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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 18.9 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Lesotho
2100 131,803,615 3,280,784
2099 131,145,502 3,286,697
2098 130,482,225 3,292,498
2097 129,808,066 3,298,102
2096 129,147,895 3,303,027
2095 128,473,977 3,307,947
2094 127,761,785 3,312,002
2093 127,018,448 3,315,757
2092 126,270,202 3,319,661
2091 125,508,788 3,322,573
2090 124,636,092 3,324,769
2089 123,843,293 3,326,847
2088 123,034,495 3,328,480
2087 122,147,758 3,329,964
2086 121,381,088 3,330,456
2085 120,486,343 3,331,259
2084 119,491,780 3,331,485
2083 118,631,246 3,331,492
2082 117,742,446 3,331,234
2081 116,842,143 3,330,412
2080 115,793,841 3,329,267
2079 114,630,140 3,327,166
2078 113,624,958 3,324,646
2077 112,523,374 3,321,422
2076 111,442,221 3,317,850
2075 110,399,328 3,314,237
2074 109,236,338 3,309,174
2073 107,960,305 3,303,860
2072 106,746,984 3,298,181
2071 105,568,382 3,291,492
2070 104,230,485 3,283,654
2069 102,964,062 3,275,244
2068 101,629,164 3,266,152
2067 100,380,826 3,256,626
2066 99,116,663 3,246,903
2065 97,714,113 3,237,153
2064 96,306,602 3,226,489
2063 94,949,108 3,215,103
2062 93,579,065 3,202,287
2061 92,316,077 3,188,933
2060 91,000,643 3,174,998
2059 89,717,353 3,160,204
2058 88,346,732 3,145,053
2057 86,917,997 3,129,261
2056 85,480,219 3,113,129
2055 84,074,268 3,095,904
2054 82,676,432 3,078,567
2053 81,285,014 3,060,152
2052 79,908,081 3,040,649
2051 78,643,202 3,020,109
2050 77,331,830 2,999,457
2049 75,864,863 2,978,037
2048 74,479,782 2,955,727
2047 73,119,204 2,932,688
2046 71,697,214 2,909,307
2045 70,353,118 2,885,537
2044 69,024,959 2,861,372
2043 67,657,423 2,836,777
2042 66,357,363 2,811,663
2041 64,976,778 2,786,147
2040 63,535,531 2,760,391
2039 62,129,737 2,734,400
2038 60,803,646 2,708,216
2037 59,454,331 2,681,863
2036 58,114,874 2,654,755
2035 56,804,011 2,627,701
2034 55,502,408 2,600,880
2033 54,135,876 2,574,065
2032 52,791,273 2,547,344
2031 51,433,991 2,520,831
2030 50,079,746 2,494,646
2029 48,768,949 2,468,268
2028 47,533,470 2,441,871
2027 46,310,865 2,415,830
2026 45,075,045 2,389,516
2025 43,870,455 2,363,516
2024 42,647,492 2,337,423
2023 41,454,761 2,311,472
2022 40,578,842 2,286,110
2021 40,000,412 2,261,542
2020 39,068,979 2,235,727
2019 37,856,121 2,209,405
2018 36,743,039 2,183,603
2017 35,688,935 2,157,110
2016 34,700,612 2,130,422
2015 33,831,764 2,104,611
2014 32,792,523 2,080,089
2013 31,622,704 2,056,504
2012 30,560,034 2,034,354
2011 29,347,708 2,014,009
2010 28,284,089 1,996,251
2009 27,466,101 1,980,883
2008 26,482,622 1,966,541
2007 25,909,852 1,953,268
2006 25,424,094 1,945,063
2005 24,404,567 1,953,076
2004 23,560,654 1,971,129
2003 22,733,049 1,985,059
2002 21,378,117 1,994,679
2001 20,284,307 2,000,853
2000 20,130,327 2,003,913
1999 19,887,785 2,003,234
1998 19,159,996 1,998,049
1997 18,452,091 1,988,130
1996 17,763,266 1,972,418
1995 17,065,836 1,951,437
1994 16,250,794 1,927,707
1993 14,943,172 1,901,793
1992 13,278,974 1,873,274
1991 12,238,879 1,842,379
1990 12,045,660 1,809,696
1989 11,874,088 1,775,436
1988 11,523,298 1,739,841
1987 11,387,818 1,703,390
