Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 1,847,785 people in Latvia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 1,826,986 in Latvia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 25 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Latvia is the 149th.
  • The countries together account for 0.57% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.02% for Latvia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs -0.69% in Latvia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Latvia has declined from 2.22M to 1.83M (17.6% decline).

Afghanistan vs Latvia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Latvia
2100 131,724,468 922,007
2099 131,066,750 931,466
2098 130,403,871 940,927
2097 129,730,117 950,258
2096 129,070,342 959,655
2095 128,396,829 968,997
2094 127,685,065 978,324
2093 126,942,174 987,606
2092 126,194,378 996,982
2091 125,433,421 1,006,431
2090 124,561,248 1,015,921
2089 123,768,926 1,025,435
2088 122,960,614 1,035,083
2087 122,074,409 1,044,938
2086 121,308,199 1,054,879
2085 120,413,992 1,064,880
2084 119,420,025 1,075,183
2083 118,560,008 1,085,772
2082 117,671,742 1,096,487
2081 116,771,980 1,107,392
2080 115,724,307 1,118,511
2079 114,561,305 1,129,885
2078 113,556,727 1,141,268
2077 112,455,804 1,152,706
2076 111,375,301 1,164,352
2075 110,333,033 1,176,176
2074 109,170,742 1,188,082
2073 107,895,475 1,199,974
2072 106,682,883 1,211,961
2071 105,504,989 1,224,298
2070 104,167,895 1,236,755
2069 102,902,233 1,249,300
2068 101,568,136 1,262,278
2067 100,320,548 1,275,443
2066 99,057,144 1,288,533
2065 97,655,437 1,302,103
2064 96,248,770 1,315,729
2063 94,892,092 1,329,295
2062 93,522,871 1,342,898
2061 92,260,642 1,356,597
2060 90,945,998 1,370,646
2059 89,663,478 1,384,579
2058 88,293,680 1,398,610
2057 86,865,803 1,412,764
2056 85,428,888 1,426,866
2055 84,023,782 1,440,673
2054 82,626,785 1,454,475
2053 81,236,203 1,468,103
2052 79,860,096 1,481,591
2051 78,595,977 1,494,244
2050 77,285,393 1,506,958
2049 75,819,307 1,519,679
2048 74,435,057 1,532,326
2047 73,075,297 1,544,855
2046 71,654,160 1,557,274
2045 70,310,871 1,570,010
2044 68,983,509 1,582,416
2043 67,616,795 1,594,893
2042 66,317,516 1,607,225
2041 64,937,760 1,620,006
2040 63,497,378 1,632,650
2039 62,092,429 1,645,713
2038 60,767,134 1,658,653
2037 59,418,629 1,671,596
2036 58,079,976 1,684,899
2035 56,769,901 1,698,177
2034 55,469,080 1,711,808
2033 54,103,368 1,725,938
2032 52,759,572 1,740,330
2031 51,403,105 1,754,642
2030 50,049,673 1,769,574
2029 48,739,663 1,784,112
2028 47,504,926 1,798,494
2027 46,283,055 1,812,843
2026 45,047,977 1,826,986
2025 43,844,111 1,847,785
2024 42,647,492 1,866,124
2023 41,454,761 1,883,710
2022 40,578,842 1,879,383
2021 40,000,412 1,884,490
2020 39,068,979 1,900,449
2019 37,856,121 1,913,822
2018 36,743,039 1,927,174
2017 35,688,935 1,942,248
2016 34,700,612 1,959,537
2015 33,831,764 1,977,527
2014 32,792,523 1,993,782
2013 31,622,704 2,012,647
2012 30,560,034 2,034,319
2011 29,347,708 2,059,709
2010 28,284,089 2,097,555
2009 27,466,101 2,141,669
2008 26,482,622 2,177,322
2007 25,909,852 2,200,325
2006 25,424,094 2,218,357
2005 24,404,567 2,238,799
2004 23,560,654 2,263,122
2003 22,733,049 2,287,955
2002 21,378,117 2,310,173
2001 20,284,307 2,337,170
2000 20,130,327 2,367,550
1999 19,887,785 2,390,482
1998 19,159,996 2,410,019
1997 18,452,091 2,432,851
1996 17,763,266 2,457,222
1995 17,065,836 2,485,056
1994 16,250,794 2,520,742
1993 14,943,172 2,563,290
1992 13,278,974 2,614,338
1991 12,238,879 2,650,581
1990 12,045,660 2,663,151
1989 11,874,088 2,666,955
1988 11,523,298 2,653,434
1987 11,387,818 2,626,583
1986 11,420,074 2,599,892
1985 11,426,852 2,578,873
1984 11,190,221 2,562,047
1983 10,917,982 2,546,011
1982 10,991,378 2,531,080
1981 11,937,581 2,519,421
1980 13,169,311 2,511,701
1979 13,655,567 2,505,953
1978 13,611,441 2,497,921
1977 13,340,756 2,485,073
1976 13,059,851 2,470,989
1975 12,773,954 2,456,130
1974 12,469,127 2,437,186
1973 12,157,999 2,415,819
1972 11,853,696 2,395,674
1971 11,567,667 2,376,389
1970 11,290,128 2,359,164
1969 11,017,409 2,343,173
1968 10,756,922 2,323,619
1967 10,505,959 2,301,220
1966 10,266,395 2,283,217
1965 10,036,008 2,265,919
1964 9,814,318 2,240,623
1963 9,604,487 2,210,919
1962 9,404,406 2,181,586
1961 9,214,083 2,152,681
1960 9,035,043 2,120,979

