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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 7,381,023 people in Libya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 7,559,873 in Libya.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 6.01 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
  • The countries together account for 0.64% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.09% for Libya.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.44% in Libya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.56M (26.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Libya: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Libya
2100 131,803,615 9,844,478
2099 131,145,502 9,862,293
2098 130,482,225 9,883,409
2097 129,808,066 9,903,494
2096 129,147,895 9,920,212
2095 128,473,977 9,931,781
2094 127,761,785 9,943,275
2093 127,018,448 9,958,570
2092 126,270,202 9,973,255
2091 125,508,788 9,982,193
2090 124,636,092 9,998,398
2089 123,843,293 10,008,842
2088 123,034,495 10,019,533
2087 122,147,758 10,023,170
2086 121,381,088 10,022,785
2085 120,486,343 10,016,359
2084 119,491,780 10,009,703
2083 118,631,246 10,006,073
2082 117,742,446 9,997,594
2081 116,842,143 9,985,386
2080 115,793,841 9,975,419
2079 114,630,140 9,962,691
2078 113,624,958 9,958,515
2077 112,523,374 9,952,827
2076 111,442,221 9,940,029
2075 110,399,328 9,927,944
2074 109,236,338 9,916,834
2073 107,960,305 9,901,120
2072 106,746,984 9,879,602
2071 105,568,382 9,867,880
2070 104,230,485 9,850,724
2069 102,964,062 9,832,072
2068 101,629,164 9,812,363
2067 100,380,826 9,799,957
2066 99,116,663 9,782,414
2065 97,714,113 9,762,806
2064 96,306,602 9,740,665
2063 94,949,108 9,729,567
2062 93,579,065 9,707,539
2061 92,316,077 9,686,619
2060 91,000,643 9,667,297
2059 89,717,353 9,638,062
2058 88,346,732 9,610,703
2057 86,917,997 9,579,595
2056 85,480,219 9,554,689
2055 84,074,268 9,522,205
2054 82,676,432 9,478,010
2053 81,285,014 9,432,683
2052 79,908,081 9,383,411
2051 78,643,202 9,335,341
2050 77,331,830 9,282,941
2049 75,864,863 9,230,811
2048 74,479,782 9,173,272
2047 73,119,204 9,118,915
2046 71,697,214 9,063,226
2045 70,353,118 8,998,841
2044 69,024,959 8,934,714
2043 67,657,423 8,866,878
2042 66,357,363 8,798,463
2041 64,976,778 8,732,168
2040 63,535,531 8,661,351
2039 62,129,737 8,588,292
2038 60,803,646 8,514,071
2037 59,454,331 8,437,766
2036 58,114,874 8,364,809
2035 56,804,011 8,289,931
2034 55,502,408 8,209,318
2033 54,135,876 8,129,142
2032 52,791,273 8,052,203
2031 51,433,991 7,969,547
2030 50,079,746 7,884,726
2029 48,768,949 7,801,482
2028 47,533,470 7,713,090
2027 46,310,865 7,621,838
2026 45,075,045 7,536,898
2025 43,870,455 7,458,392
2024 42,647,492 7,381,023
2023 41,454,761 7,305,659
2022 40,578,842 7,223,805
2021 40,000,412 7,135,175
2020 39,068,979 7,045,399
2019 37,856,121 6,951,033
2018 36,743,039 6,849,055
2017 35,688,935 6,738,770
2016 34,700,612 6,632,126
2015 33,831,764 6,531,819
2014 32,792,523 6,427,252
2013 31,622,704 6,304,628
2012 30,560,034 6,179,328
2011 29,347,708 6,343,203
2010 28,284,089 6,497,839
2009 27,466,101 6,366,686
2008 26,482,622 6,235,430
2007 25,909,852 6,104,380
2006 25,424,094 5,980,211
2005 24,404,567 5,858,798
2004 23,560,654 5,736,693
2003 22,733,049 5,619,398
2002 21,378,117 5,508,410
2001 20,284,307 5,403,639
2000 20,130,327 5,305,021
1999 19,887,785 5,218,038
1998 19,159,996 5,140,704
1997 18,452,091 5,064,639
1996 17,763,266 4,987,393
1995 17,065,836 4,906,843
1994 16,250,794 4,822,037
1993 14,943,172 4,733,045
1992 13,278,974 4,640,352
1991 12,238,879 4,544,400
1990 12,045,660 4,445,239
1989 11,874,088 4,342,920
1988 11,523,298 4,237,755
1987 11,387,818 4,129,739
1986 11,420,074 4,017,403
1985 11,426,852 3,898,745