1986 11,420,074 1,666,138
1985 11,426,852 1,624,379
1984 11,190,221 1,578,986
1983 10,917,982 1,534,413
1982 10,991,378 1,490,732
1981 11,937,581 1,448,069
1980 13,169,311 1,406,521
1979 13,655,567 1,366,169
1978 13,611,441 1,327,240
1977 13,340,756 1,289,967
1976 13,059,851 1,253,214
1975 12,773,954 1,213,643
1974 12,469,127 1,172,420
1973 12,157,999 1,132,697
1972 11,853,696 1,094,063
1971 11,567,667 1,056,246
1970 11,290,128 1,019,273
1969 11,017,409 983,202
1968 10,756,922 948,105
1967 10,505,959 913,982
1966 10,266,395 881,870
1965 10,036,008 854,090
1964 9,814,318 829,437
1963 9,604,487 805,373
1962 9,404,406 781,814
1961 9,214,083 758,824
1960 9,035,043 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Lesotho
2100 0.5% -0.18%
2099 0.51% -0.18%
2098 0.52% -0.17%
2097 0.51% -0.15%
2096 0.52% -0.15%
2095 0.56% -0.12%
2094 0.59% -0.11%
2093 0.59% -0.12%
2092 0.61% -0.09%
2091 0.7% -0.07%
2090 0.64% -0.06%
2089 0.66% -0.05%
2088 0.73% -0.04%
2087 0.63% -0.01%
2086 0.74% -0.02%
2085 0.83% -0.007%
2084 0.73% -0%
2083 0.75% 0.008%
2082 0.77% 0.02%
2081 0.91% 0.03%
2080 1.02% 0.06%
2079 0.88% 0.08%
2078 0.98% 0.1%
2077 0.97% 0.11%
2076 0.94% 0.11%
2075 1.06% 0.15%
2074 1.18% 0.16%
2073 1.14% 0.17%
2072 1.12% 0.2%
2071 1.28% 0.24%
2070 1.23% 0.26%
2069 1.31% 0.28%
2068 1.24% 0.29%
2067 1.28% 0.3%
2066 1.44% 0.3%
2065 1.46% 0.33%
2064 1.43% 0.35%
2063 1.46% 0.4%
2062 1.37% 0.42%
2061 1.45% 0.44%
2060 1.43% 0.47%
2059 1.55% 0.48%
2058 1.64% 0.5%
2057 1.68% 0.52%
2056 1.67% 0.56%
2055 1.69% 0.56%
2054 1.71% 0.6%
2053 1.72% 0.64%
2052 1.61% 0.68%
2051 1.7% 0.69%
2050 1.93% 0.72%
2049 1.86% 0.75%
2048 1.86% 0.79%
2047 1.98% 0.8%
2046 1.91% 0.82%
2045 1.92% 0.84%
2044 2.02% 0.87%
2043 1.96% 0.89%
2042 2.12% 0.92%
2041 2.27% 0.93%
2040 2.26% 0.95%
2039 2.18% 0.97%
2038 2.27% 0.98%
2037 2.3% 1.02%
2036 2.31% 1.03%
2035 2.35% 1.03%
2034 2.52% 1.04%
2033 2.55% 1.05%
2032 2.64% 1.05%
2031 2.7% 1.05%
2030 2.69% 1.07%
2029 2.6% 1.08%
2028 2.64% 1.08%
2027 2.74% 1.1%
2026 2.75% 1.1%
2025 2.87% 1.12%
2024 2.88% 1.12%
2023 2.16% 1.11%
2022 1.45% 1.09%
2021 2.38% 1.15%
2020 3.2% 1.19%
2019 3.03% 1.18%
2018 2.95% 1.23%
2017 2.85% 1.25%
2016 2.57% 1.23%
2015 3.17% 1.18%
2014 3.7% 1.15%
2013 3.48% 1.09%
2012 4.13% 1.01%
2011 3.76% 0.89%
2010 2.98% 0.78%
2009 3.71% 0.73%
2008 2.21% 0.68%
2007 1.91% 0.42%
2006 4.18% -0.41%
2005 3.58% -0.92%
2004 3.64% -0.7%
2003 6.34% -0.48%
2002 5.39% -0.31%
2001 0.76% -0.15%
2000 1.22% 0.03%
1999 3.8% 0.26%
1998 3.84% 0.5%
1997 3.88% 0.8%
1996 4.09% 1.08%
1995 5.02% 1.23%
1994 8.75% 1.36%
1993 12.5% 1.52%
1992 8.5% 1.68%
1991 1.6% 1.81%
1990 1.44% 1.93%
1989 3.04% 2.05%
1988 1.19% 2.14%
1987 -0.28% 2.24%
1986 -0.06% 2.57%
1985 2.11% 2.87%
1984 2.49% 2.9%
1983 -0.67% 2.93%
1982 -7.93% 2.95%
1981 -9.35% 2.95%
1980 -3.56% 2.95%
1979 0.32% 2.93%
1978 2.03% 2.89%
1977 2.15% 2.93%
1976 2.24% 3.26%
1975 2.44% 3.52%
1974 2.56% 3.51%
1973 2.57% 3.53%
1972 2.47% 3.58%
1971 2.46% 3.63%
1970 2.48% 3.67%
1969 2.42% 3.7%
1968 2.39% 3.73%
1967 2.33% 3.64%
1966 2.3% 3.25%
1965 2.26% 2.97%
1964 2.18% 2.99%
1963 2.13% 3.01%
1962 2.07% 3.03%
1961 1.98% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Lesotho
