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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.24 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.99% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Malaysia
2100 131,803,615 44,353,615
2099 131,145,502 44,467,475
2098 130,482,225 44,579,971
2097 129,808,066 44,695,979
2096 129,147,895 44,814,885
2095 128,473,977 44,932,404
2094 127,761,785 45,047,479
2093 127,018,448 45,165,126
2092 126,270,202 45,278,674
2091 125,508,788 45,390,002
2090 124,636,092 45,501,495
2089 123,843,293 45,610,046
2088 123,034,495 45,717,882
2087 122,147,758 45,823,085
2086 121,381,088 45,926,712
2085 120,486,343 46,020,742
2084 119,491,780 46,111,490
2083 118,631,246 46,202,286
2082 117,742,446 46,284,929
2081 116,842,143 46,359,700
2080 115,793,841 46,435,482
2079 114,630,140 46,496,102
2078 113,624,958 46,549,167
2077 112,523,374 46,594,188
2076 111,442,221 46,619,045
2075 110,399,328 46,643,115
2074 109,236,338 46,658,350
2073 107,960,305 46,670,848
2072 106,746,984 46,670,426
2071 105,568,382 46,660,436
2070 104,230,485 46,645,623
2069 102,964,062 46,623,238
2068 101,629,164 46,600,060
2067 100,380,826 46,569,264
2066 99,116,663 46,530,377
2065 97,714,113 46,481,890
2064 96,306,602 46,417,369
2063 94,949,108 46,350,674
2062 93,579,065 46,272,105
2061 92,316,077 46,178,092
2060 91,000,643 46,075,877
2059 89,717,353 45,958,718
2058 88,346,732 45,837,407
2057 86,917,997 45,707,213
2056 85,480,219 45,566,357
2055 84,074,268 45,418,953
2054 82,676,432 45,252,995
2053 81,285,014 45,069,089
2052 79,908,081 44,873,927
2051 78,643,202 44,668,767
2050 77,331,830 44,445,677
2049 75,864,863 44,217,593
2048 74,479,782 43,974,925
2047 73,119,204 43,712,325
2046 71,697,214 43,438,283
2045 70,353,118 43,157,909
2044 69,024,959 42,866,716
2043 67,657,423 42,557,941
2042 66,357,363 42,239,980
2041 64,976,778 41,922,379
2040 63,535,531 41,598,231
2039 62,129,737 41,270,953
2038 60,803,646 40,929,067
2037 59,454,331 40,584,773
2036 58,114,874 40,234,128
2035 56,804,011 39,876,375
2034 55,502,408 39,515,857
2033 54,135,876 39,152,086
2032 52,791,273 38,772,414
2031 51,433,991 38,386,293
2030 50,079,746 37,995,617
2029 48,768,949 37,606,753
2028 47,533,470 37,207,852
2027 46,310,865 36,806,585
2026 45,075,045 36,403,076
2025 43,870,455 35,987,113
2024 42,647,492 35,557,673
2023 41,454,761 35,126,298
2022 40,578,842 34,695,493
2021 40,000,412 34,282,399
2020 39,068,979 33,889,558
2019 37,856,121 33,440,596
2018 36,743,039 32,910,967
2017 35,688,935 32,355,644
2016 34,700,612 31,789,685
2015 33,831,764 31,232,798
2014 32,792,523 30,696,137
2013 31,622,704 30,174,265
2012 30,560,034 29,662,831
2011 29,347,708 29,162,039
2010 28,284,089 28,655,776
2009 27,466,101 28,124,778
2008 26,482,622 27,570,059
2007 25,909,852 26,998,389
2006 25,424,094 26,417,909
2005 24,404,567 25,836,071
2004 23,560,654 25,256,772
2003 22,733,049 24,679,602
2002 21,378,117 24,102,477
2001 20,284,307 23,526,538
2000 20,130,327 22,967,816
1999 19,887,785 22,435,531
1998 19,159,996 21,906,713
1997 18,452,091 21,375,218
1996 17,763,266 20,850,087
1995 17,065,836 20,330,599
1994 16,250,794 19,820,446
