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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 8,004,838 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 5.67 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.64% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Laos
2100 131,803,615 9,342,607
2099 131,145,502 9,389,481
2098 130,482,225 9,435,427
2097 129,808,066 9,480,219
2096 129,147,895 9,524,052
2095 128,473,977 9,567,045
2094 127,761,785 9,609,471
2093 127,018,448 9,651,065
2092 126,270,202 9,691,590
2091 125,508,788 9,731,446
2090 124,636,092 9,770,116
2089 123,843,293 9,807,690
2088 123,034,495 9,844,143
2087 122,147,758 9,879,110
2086 121,381,088 9,912,903
2085 120,486,343 9,945,223
2084 119,491,780 9,975,614
2083 118,631,246 10,005,023
2082 117,742,446 10,032,558
2081 116,842,143 10,058,731
2080 115,793,841 10,083,222
2079 114,630,140 10,106,703
2078 113,624,958 10,128,372
2077 112,523,374 10,148,533
2076 111,442,221 10,165,829
2075 110,399,328 10,182,062
2074 109,236,338 10,196,505
2073 107,960,305 10,208,837
2072 106,746,984 10,218,581
2071 105,568,382 10,225,726
2070 104,230,485 10,231,909
2069 102,964,062 10,235,317
2068 101,629,164 10,235,668
2067 100,380,826 10,233,930
2066 99,116,663 10,228,744
2065 97,714,113 10,222,027
2064 96,306,602 10,212,674
2063 94,949,108 10,200,753
2062 93,579,065 10,186,526
2061 92,316,077 10,169,161
2060 91,000,643 10,149,107
2059 89,717,353 10,126,671
2058 88,346,732 10,100,989
2057 86,917,997 10,072,578
2056 85,480,219 10,041,736
2055 84,074,268 10,008,916
2054 82,676,432 9,972,602
2053 81,285,014 9,933,363
2052 79,908,081 9,891,383
2051 78,643,202 9,846,656
2050 77,331,830 9,799,766
2049 75,864,863 9,750,669
2048 74,479,782 9,697,931
2047 73,119,204 9,643,484
2046 71,697,214 9,586,249
2045 70,353,118 9,527,029
2044 69,024,959 9,465,046
2043 67,657,423 9,401,665
2042 66,357,363 9,334,890
2041 64,976,778 9,266,149
2040 63,535,531 9,195,755
2039 62,129,737 9,122,969
2038 60,803,646 9,046,689
2037 59,454,331 8,968,700
2036 58,114,874 8,888,903
2035 56,804,011 8,807,373
2034 55,502,408 8,723,937
2033 54,135,876 8,638,238
2032 52,791,273 8,550,017
2031 51,433,991 8,459,669
2030 50,079,746 8,367,305
2029 48,768,949 8,273,173
2028 47,533,470 8,176,811
2027 46,310,865 8,078,122
2026 45,075,045 7,977,666
2025 43,870,455 7,874,813
2024 42,647,492 7,769,819
2023 41,454,761 7,664,993
2022 40,578,842 7,559,007
2021 40,000,412 7,453,194
2020 39,068,979 7,346,533
2019 37,856,121 7,237,636
2018 36,743,039 7,128,045
2017 35,688,935 7,018,147
2016 34,700,612 6,908,802
2015 33,831,764 6,801,645
2014 32,792,523 6,703,172
2013 31,622,704 6,611,385
2012 30,560,034 6,518,978
2011 29,347,708 6,426,590
2010 28,284,089 6,334,194
2009 27,466,101 6,241,642
2008 26,482,622 6,148,969
2007 25,909,852 6,056,236
2006 25,424,094 5,963,200
2005 24,404,567 5,869,523
2004 23,560,654 5,781,626
2003 22,733,049 5,697,945
2002 21,378,117 5,610,889
2001 20,284,307 5,521,482
2000 20,130,327 5,431,212
1999 19,887,785 5,340,784
1998 19,159,996 5,248,266
1997 18,452,091 5,152,011
1996 17,763,266 5,045,678
1995 17,065,836 4,929,409
1994 16,250,794 4,809,220
1993 14,943,172 4,685,060
1992 13,278,974 4,559,646
1991 12,238,879 4,435,118
1990 12,045,660 4,311,955
1989 11,874,088 4,190,974
1988 11,523,298 4,072,601