Current population
45409324
2396633
Population rank 36/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.03%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +71
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 93/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -5,192
Net migration rank 179/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -5,192
2024 - -44,089 - -5,107
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 31,115 -5,168
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 30,803 -6,023
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 27,806 -3,449
2020 1,134,407 143,634 30,721 -3,449
2019 1,138,485 9,159 32,279 -6,896
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 33,112 -6,892
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 33,601 -6,850
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 33,390 -6,766
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 32,087 -7,087
2014 1,053,788 233,913 30,922 -6,877
2013 1,033,778 18,119 29,789 -6,659
2012 1,004,814 68,628 27,592 -6,425
2011 966,743 384,486 25,647 -6,118
2010 943,473 -167,460 21,877 -5,886
2009 920,581 -60,602 20,335 -5,599
2008 891,246 215,753 19,349 -5,392
2007 889,848 -851,298 17,763 -5,179
2006 875,301 57,673 15,234 -11,416
2005 855,112 250,971 15,831 -35,679
2004 850,940 -269,194 17,271 -33,530
2003 826,165 247,317 20,133 -31,723
2002 776,048 860,349 22,274 -29,924
2001 764,090 -212,872 23,190 -27,874
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 24,786 -26,220
1999 760,727 -32,400 27,393 -24,610
1998 719,860 7,380 30,889 -23,299
1997 709,778 -21,215 34,637 -22,396
1996 685,005 4,072 36,228 -17,042
1995 653,280 52,505 37,370 -14,588
1994 609,096 315,206 38,629 -13,953
1993 541,257 1,149,684 40,505 -13,347
1992 440,132 1,197,329 42,579 -12,707
1991 409,954 32,782 44,026 -12,114
1990 402,433 -458,737 45,060 -11,598
1989 381,158 18,296 46,264 -11,207
1988 358,397 -56,263 47,158 -11,028
1987 314,361 -345,535 47,718 -10,946
1986 310,066 -343,397 45,232 -7,501
1985 228,469 -208,685 44,575 1,222
1984 205,262 248,224 43,785 1,199
1983 263,778 -172,797 42,899 1,253
1982 263,210 -500,998 41,941 1,281
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 40,808 1,307
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 39,617 1,361
1979 361,750 -525,413 38,440 1,285
1978 369,101 -117,186 37,084 1,047
1977 372,567 -83,115 35,654 746
1976 357,775 -85,430 34,117 2,986
1975 343,850 -44,418 32,311 9,723
1974 330,232 -20,009 30,444 9,972
1973 315,062 -3,030 28,859 10,183
1972 300,633 -4,050 27,841 10,386
1971 288,267 -12,801 26,838 10,563
1970 275,129 4,458 25,935 10,605
1969 263,823 2,029 25,137 10,465
1968 251,798 3,333 24,490 10,108
1967 239,967 6,824 23,911 9,734
1966 228,786 3,563 23,326 7,248
1965 217,741 10,695 22,755 2,239
1964 207,867 7,079 22,116 2,198
1963 198,035 6,681 21,585 2,220
1962 188,427 7,016 21,132 2,172
1961 179,094 6,109 20,581 2,100
1960 170,257 2,606 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 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/lesotho | 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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