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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 7,873,046 people in Laos in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 8,027,464 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 5.69 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 0.65% 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 +2.68% per year vs +1.47% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8.03M (34.6% growth).

Afghanistan vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Laos
2100 131,724,468 9,340,510
2099 131,066,750 9,387,374
2098 130,403,871 9,433,309
2097 129,730,117 9,478,091
2096 129,070,342 9,521,914
2095 128,396,829 9,564,898
2094 127,685,065 9,607,314
2093 126,942,174 9,648,899
2092 126,194,378 9,689,414
2091 125,433,421 9,729,262
2090 124,561,248 9,767,923
2089 123,768,926 9,805,489
2088 122,960,614 9,841,933
2087 122,074,409 9,876,893
2086 121,308,199 9,910,678
2085 120,413,992 9,942,991
2084 119,420,025 9,973,375
2083 118,560,008 10,002,778
2082 117,671,742 10,030,306
2081 116,771,980 10,056,473
2080 115,724,307 10,080,959
2079 114,561,305 10,104,434
2078 113,556,727 10,126,099
2077 112,455,804 10,146,255
2076 111,375,301 10,163,547
2075 110,333,033 10,179,776
2074 109,170,742 10,194,216
2073 107,895,475 10,206,546
2072 106,682,883 10,216,287
2071 105,504,989 10,223,430
2070 104,167,895 10,229,612
2069 102,902,233 10,233,020
2068 101,568,136 10,233,371
2067 100,320,548 10,231,633
2066 99,057,144 10,226,448
2065 97,655,437 10,219,732
2064 96,248,770 10,210,382
2063 94,892,092 10,198,463
2062 93,522,871 10,184,239
2061 92,260,642 10,166,878
2060 90,945,998 10,146,829
2059 89,663,478 10,124,398
2058 88,293,680 10,098,721
2057 86,865,803 10,070,317
2056 85,428,888 10,039,482
2055 84,023,782 10,006,669
2054 82,626,785 9,970,363
2053 81,236,203 9,931,133
2052 79,860,096 9,889,162
2051 78,595,977 9,844,445
2050 77,285,393 9,797,566
2049 75,819,307 9,748,481
2048 74,435,057 9,695,755
2047 73,075,297 9,641,319
2046 71,654,160 9,584,097
2045 70,310,871 9,524,890
2044 68,983,509 9,462,921
2043 67,616,795 9,399,555
2042 66,317,516 9,332,795
2041 64,937,760 9,264,069
2040 63,497,378 9,193,691
2039 62,092,429 9,120,921
2038 60,767,134 9,044,658
2037 59,418,629 8,966,687
2036 58,079,976 8,886,908
2035 56,769,901 8,805,396
2034 55,469,080 8,721,979
2033 54,103,368 8,636,299
2032 52,759,572 8,548,097
2031 51,403,105 8,457,770
2030 50,049,673 8,365,427
2029 48,739,663 8,271,316
2028 47,504,926 8,174,975
2027 46,283,055 8,076,308
2026 45,047,977 7,975,876
2025 43,844,111 7,873,046
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Laos was ranked 104th 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Laos will increase by 22.1% to 9,797,566 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 2.81% 1.33%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Laos' population grew by 1.33%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Laos
Current population
45682388
8027464
Population rank 36/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.1%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
5.11 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
3.23 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
10.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +283
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +103,227
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +1.33%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 76/197
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 1,249,785 -44,089 114,574 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 87.3% of the population change in Afghanistan is from natural causes (a gain of 11,488,046 people) and 12.7% is from migration (a loss of 1,674,047 people). In Laos 91.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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