1993 14,943,172 19,322,664
1992 13,278,974 18,834,572
1991 12,238,879 18,342,464
1990 12,045,660 17,833,171
1989 11,874,088 17,314,997
1988 11,523,298 16,796,605
1987 11,387,818 16,276,737
1986 11,420,074 15,760,419
1985 11,426,852 15,252,258
1984 11,190,221 14,759,009
1983 10,917,982 14,285,907
1982 10,991,378 13,832,798
1981 11,937,581 13,399,203
1980 13,169,311 12,983,363
1979 13,655,567 12,627,862
1978 13,611,441 12,328,157
1977 13,340,756 12,035,713
1976 13,059,851 11,750,097
1975 12,773,954 11,471,914
1974 12,469,127 11,200,906
1973 12,157,999 10,935,621
1972 11,853,696 10,676,835
1971 11,567,667 10,423,453
1970 11,290,128 10,178,802
1969 11,017,409 9,947,597
1968 10,756,922 9,725,281
1967 10,505,959 9,507,099
1966 10,266,395 9,284,688
1965 10,036,008 9,056,408
1964 9,814,318 8,828,406
1963 9,604,487 8,602,160
1962 9,404,406 8,380,172
1961 9,214,083 8,164,443
1960 9,035,043 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Malaysia
2100 0.5% -0.26%
2099 0.51% -0.25%
2098 0.52% -0.26%
2097 0.51% -0.27%
2096 0.52% -0.26%
2095 0.56% -0.26%
2094 0.59% -0.26%
2093 0.59% -0.25%
2092 0.61% -0.25%
2091 0.7% -0.25%
2090 0.64% -0.24%
2089 0.66% -0.24%
2088 0.73% -0.23%
2087 0.63% -0.23%
2086 0.74% -0.2%
2085 0.83% -0.2%
2084 0.73% -0.2%
2083 0.75% -0.18%
2082 0.77% -0.16%
2081 0.91% -0.16%
2080 1.02% -0.13%
2079 0.88% -0.11%
2078 0.98% -0.1%
2077 0.97% -0.05%
2076 0.94% -0.05%
2075 1.06% -0.03%
2074 1.18% -0.03%
2073 1.14% 0.001%
2072 1.12% 0.02%
2071 1.28% 0.03%
2070 1.23% 0.05%
2069 1.31% 0.05%
2068 1.24% 0.07%
2067 1.28% 0.08%
2066 1.44% 0.1%
2065 1.46% 0.14%
2064 1.43% 0.14%
2063 1.46% 0.17%
2062 1.37% 0.2%
2061 1.45% 0.22%
2060 1.43% 0.25%
2059 1.55% 0.26%
2058 1.64% 0.28%
2057 1.68% 0.31%
2056 1.67% 0.32%
2055 1.69% 0.37%
2054 1.71% 0.41%
2053 1.72% 0.43%
2052 1.61% 0.46%
2051 1.7% 0.5%
2050 1.93% 0.52%
2049 1.86% 0.55%
2048 1.86% 0.6%
2047 1.98% 0.63%
2046 1.91% 0.65%
2045 1.92% 0.68%
2044 2.02% 0.73%
2043 1.96% 0.75%
2042 2.12% 0.76%
2041 2.27% 0.78%
2040 2.26% 0.79%
2039 2.18% 0.84%
2038 2.27% 0.85%
2037 2.3% 0.87%
2036 2.31% 0.9%
2035 2.35% 0.91%
2034 2.52% 0.93%
2033 2.55% 0.98%
2032 2.64% 1.01%
2031 2.7% 1.03%
2030 2.69% 1.03%
2029 2.6% 1.07%
2028 2.64% 1.09%
2027 2.74% 1.11%
2026 2.75% 1.16%
2025 2.87% 1.21%
2024 2.88% 1.23%
2023 2.16% 1.24%
2022 1.45% 1.2%
2021 2.38% 1.16%
2020 3.2% 1.34%
2019 3.03% 1.61%
2018 2.95% 1.72%
2017 2.85% 1.78%
2016 2.57% 1.78%
2015 3.17% 1.75%
2014 3.7% 1.73%
2013 3.48% 1.72%
2012 4.13% 1.72%
2011 3.76% 1.77%
2010 2.98% 1.89%
2009 3.71% 2.01%
2008 2.21% 2.12%
2007 1.91% 2.2%
2006 4.18% 2.25%
2005 3.58% 2.29%
2004 3.64% 2.34%
2003 6.34% 2.39%
2002 5.39% 2.45%
2001 0.76% 2.43%
2000 1.22% 2.37%
1999 3.8% 2.41%
1998 3.84% 2.49%
1997 3.88% 2.52%
1996 4.09% 2.56%
1995 5.02% 2.57%
1994 8.75% 2.58%
1993 12.5% 2.59%
1992 8.5% 2.68%
1991 1.6% 2.86%
1990 1.44% 2.99%
1989 3.04% 3.09%
1988 1.19% 3.19%
1987 -0.28% 3.28%
1986 -0.06% 3.33%
1985 2.11% 3.34%
1984 2.49% 3.31%
1983 -0.67% 3.28%
1982 -7.93% 3.24%
1981 -9.35% 3.2%
1980 -3.56% 2.82%
1979 0.32% 2.43%
1978 2.03% 2.43%
1977 2.15% 2.43%
1976 2.24% 2.42%
1975 2.44% 2.42%
1974 2.56% 2.43%