1987 11,387,818 3,957,612
1986 11,420,074 3,846,715
1985 11,426,852 3,739,985
1984 11,190,221 3,637,843
1983 10,917,982 3,541,001
1982 10,991,378 3,450,026
1981 11,937,581 3,366,631
1980 13,169,311 3,292,573
1979 13,655,567 3,228,202
1978 13,611,441 3,171,740
1977 13,340,756 3,118,923
1976 13,059,851 3,064,876
1975 12,773,954 3,005,521
1974 12,469,127 2,939,761
1973 12,157,999 2,870,573
1972 11,853,696 2,801,660
1971 11,567,667 2,734,628
1970 11,290,128 2,669,702
1969 11,017,409 2,606,959
1968 10,756,922 2,546,377
1967 10,505,959 2,487,715
1966 10,266,395 2,431,084
1965 10,036,008 2,376,200
1964 9,814,318 2,322,826
1963 9,604,487 2,271,061
1962 9,404,406 2,219,910
1961 9,214,083 2,169,796
1960 9,035,043 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Laos
2100 0.5% -0.5%
2099 0.51% -0.49%
2098 0.52% -0.47%
2097 0.51% -0.46%
2096 0.52% -0.45%
2095 0.56% -0.44%
2094 0.59% -0.43%
2093 0.59% -0.42%
2092 0.61% -0.41%
2091 0.7% -0.4%
2090 0.64% -0.38%
2089 0.66% -0.37%
2088 0.73% -0.35%
2087 0.63% -0.34%
2086 0.74% -0.32%
2085 0.83% -0.3%
2084 0.73% -0.29%
2083 0.75% -0.27%
2082 0.77% -0.26%
2081 0.91% -0.24%
2080 1.02% -0.23%
2079 0.88% -0.21%
2078 0.98% -0.2%
2077 0.97% -0.17%
2076 0.94% -0.16%
2075 1.06% -0.14%
2074 1.18% -0.12%
2073 1.14% -0.1%
2072 1.12% -0.07%
2071 1.28% -0.06%
2070 1.23% -0.03%
2069 1.31% -0.003%
2068 1.24% 0.02%
2067 1.28% 0.05%
2066 1.44% 0.07%
2065 1.46% 0.09%
2064 1.43% 0.12%
2063 1.46% 0.14%
2062 1.37% 0.17%
2061 1.45% 0.2%
2060 1.43% 0.22%
2059 1.55% 0.25%
2058 1.64% 0.28%
2057 1.68% 0.31%
2056 1.67% 0.33%
2055 1.69% 0.36%
2054 1.71% 0.4%
2053 1.72% 0.42%
2052 1.61% 0.45%
2051 1.7% 0.48%
2050 1.93% 0.5%
2049 1.86% 0.54%
2048 1.86% 0.56%
2047 1.98% 0.6%
2046 1.91% 0.62%
2045 1.92% 0.65%
2044 2.02% 0.67%
2043 1.96% 0.72%
2042 2.12% 0.74%
2041 2.27% 0.77%
2040 2.26% 0.8%
2039 2.18% 0.84%
2038 2.27% 0.87%
2037 2.3% 0.9%
2036 2.31% 0.93%
2035 2.35% 0.96%
2034 2.52% 0.99%
2033 2.55% 1.03%
2032 2.64% 1.07%
2031 2.7% 1.1%
2030 2.69% 1.14%
2029 2.6% 1.18%
2028 2.64% 1.22%
2027 2.74% 1.26%
2026 2.75% 1.31%
2025 2.87% 1.35%
2024 2.88% 1.37%
2023 2.16% 1.4%
2022 1.45% 1.42%
2021 2.38% 1.45%
2020 3.2% 1.5%
2019 3.03% 1.54%
2018 2.95% 1.57%
2017 2.85% 1.58%
2016 2.57% 1.58%
2015 3.17% 1.47%
2014 3.7% 1.39%
2013 3.48% 1.42%
2012 4.13% 1.44%
2011 3.76% 1.46%
2010 2.98% 1.48%
2009 3.71% 1.51%
2008 2.21% 1.53%
2007 1.91% 1.56%
2006 4.18% 1.6%
2005 3.58% 1.52%
2004 3.64% 1.47%
2003 6.34% 1.55%
2002 5.39% 1.62%
2001 0.76% 1.66%
2000 1.22% 1.69%
1999 3.8% 1.76%
1998 3.84% 1.87%
1997 3.88% 2.11%
1996 4.09% 2.36%
1995 5.02% 2.5%
1994 8.75% 2.65%
1993 12.5% 2.75%
1992 8.5% 2.81%
1991 1.6% 2.86%
1990 1.44% 2.89%
1989 3.04% 2.91%
1988 1.19% 2.91%
1987 -0.28% 2.88%
1986 -0.06% 2.85%
1985 2.11% 2.81%
1984 2.49% 2.73%
1983 -0.67% 2.64%
1982 -7.93% 2.48%
1981 -9.35% 2.25%
1980 -3.56% 1.99%
1979 0.32% 1.78%
1978 2.03% 1.69%
1977 2.15% 1.76%
1976 2.24% 1.97%
1975 2.44% 2.24%
1974 2.56% 2.41%
1973 2.57% 2.46%
1972 2.47% 2.45%
1971 2.46% 2.43%
1970 2.48% 2.41%
1969 2.42% 2.38%
1968 2.39% 2.36%
1967 2.33% 2.33%
1966 2.3% 2.31%
1965 2.26% 2.3%
1964 2.18% 2.28%
1963 2.13% 2.3%
1962 2.07% 2.31%
1961 1.98% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Laos
Current population
45409324
8004838