1984 11,190,221 3,773,633
1983 10,917,982 3,718,961
1982 10,991,378 3,724,765
1981 11,937,581 3,621,486
1980 13,169,311 3,424,378
1979 13,655,567 3,233,846
1978 13,611,441 3,052,526
1977 13,340,756 2,881,533
1976 13,059,851 2,721,237
1975 12,773,954 2,571,556
1974 12,469,127 2,432,211
1973 12,157,999 2,314,193
1972 11,853,696 2,226,091
1971 11,567,667 2,153,534
1970 11,290,128 2,082,589
1969 11,017,409 2,014,293
1968 10,756,922 1,952,781
1967 10,505,959 1,898,199
1966 10,266,395 1,849,063
1965 10,036,008 1,804,015
1964 9,814,318 1,753,691
1963 9,604,487 1,690,457
1962 9,404,406 1,621,960
1961 9,214,083 1,555,699
1960 9,035,043 1,492,890

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Libya's population increased by 927,747 people (a 14% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Libya was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 10M people in 2087 for Libya.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Libya
2100 0.5% -0.18%
2099 0.51% -0.21%
2098 0.52% -0.2%
2097 0.51% -0.17%
2096 0.52% -0.12%
2095 0.56% -0.12%
2094 0.59% -0.15%
2093 0.59% -0.15%
2092 0.61% -0.09%
2091 0.7% -0.16%
2090 0.64% -0.1%
2089 0.66% -0.11%
2088 0.73% -0.04%
2087 0.63% 0.004%
2086 0.74% 0.06%
2085 0.83% 0.07%
2084 0.73% 0.04%
2083 0.75% 0.08%
2082 0.77% 0.12%
2081 0.91% 0.1%
2080 1.02% 0.13%
2079 0.88% 0.04%
2078 0.98% 0.06%
2077 0.97% 0.13%
2076 0.94% 0.12%
2075 1.06% 0.11%
2074 1.18% 0.16%
2073 1.14% 0.22%
2072 1.12% 0.12%
2071 1.28% 0.17%
2070 1.23% 0.19%
2069 1.31% 0.2%
2068 1.24% 0.13%
2067 1.28% 0.18%
2066 1.44% 0.2%
2065 1.46% 0.23%
2064 1.43% 0.11%
2063 1.46% 0.23%
2062 1.37% 0.22%
2061 1.45% 0.2%
2060 1.43% 0.3%
2059 1.55% 0.28%
2058 1.64% 0.32%
2057 1.68% 0.26%
2056 1.67% 0.34%
2055 1.69% 0.47%
2054 1.71% 0.48%
2053 1.72% 0.53%
2052 1.61% 0.51%
2051 1.7% 0.56%
2050 1.93% 0.56%
2049 1.86% 0.63%
2048 1.86% 0.6%
2047 1.98% 0.61%
2046 1.91% 0.72%
2045 1.92% 0.72%
2044 2.02% 0.77%
2043 1.96% 0.78%
2042 2.12% 0.76%
2041 2.27% 0.82%
2040 2.26% 0.85%
2039 2.18% 0.87%
2038 2.27% 0.9%
2037 2.3% 0.87%
2036 2.31% 0.9%
2035 2.35% 0.98%
2034 2.52% 0.99%
2033 2.55% 0.96%
2032 2.64% 1.04%
2031 2.7% 1.08%
2030 2.69% 1.07%
2029 2.6% 1.15%
2028 2.64% 1.2%
2027 2.74% 1.13%
2026 2.75% 1.05%
2025 2.87% 1.05%
2024 2.88% 1.03%
2023 2.16% 1.13%
2022 1.45% 1.24%
2021 2.38% 1.27%
2020 3.2% 1.36%
2019 3.03% 1.49%
2018 2.95% 1.64%
2017 2.85% 1.61%
2016 2.57% 1.54%
2015 3.17% 1.63%
2014 3.7% 1.94%
2013 3.48% 2.03%
2012 4.13% -2.58%
2011 3.76% -2.38%
2010 2.98% 2.06%
2009 3.71% 2.11%
2008 2.21% 2.15%
2007 1.91% 2.08%
2006 4.18% 2.07%
2005 3.58% 2.13%
2004 3.64% 2.09%
2003 6.34% 2.01%
2002 5.39% 1.94%
2001 0.76% 1.86%
2000 1.22% 1.67%
1999 3.8% 1.5%
1998 3.84% 1.5%
1997 3.88% 1.55%
1996 4.09% 1.64%
1995 5.02% 1.76%
1994 8.75% 1.88%
1993 12.5% 2%
1992 8.5% 2.11%
1991 1.6% 2.23%
1990 1.44% 2.36%
1989 3.04% 2.48%
1988 1.19% 2.62%
1987 -0.28% 2.8%
1986 -0.06% 3.04%
1985 2.11% 3.32%
1984 2.49% 1.47%
1983 -0.67% -0.16%
1982 -7.93% 2.85%
1981 -9.35% 5.76%
1980 -3.56% 5.89%
1979 0.32% 5.94%
1978 2.03% 5.93%
1977 2.15% 5.89%
1976 2.24% 5.82%
1975 2.44% 5.73%
1974 2.56% 5.1%
1973 2.57% 3.96%
1972 2.47% 3.37%
1971 2.46% 3.41%
1970 2.48% 3.39%
1969 2.42% 3.15%
1968 2.39% 2.88%
1967 2.33% 2.66%
1966 2.3% 2.5%
1965 2.26% 2.87%
1964 2.18% 3.74%
1963 2.13% 4.22%
1962 2.07% 4.26%
1961 1.98% 4.21%

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/libya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Libya's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Libya
Current population
45409324
7559873
Population rank 36/197 105/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.09%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
6.97 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
