064 1.43% -0.79%
2063 1.46% -0.78%
2062 1.37% -0.77%
2061 1.45% -0.76%
2060 1.43% -0.75%
2059 1.55% -0.73%
2058 1.64% -0.71%
2057 1.68% -0.7%
2056 1.67% -0.68%
2055 1.69% -0.68%
2054 1.71% -0.65%
2053 1.72% -0.65%
2052 1.61% -0.64%
2051 1.7% -0.64%
2050 1.93% -0.64%
2049 1.86% -0.64%
2048 1.86% -0.64%
2047 1.98% -0.64%
2046 1.91% -0.65%
2045 1.92% -0.65%
2044 2.02% -0.65%
2043 1.96% -0.65%
2042 2.12% -0.66%
2041 2.27% -0.65%
2040 2.26% -0.65%
2039 2.18% -0.65%
2038 2.27% -0.65%
2037 2.3% -0.65%
2036 2.31% -0.65%
2035 2.35% -0.64%
2034 2.52% -0.63%
2033 2.55% -0.63%
2032 2.64% -0.62%
2031 2.7% -0.61%
2030 2.69% -0.6%
2029 2.6% -0.59%
2028 2.64% -0.58%
2027 2.74% -0.56%
2026 2.75% -0.54%
2025 2.87% -0.51%
2024 2.88% -0.43%
2023 2.16% -0.49%
2022 1.45% -0.44%
2021 2.38% -0.46%
2020 3.2% -0.29%
2019 3.03% -0.14%
2018 2.95% -0.13%
2017 2.85% -0.08%
2016 2.57% -0.05%
2015 3.17% -0.11%
2014 3.7% -0.13%
2013 3.48% -0.14%
2012 4.13% -0.16%
2011 3.76% -0.19%
2010 2.98% 0.02%
2009 3.71% -0.01%
2008 2.21% 0.05%
2007 1.91% 0.11%
2006 4.18% 0.06%
2005 3.58% 0.009%
2004 3.64% 0.03%
2003 6.34% 0.21%
2002 5.39% 0.23%
2001 0.76% 0.24%
2000 1.22% 0.17%
1999 3.8% 0.18%
1998 3.84% 0.27%
1997 3.88% 0.24%
1996 4.09% 0.23%
1995 5.02% 0.23%
1994 8.75% 0.28%
1993 12.5% 0.32%
1992 8.5% 0.37%
1991 1.6% 0.39%
1990 1.44% 0.33%
1989 3.04% 0.4%
1988 1.19% 0.42%
1987 -0.28% 0.48%
1986 -0.06% 0.53%
1985 2.11% 0.63%
1984 2.49% 0.65%
1983 -0.67% 0.7%
1982 -7.93% 0.7%
1981 -9.35% 0.73%
1980 -3.56% 0.79%
1979 0.32% 0.85%
1978 2.03% 0.91%
1977 2.15% 0.97%
1976 2.24% 1.08%
1975 2.44% 1.28%
1974 2.56% 1.34%
1973 2.57% 1.42%
1972 2.47% 1.41%
1971 2.46% 2.22%
1970 2.48% 1.16%
1969 2.42% 1.2%
1968 2.39% 1.13%
1967 2.33% 1.04%
1966 2.3% 0.92%
1965 2.26% 1.08%
1964 2.18% 1.05%
1963 2.13% 1.02%
1962 2.07% 0.93%
1961 1.98% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Japan
Current population
45409324
122677250
Population rank 36/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.48%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
58.3 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
42.2 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 185/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +140,579
Net migration rank 179/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 140,579
2024 - -44,089 - 153,357
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -871,617 175,003
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -825,825 175,003
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -640,976 -34,996
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -542,923 42,001
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -531,858 318,190
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -456,520 320,601
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -406,310 322,564
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -343,106 314,732
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -292,424 168,896
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -267,279 58,109
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -242,146 66,449
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -229,733 67,904
2011 966,743 384,486 -204,533 97,720
2010 943,473 -167,460 -128,070 131,860
2009 920,581 -60,602 -76,828 125,450
2008 891,246 215,753 -51,225 142,605
2007 889,848 -851,298 -25,600 138,024
2006 875,301 57,673 12,785 130,065
2005 855,112 250,971 -25,554 113,017
2004 850,940 -269,194 76,656 69,014
2003 826,165 247,317 114,946 74,875
2002 776,048 860,349 178,423 60,864
2001 764,090 -212,872 203,438 59,563
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 228,317 23,468
1999 760,727 -32,400 202,610 56,901
1998 719,860 7,380 265,440 45,912
1997 709,778 -21,215 277,325 43,366
1996 685,005 4,072 314,392 25,030
1995 653,280 52,505 276,039 87,714
1994 609,096 315,206 363,017 154,214
1993 541,257 1,149,684 312,073 168,836
1992 440,132 1,197,329 360,833 170,878
1991 409,954 32,782 396,685 161,331
1990 402,433 -458,737 407,478 124,582
1989 381,158 18,296 467,662 31,202
1988 358,397 -56,263 527,085 51,154
1987 314,361 -345,535 598,138 28,001
1986 310,066 -343,397 631,706 27,987
1985 228,469 -208,685 676,687 -141,323
1984 205,262 248,224 756,523 -273,686
1983 263,778 -172,797 775,495 -269,755
1982 263,210 -500,998 805,664 -288,550
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 811,861 -278,525
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 864,372 -92,314
1979 361,750 -525,413 950,298 -57,692
1978 369,101 -117,186 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 372,567 -83,115 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 357,775 -85,430 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 343,850 -44,418 1,204,989 107
1974 330,232 -20,009 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 315,062 -3,030 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 300,633 -4,050 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 288,267 -12,801 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 275,129 4,458 1,230,496 33,731
1969 263,823 2,029 1,195,962 49,447
1968 251,798 3,333 1,191,930 43,593
1967 239,967 6,824 1,258,475 29,632
1966 228,786 3,563 682,072 68,934
1965 217,741 10,695 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 207,867 7,079 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 198,035 6,681 987,770 -100,742
1962 188,427 7,016 901,864 -57,075
1961 179,094 6,109 893,522 -58,882
1960 170,257 2,606 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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