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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 4,897,263 people in Kuwait in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,100,145 in Kuwait.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.9 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Kuwait is the 127th.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.06% for Kuwait.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +3.1% in Kuwait.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Kuwait has grown from 2.36M to 5.1M (115.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Kuwait: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Kuwait
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Kuwait
2100 131,803,615 9,589,440
2099 131,145,502 9,513,152
2098 130,482,225 9,437,521
2097 129,808,066 9,362,225
2096 129,147,895 9,287,200
2095 128,473,977 9,212,523
2094 127,761,785 9,138,210
2093 127,018,448 9,064,241
2092 126,270,202 8,990,676
2091 125,508,788 8,917,547
2090 124,636,092 8,844,888
2089 123,843,293 8,772,503
2088 123,034,495 8,700,563
2087 122,147,758 8,629,117
2086 121,381,088 8,558,199
2085 120,486,343 8,487,764
2084 119,491,780 8,417,828
2083 118,631,246 8,348,353
2082 117,742,446 8,279,354
2081 116,842,143 8,210,772
2080 115,793,841 8,142,636
2079 114,630,140 8,075,101
2078 113,624,958 8,008,036
2077 112,523,374 7,941,463
2076 111,442,221 7,875,406
2075 110,399,328 7,809,930
2074 109,236,338 7,745,028
2073 107,960,305 7,680,639
2072 106,746,984 7,616,806
2071 105,568,382 7,553,744
2070 104,230,485 7,491,390
2069 102,964,062 7,429,571
2068 101,629,164 7,368,423
2067 100,380,826 7,307,932
2066 99,116,663 7,248,116
2065 97,714,113 7,188,899
2064 96,306,602 7,130,298
2063 94,949,108 7,072,099
2062 93,579,065 7,014,494
2061 92,316,077 6,957,511
2060 91,000,643 6,901,153
2059 89,717,353 6,845,293
2058 88,346,732 6,789,909
2057 86,917,997 6,734,955
2056 85,480,219 6,680,523
2055 84,074,268 6,626,403
2054 82,676,432 6,572,580
2053 81,285,014 6,518,885
2052 79,908,081 6,465,284
2051 78,643,202 6,411,692
2050 77,331,830 6,358,029
2049 75,864,863 6,304,394
2048 74,479,782 6,250,650
2047 73,119,204 6,196,914
2046 71,697,214 6,143,120
2045 70,353,118 6,089,197
2044 69,024,959 6,035,156
2043 67,657,423 5,981,241
2042 66,357,363 5,927,307
2041 64,976,778 5,873,587
2040 63,535,531 5,820,161
2039 62,129,737 5,767,029
2038 60,803,646 5,714,211
2037 59,454,331 5,661,929
2036 58,114,874 5,610,194
2035 56,804,011 5,559,069
2034 55,502,408 5,508,623
2033 54,135,876 5,458,935
2032 52,791,273 5,410,081
2031 51,433,991 5,362,063
2030 50,079,746 5,314,935
2029 48,768,949 5,265,492
2028 47,533,470 5,212,438
2027 46,310,865 5,152,065
2026 45,075,045 5,080,894
2025 43,870,455 4,998,262
2024 42,647,492 4,897,263
2023 41,454,761 4,853,420
2022 40,578,842 4,589,643
2021 40,000,412 4,360,865
2020 39,068,979 4,400,267
2019 37,856,121 4,442,316
2018 36,743,039 4,323,515
2017 35,688,935 4,154,812
2016 34,700,612 4,004,096
2015 33,831,764 3,834,574
2014 32,792,523 3,665,876
2013 31,622,704 3,507,844
2012 30,560,034 3,337,109
2011 29,347,708 3,132,814
2010 28,284,089 2,943,372
2009 27,466,101 2,795,484
2008 26,482,622 2,651,421
2007 25,909,852 2,507,887
2006 25,424,094 2,364,733
2005 24,404,567 2,236,788
2004 23,560,654 2,157,320
2003 22,733,049 2,109,881
2002 21,378,117 2,059,974
2001 20,284,307 2,008,121
2000 20,130,327 1,954,709
1999 19,887,785 1,900,030
1998 19,159,996 1,844,302
1997 18,452,091 1,787,683
1996 17,763,266 1,730,246
1995 17,065,836 1,681,513
1994 16,250,794 1,664,361
1993 14,943,172 1,672,151
1992 13,278,974 1,634,961
1991 12,238,879 1,351,399
1990 12,045,660 1,684,819
1989 11,874,088 2,217,468
1988 11,523,298 2,134,707
1987 11,387,818 2,052,994
1986 11,420,074 1,972,520
1985 11,426,852 1,894,242
1984 11,190,221 1,820,688
1983 10,917,982 1,744,295
1982 10,991,378 1,662,480
1981 11,937,581 1,583,426
1980 13,169,311 1,504,782
1979 13,655,567 1,423,514
1978 13,611,441 1,340,319
1977 13,340,756 1,258,023
1976 13,059,851 1,178,711
1975 12,773,954 1,104,863
1974 12,469,127 1,038,346
1973 12,157,999 977,654
1972 11,853,696 920,352
1971 11,567,667 865,076
1970 11,290,128 809,114
1969 11,017,409 749,452
1968 10,756,922 687,716
1967 10,505,959 628,089
1966 10,266,395 572,590
1965 10,036,008 521,174
1964 9,814,318 473,115
1963 9,604,487 427,694
1962 9,404,406 384,995
1961 9,214,083 345,945
1960 9,035,043 311,060