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/latvia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Latvia lost 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Latvia's population decreased by 132,551 people (a 6.76% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Latvia was ranked 140th in 2006 and ranked 149th 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 Latvia will decrease by 17.5% to 1,506,958 people and rank change from 149th to 155th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Latvia's population already peaked in 1989 at 2.67M people and is projected to decrease to 922K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Latvia
2100 0.5% -1.02%
2099 0.51% -1.01%
2098 0.52% -0.98%
2097 0.51% -0.98%
2096 0.52% -0.96%
2095 0.56% -0.95%
2094 0.59% -0.94%
2093 0.59% -0.94%
2092 0.61% -0.94%
2091 0.7% -0.93%
2090 0.64% -0.93%
2089 0.66% -0.93%
2088 0.73% -0.94%
2087 0.63% -0.94%
2086 0.74% -0.94%
2085 0.83% -0.96%
2084 0.73% -0.98%
2083 0.75% -0.98%
2082 0.77% -0.98%
2081 0.91% -0.99%
2080 1.02% -1.01%
2079 0.88% -1%
2078 0.98% -0.99%
2077 0.97% -1%
2076 0.94% -1.01%
2075 1.06% -1%
2074 1.18% -0.99%
2073 1.14% -0.99%
2072 1.12% -1.01%
2071 1.28% -1.01%
2070 1.23% -1%
2069 1.31% -1.03%
2068 1.24% -1.03%
2067 1.28% -1.02%
2066 1.44% -1.04%
2065 1.46% -1.04%
2064 1.43% -1.02%
2063 1.46% -1.01%
2062 1.37% -1.01%
2061 1.45% -1.03%
2060 1.43% -1.01%
2059 1.55% -1%
2058 1.64% -1%
2057 1.68% -0.99%
2056 1.67% -0.96%
2055 1.69% -0.95%
2054 1.71% -0.93%
2053 1.72% -0.91%
2052 1.61% -0.85%
2051 1.7% -0.84%
2050 1.93% -0.84%
2049 1.86% -0.83%
2048 1.86% -0.81%
2047 1.98% -0.8%
2046 1.91% -0.81%
2045 1.92% -0.78%
2044 2.02% -0.78%
2043 1.96% -0.77%
2042 2.12% -0.79%
2041 2.27% -0.77%
2040 2.26% -0.79%
2039 2.18% -0.78%
2038 2.27% -0.77%
2037 2.3% -0.79%
2036 2.31% -0.78%
2035 2.35% -0.8%
2034 2.52% -0.82%
2033 2.55% -0.83%
2032 2.64% -0.82%
2031 2.7% -0.84%
2030 2.69% -0.81%
2029 2.6% -0.8%
2028 2.64% -0.79%
2027 2.74% -0.77%
2026 2.75% -1.13%
2025 2.81% -0.98%
2024 2.88% -0.93%
2023 2.16% 0.23%
2022 1.45% -0.27%
2021 2.38% -0.84%
2020 3.2% -0.7%
2019 3.03% -0.69%
2018 2.95% -0.78%
2017 2.85% -0.88%
2016 2.57% -0.91%
2015 3.17% -0.82%
2014 3.7% -0.94%
2013 3.48% -1.07%
2012 4.13% -1.23%
2011 3.76% -1.8%
2010 2.98% -2.06%
2009 3.71% -1.64%
2008 2.21% -1.05%
2007 1.91% -0.81%
2006 4.18% -0.91%
2005 3.58% -1.07%
2004 3.64% -1.09%
2003 6.34% -0.96%
2002 5.39% -1.16%
2001 0.76% -1.28%
2000 1.22% -0.96%
1999 3.8% -0.81%
1998 3.84% -0.94%
1997 3.88% -0.99%
1996 4.09% -1.12%
1995 5.02% -1.42%
1994 8.75% -1.66%
1993 12.5% -1.95%
1992 8.5% -1.37%
1991 1.6% -0.47%
1990 1.44% -0.14%
1989 3.04% 0.51%
1988 1.19% 1.02%
1987 -0.28% 1.03%
1986 -0.06% 0.82%
1985 2.11% 0.66%
1984 2.49% 0.63%
1983 -0.67% 0.59%
1982 -7.93% 0.46%
1981 -9.35% 0.31%
1980 -3.56% 0.23%
1979 0.32% 0.32%
1978 2.03% 0.52%
1977 2.15% 0.57%
1976 2.24% 0.6%
1975 2.44% 0.78%
1974 2.56% 0.88%
1973 2.57% 0.84%
1972 2.47% 0.81%
1971 2.46% 0.73%
1970 2.48% 0.68%
1969 2.42% 0.84%
1968 2.39% 0.97%
1967 2.33% 0.79%
1966 2.3% 0.76%
1965 2.26% 1.13%
1964 2.18% 1.34%
1963 2.13% 1.34%
1962 2.07% 1.34%
1961 1.98% 1.49%