Population rank 36/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.1%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
5.01 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
3.22 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +287
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 77/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -10,645
Net migration rank 179/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -10,645
2024 - -44,089 - -10,284
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 115,359 -10,003
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 116,620 -10,003
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 115,323 -10,305
2020 1,134,407 143,634 118,609 -10,305
2019 1,138,485 9,159 119,797 -10,305
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 119,986 -10,305
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 120,515 -10,400
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 119,978 -11,401
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 118,723 -12,991
2014 1,053,788 233,913 118,103 -26,881
2013 1,033,778 18,119 119,845 -27,492
2012 1,004,814 68,628 121,324 -28,871
2011 966,743 384,486 122,863 -30,538
2010 943,473 -167,460 122,516 -30,046
2009 920,581 -60,602 122,174 -29,545
2008 891,246 215,753 121,042 -28,318
2007 889,848 -851,298 119,980 -27,233
2006 875,301 57,673 118,602 -25,286
2005 855,112 250,971 118,165 -24,138
2004 850,940 -269,194 121,888 -40,120
2003 826,165 247,317 122,158 -36,572
2002 776,048 860,349 122,110 -33,595
2001 764,090 -212,872 123,847 -33,552
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 124,201 -33,965
1999 760,727 -32,400 127,255 -36,632
1998 719,860 7,380 128,409 -33,997
1997 709,778 -21,215 130,388 -32,288
1996 685,005 4,072 131,142 -16,574
1995 653,280 52,505 132,241 -14,279
1994 609,096 315,206 134,201 -11,782
1993 541,257 1,149,684 135,295 -9,390
1992 440,132 1,197,329 132,417 -7,502
1991 409,954 32,782 129,523 -5,390
1990 402,433 -458,737 125,297 -3,100
1989 381,158 18,296 121,044 -1,272
1988 358,397 -56,263 117,050 -80
1987 314,361 -345,535 113,005 0
1986 310,066 -343,397 109,266 -475
1985 228,469 -208,685 106,047 -1,376
1984 205,262 248,224 102,318 -2,698
1983 263,778 -172,797 98,178 -4,108
1982 263,210 -500,998 94,058 -6,184
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 89,963 -11,061
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 86,548 -17,339
1979 361,750 -525,413 82,852 -23,317
1978 369,101 -117,186 80,604 -27,208
1977 372,567 -83,115 79,149 -26,908
1976 357,775 -85,430 77,575 -21,738
1975 343,850 -44,418 76,725 -13,858
1974 330,232 -20,009 74,652 -6,000
1973 315,062 -3,030 70,513 -774
1972 300,633 -4,050 68,095 0
1971 288,267 -12,801 65,959 0
1970 275,129 4,458 63,896 0
1969 263,823 2,029 61,595 0
1968 251,798 3,333 59,567 0
1967 239,967 6,824 57,763 0
1966 228,786 3,563 55,494 0
1965 217,741 10,695 54,268 0
1964 207,867 7,079 52,482 0
1963 198,035 6,681 51,056 0
1962 188,427 7,016 51,244 0
1961 179,094 6,109 48,992 0
1960 170,257 2,606 47,575 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/laos | 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 Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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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