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/kuwait | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Kuwait gained 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Kuwait's population increased by 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Kuwait was ranked 139th in 2006 and ranked 127th 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 Kuwait will increase by 24.7% to 6,358,029 people and rank change from 127th to 117th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 9.59M people in 2100 for Kuwait.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Kuwait
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Kuwait
2100 0.5% 0.8%
2099 0.51% 0.8%
2098 0.52% 0.8%
2097 0.51% 0.81%
2096 0.52% 0.81%
2095 0.56% 0.81%
2094 0.59% 0.82%
2093 0.59% 0.82%
2092 0.61% 0.82%
2091 0.7% 0.82%
2090 0.64% 0.83%
2089 0.66% 0.83%
2088 0.73% 0.83%
2087 0.63% 0.83%
2086 0.74% 0.83%
2085 0.83% 0.83%
2084 0.73% 0.83%
2083 0.75% 0.83%
2082 0.77% 0.84%
2081 0.91% 0.84%
2080 1.02% 0.84%
2079 0.88% 0.84%
2078 0.98% 0.84%
2077 0.97% 0.84%
2076 0.94% 0.84%
2075 1.06% 0.84%
2074 1.18% 0.84%
2073 1.14% 0.84%
2072 1.12% 0.83%
2071 1.28% 0.83%
2070 1.23% 0.83%
2069 1.31% 0.83%
2068 1.24% 0.83%
2067 1.28% 0.83%
2066 1.44% 0.82%
2065 1.46% 0.82%
2064 1.43% 0.82%
2063 1.46% 0.82%
2062 1.37% 0.82%
2061 1.45% 0.82%
2060 1.43% 0.82%
2059 1.55% 0.82%
2058 1.64% 0.82%
2057 1.68% 0.81%
2056 1.67% 0.82%
2055 1.69% 0.82%
2054 1.71% 0.82%
2053 1.72% 0.83%
2052 1.61% 0.84%
2051 1.7% 0.84%
2050 1.93% 0.85%
2049 1.86% 0.86%
2048 1.86% 0.87%
2047 1.98% 0.88%
2046 1.91% 0.89%
2045 1.92% 0.9%
2044 2.02% 0.9%
2043 1.96% 0.91%
2042 2.12% 0.91%
2041 2.27% 0.92%
2040 2.26% 0.92%
2039 2.18% 0.92%
2038 2.27% 0.92%
2037 2.3% 0.92%
2036 2.31% 0.92%
2035 2.35% 0.92%
2034 2.52% 0.91%
2033 2.55% 0.9%
2032 2.64% 0.9%
2031 2.7% 0.89%
2030 2.69% 0.94%
2029 2.6% 1.02%
2028 2.64% 1.17%
2027 2.74% 1.4%
2026 2.75% 1.65%
2025 2.87% 2.06%
2024 2.88% 0.9%
2023 2.16% 5.75%
2022 1.45% 5.25%
2021 2.38% -0.9%
2020 3.2% -0.95%
2019 3.03% 2.75%
2018 2.95% 4.06%
2017 2.85% 3.76%
2016 2.57% 4.42%
2015 3.17% 4.6%
2014 3.7% 4.51%
2013 3.48% 5.12%
2012 4.13% 6.52%
2011 3.76% 6.44%
2010 2.98% 5.29%
2009 3.71% 5.43%
2008 2.21% 5.72%
2007 1.91% 6.05%
2006 4.18% 5.72%
2005 3.58% 3.68%
2004 3.64% 2.25%
2003 6.34% 2.42%
2002 5.39% 2.58%
2001 0.76% 2.73%
2000 1.22% 2.88%
1999 3.8% 3.02%
1998 3.84% 3.17%
1997 3.88% 3.32%
1996 4.09% 2.9%
1995 5.02% 1.03%
1994 8.75% -0.47%
1993 12.5% 2.27%
1992 8.5% 21%
1991 1.6% -19.8%
1990 1.44% -24%
1989 3.04% 3.88%
1988 1.19% 3.98%
1987 -0.28% 4.08%
1986 -0.06% 4.13%
1985 2.11% 4.04%
1984 2.49% 4.38%
1983 -0.67% 4.92%
1982 -7.93% 4.99%
1981 -9.35% 5.23%
1980 -3.56% 5.71%
1979 0.32% 6.21%
1978 2.03% 6.54%
1977 2.15% 6.73%
1976 2.24% 6.68%
1975 2.44% 6.41%
1974 2.56% 6.21%
1973 2.57% 6.23%
1972 2.47% 6.39%
1971 2.46% 6.92%
1970 2.48% 7.96%
1969 2.42% 8.98%
1968 2.39% 9.49%
1967 2.33% 9.69%
1966 2.3% 9.87%
1965 2.26% 10.2%
1964 2.18% 10.6%
1963 2.13% 11.1%
1962 2.07% 11.3%
1961 1.98% 11.2%