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/latvia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Latvia's population declined by 0.98%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Latvia
Current population
45682388
1826986
Population rank 36/197 149/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.02%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
28.7 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
40.8 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
19.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 -50
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 -18,339
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% -0.98%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 193/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.2 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -7,330
Net migration rank 179/196 125/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 220,471
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 108/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 11.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 57/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Latvia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Latvia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -7,330
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 -13,809 -2,225
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -13,563 7,966
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -14,847 22,027
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -17,337 -280
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -11,402 -3,147
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -8,995 -3,416
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -9,636 -4,972
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -7,963 -7,867
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -6,663 -12,327
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -6,526 -10,826
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -6,779 -8,799
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -8,252 -14,386
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -9,154 -11,914
2011 966,743 384,486 -9,886 -20,202
2010 943,473 -167,460 -10,278 -36,128
2009 920,581 -60,602 -7,924 -34,807
2008 891,246 215,753 -6,531 -22,445
2007 889,848 -851,298 -9,021 -8,027
2006 875,301 57,673 -10,204 -9,211
2005 855,112 250,971 -10,746 -11,134
2004 850,940 -269,194 -11,542 -15,136
2003 826,165 247,317 -11,439 -11,422
2002 776,048 860,349 -12,475 -9,160
2001 764,090 -212,872 -13,322 -18,634
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -11,838 -15,679
1999 760,727 -32,400 -13,387 -3,229
1998 719,860 7,380 -15,906 -5,504
1997 709,778 -21,215 -14,841 -9,183
1996 685,005 4,072 -14,498 -9,888
1995 653,280 52,505 -17,396 -13,288
1994 609,096 315,206 -17,645 -21,446
1993 541,257 1,149,684 -12,560 -32,914
1992 440,132 1,197,329 -3,660 -52,180
1991 409,954 32,782 0 -12,020
1990 402,433 -458,737 2,929 -13,196
1989 381,158 18,296 6,401 -4,960
1988 358,397 -56,263 9,022 15,784
1987 314,361 -345,535 9,981 19,249
1986 310,066 -343,397 10,660 13,972
1985 228,469 -208,685 5,673 12,037
1984 205,262 248,224 7,430 8,847
1983 263,778 -172,797 8,147 8,115
1982 263,210 -500,998 6,327 8,116
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 3,779 6,536
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 3,265 3,099
1979 361,750 -525,413 2,506 3,661
1978 369,101 -117,186 2,997 7,399
1977 372,567 -83,115 3,480 11,992
1976 357,775 -85,430 4,200 8,870
1975 343,850 -44,418 4,913 12,166
1974 330,232 -20,009 6,824 14,420
1973 315,062 -3,030 6,040 15,997
1972 300,633 -4,050 7,666 11,077
1971 288,267 -12,801 8,793 10,846
1970 275,129 4,458 7,785 12,494
1969 263,823 2,029 6,561 13,718
1968 251,798 3,333 7,668 13,465
1967 239,967 6,824 7,825 14,177
1966 228,786 3,563 8,677 13,465
1965 217,741 10,695 8,384 13,218
1964 207,867 7,079 12,100 13,010
1963 198,035 6,681 11,055 12,308
1962 188,427 7,016 11,562 12,344
1961 179,094 6,109 14,207 12,364
1960 170,257 2,606 14,211 11,420

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/latvia | 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 Latvia 88% is from natural causes (a loss of 110,741 people) and 12% is from migration (a loss of 15,067 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 220,471 people or 11.8% in Latvia.

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
Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K

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

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.