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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 19 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 +2.68% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Lesotho
2100 131,724,468 3,280,518
2099 131,066,750 3,286,430
2098 130,403,871 3,292,231
2097 129,730,117 3,297,835
2096 129,070,342 3,302,758
2095 128,396,829 3,307,678
2094 127,685,065 3,311,734
2093 126,942,174 3,315,488
2092 126,194,378 3,319,391
2091 125,433,421 3,322,303
2090 124,561,248 3,324,499
2089 123,768,926 3,326,577
2088 122,960,614 3,328,210
2087 122,074,409 3,329,694
2086 121,308,199 3,330,185
2085 120,413,992 3,330,989
2084 119,420,025 3,331,214
2083 118,560,008 3,331,221
2082 117,671,742 3,330,964
2081 116,771,980 3,330,141
2080 115,724,307 3,328,997
2079 114,561,305 3,326,895
2078 113,556,727 3,324,376
2077 112,455,804 3,321,152
2076 111,375,301 3,317,581
2075 110,333,033 3,313,968
2074 109,170,742 3,308,905
2073 107,895,475 3,303,592
2072 106,682,883 3,297,913
2071 105,504,989 3,291,224
2070 104,167,895 3,283,387
2069 102,902,233 3,274,978
2068 101,568,136 3,265,887
2067 100,320,548 3,256,362
2066 99,057,144 3,246,639
2065 97,655,437 3,236,890
2064 96,248,770 3,226,227
2063 94,892,092 3,214,843
2062 93,522,871 3,202,027
2061 92,260,642 3,188,674
2060 90,945,998 3,174,740
2059 89,663,478 3,159,947
2058 88,293,680 3,144,797
2057 86,865,803 3,129,007
2056 85,428,888 3,112,877
2055 84,023,782 3,095,653
2054 82,626,785 3,078,317
2053 81,236,203 3,059,904
2052 79,860,096 3,040,402
2051 78,595,977 3,019,864
2050 77,285,393 2,999,214
2049 75,819,307 2,977,795
2048 74,435,057 2,955,487
2047 73,075,297 2,932,450
2046 71,654,160 2,909,071
2045 70,310,871 2,885,303
2044 68,983,509 2,861,140
2043 67,616,795 2,836,547
2042 66,317,516 2,811,435
2041 64,937,760 2,785,921
2040 63,497,378 2,760,167
2039 62,092,429 2,734,178
2038 60,767,134 2,707,996
2037 59,418,629 2,681,646
2036 58,079,976 2,654,540
2035 56,769,901 2,627,488
2034 55,469,080 2,600,669
2033 54,103,368 2,573,856
2032 52,759,572 2,547,137
2031 51,403,105 2,520,626
2030 50,049,673 2,494,444
2029 48,739,663 2,468,067
2028 47,504,926 2,441,673
2027 46,283,055 2,415,634
2026 45,047,977 2,389,322
2025 43,844,111 2,363,325
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 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 2.81% 1.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Lesotho
Current population
45682388
2402837
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
21.1 seconds
9.46 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +71
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 94/197
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 1,249,785 -44,089 31,050 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 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 (1960–2025, 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/lesotho | 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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