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/kuwait | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Kuwait's population grew by 0.9%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Kuwait
Current population
45409324
5100145
Population rank 36/197 127/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.06%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
12 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
10.5 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.18 hours
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +120
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +43,843
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.9%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 106/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
12.3 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +42,775
Net migration rank 179/196 24/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 3,323,191
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 20/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 67.3%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 5/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Kuwait
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Kuwait
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 42,775
2024 - -44,089 - 61,624
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 42,568 50,008
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 41,752 368,560
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 42,057 19,678
2020 1,134,407 143,634 41,083 -168,379
2019 1,138,485 9,159 46,268 181
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 47,222 145,973
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 51,498 92,717
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 51,397 105,818
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 52,127 129,695
2014 1,053,788 233,913 54,673 100,891
2013 1,033,778 18,119 52,666 107,821
2012 1,004,814 68,628 53,181 127,777
2011 966,743 384,486 50,733 176,732
2010 943,473 -167,460 49,838 101,566
2009 920,581 -60,602 48,879 95,483
2008 891,246 215,753 47,505 96,268
2007 889,848 -851,298 46,539 96,765
2006 875,301 57,673 45,911 97,087
2005 855,112 250,971 45,243 67,638
2004 850,940 -269,194 44,341 1,713
2003 826,165 247,317 42,934 5,895
2002 776,048 860,349 41,651 9,335
2001 764,090 -212,872 40,662 12,055
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 39,811 14,296
1999 760,727 -32,400 39,342 15,912
1998 719,860 7,380 39,324 16,878
1997 709,778 -21,215 39,581 17,457
1996 685,005 4,072 39,920 17,914
1995 653,280 52,505 39,198 438
1994 609,096 315,206 36,533 -41,862
1993 541,257 1,149,684 33,239 -43,501
1992 440,132 1,197,329 32,016 52,620
1991 409,954 32,782 21,867 460,628
1990 402,433 -458,737 46,720 -1,196,050
1989 381,158 18,296 49,390 34,643
1988 358,397 -56,263 50,037 31,455
1987 314,361 -345,535 50,690 31,243
1986 310,066 -343,397 51,824 27,187
1985 228,469 -208,685 51,772 25,777
1984 205,262 248,224 52,539 17,020
1983 263,778 -172,797 51,460 31,758
1982 263,210 -500,998 49,981 30,437
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 48,098 29,600
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 47,096 32,483
1979 361,750 -525,413 45,569 37,383
1978 369,101 -117,186 44,277 39,159
1977 372,567 -83,115 42,922 38,225
1976 357,775 -85,430 41,439 36,050
1975 343,850 -44,418 39,295 30,909
1974 330,232 -20,009 37,425 25,398
1973 315,062 -3,030 35,741 22,830
1972 300,633 -4,050 34,045 21,984
1971 288,267 -12,801 32,339 22,182
1970 275,129 4,458 30,789 26,614
1969 263,823 2,029 28,774 33,143
1968 251,798 3,333 26,161 35,399
1967 239,967 6,824 23,520 34,177
1966 228,786 3,563 20,914 32,383
1965 217,741 10,695 18,952 30,580
1964 207,867 7,079 17,064 29,537
1963 198,035 6,681 15,357 28,889
1962 188,427 7,016 13,730 27,417
1961 179,094 6,109 12,327 24,618
1960 170,257 2,606 11,054 21,769

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/kuwait | 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 Kuwait 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 470,645 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 845,142 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 3,323,191 people or 67.3% in Kuwait.

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
Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K

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/kuwait | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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