4.23 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +206
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +75,364
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 99/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.13 days
Annual migration change -74,404 -172
Net migration rank 179/196 83/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 897,751
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 63/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 56/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Libya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Libya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -172
2024 - -44,089 - 3,448
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 75,760 -2,001
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 91,951 -2,001
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 88,005 -694
2020 1,134,407 143,634 92,950 -694
2019 1,138,485 9,159 97,842 -1,352
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 101,619 5,841
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 103,891 9,208
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 105,265 -5,081
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 108,096 -7,660
2014 1,053,788 233,913 110,420 -1,716
2013 1,033,778 18,119 110,772 25,755
2012 1,004,814 68,628 108,855 5,211
2011 966,743 384,486 121,016 -562,827
2010 943,473 -167,460 122,926 9,611
2009 920,581 -60,602 118,102 11,670
2008 891,246 215,753 117,481 15,260
2007 889,848 -851,298 116,704 12,640
2006 875,301 57,673 115,645 3,351
2005 855,112 250,971 112,823 11,024
2004 850,940 -269,194 107,144 13,222
2003 826,165 247,317 102,144 12,073
2002 776,048 860,349 97,598 10,152
2001 764,090 -212,872 93,370 8,420
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 89,814 5,634
1999 760,727 -32,400 88,743 -10,206
1998 719,860 7,380 87,613 -11,479
1997 709,778 -21,215 86,899 -10,907
1996 685,005 4,072 86,945 -8,446
1995 653,280 52,505 87,661 -5,068
1994 609,096 315,206 88,765 -1,755
1993 541,257 1,149,684 90,553 426
1992 440,132 1,197,329 93,568 843
1991 409,954 32,782 96,582 902
1990 402,433 -458,737 99,898 946
1989 381,158 18,296 102,823 981
1988 358,397 -56,263 105,469 1,053
1987 314,361 -345,535 107,761 1,740
1986 310,066 -343,397 109,325 5,844
1985 228,469 -208,685 110,194 11,962
1984 205,262 248,224 110,028 18,039
1983 263,778 -172,797 122,183 -140,904
1982 263,210 -500,998 133,511 -126,400
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 130,233 69,211
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 128,034 66,739
1979 361,750 -525,413 121,469 64,821
1978 369,101 -117,186 114,669 61,684
1977 372,567 -83,115 107,769 57,867
1976 357,775 -85,430 101,146 53,813
1975 343,850 -44,418 94,862 49,544
1974 330,232 -20,009 89,337 44,946
1973 315,062 -3,030 81,256 20,498
1972 300,633 -4,050 77,864 -3,418
1971 288,267 -12,801 74,934 -4,265
1970 275,129 4,458 70,488 745
1969 263,823 2,029 66,782 -1,418
1968 251,798 3,333 63,971 -6,323
1967 239,967 6,824 61,889 -10,384
1966 228,786 3,563 60,394 -13,619
1965 217,741 10,695 59,134 -15,810
1964 207,867 7,079 55,227 2,084
1963 198,035 6,681 50,421 18,740
1962 188,427 7,016 46,252 21,589
1961 179,094 6,109 42,167 22,504
1960 170,257 2,606 38,391 22,559

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/libya | 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 Libya 99.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 975,799 people) and 0.63% is from migration (a loss of 6,150 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.

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
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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