1973 2.57% 2.42%
1972 2.47% 2.43%
1971 2.46% 2.4%
1970 2.48% 2.32%
1969 2.42% 2.29%
1968 2.39% 2.29%
1967 2.33% 2.4%
1966 2.3% 2.52%
1965 2.26% 2.58%
1964 2.18% 2.63%
1963 2.13% 2.65%
1962 2.07% 2.64%
1961 1.98% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Malaysia
Current population
45409324
36512221
Population rank 36/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.44%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 89/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +166,615
Net migration rank 179/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 166,615
2024 - -44,089 - 174,770
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 254,806 181,071
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 237,560 188,154
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 212,002 188,506
2020 1,134,407 143,634 283,282 101,907
2019 1,138,485 9,159 309,426 203,284
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 324,568 221,965
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 336,434 227,677
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 345,681 222,141
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 358,302 187,663
2014 1,053,788 233,913 367,587 159,791
2013 1,033,778 18,119 366,738 149,637
2012 1,004,814 68,628 371,497 134,975
2011 966,743 384,486 372,836 122,269
2010 943,473 -167,460 360,260 157,164
2009 920,581 -60,602 366,157 178,410
2008 891,246 215,753 362,380 202,481
2007 889,848 -851,298 348,711 229,784
2006 875,301 57,673 349,509 232,971
2005 855,112 250,971 355,324 225,864
2004 850,940 -269,194 365,138 212,278
2003 826,165 247,317 377,425 199,510
2002 776,048 860,349 381,084 196,227
2001 764,090 -212,872 400,939 173,613
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 417,371 125,499
1999 760,727 -32,400 432,355 89,335
1998 719,860 7,380 436,316 99,639
1997 709,778 -21,215 447,768 79,266
1996 685,005 4,072 450,174 73,040
1995 653,280 52,505 443,349 72,393
1994 609,096 315,206 437,873 66,685
1993 541,257 1,149,684 429,910 61,079
1992 440,132 1,197,329 418,900 66,286
1991 409,954 32,782 401,938 97,111
1990 402,433 -458,737 384,518 135,020
1989 381,158 18,296 373,277 143,544
1988 358,397 -56,263 386,507 133,478
1987 314,361 -345,535 381,999 137,759
1986 310,066 -343,397 385,799 127,081
1985 228,469 -208,685 383,243 120,215
1984 205,262 248,224 376,797 106,248
1983 263,778 -172,797 365,290 97,862
1982 263,210 -500,998 353,138 89,942
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 339,991 84,142
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 326,947 80,617
1979 361,750 -525,413 317,439 -13,980
1978 369,101 -117,186 311,027 -15,059
1977 372,567 -83,115 305,515 -16,601
1976 357,775 -85,430 300,615 -18,316
1975 343,850 -44,418 294,541 -20,480
1974 330,232 -20,009 289,880 -21,919
1973 315,062 -3,030 284,611 -21,995
1972 300,633 -4,050 276,263 -21,305
1971 288,267 -12,801 272,323 -20,535
1970 275,129 4,458 269,341 -31,839
1969 263,823 2,029 264,327 -39,420
1968 251,798 3,333 260,705 -40,996
1967 239,967 6,824 258,764 -42,108
1966 228,786 3,563 262,162 -33,993
1965 217,741 10,695 264,836 -36,456
1964 207,867 7,079 266,406 -38,785
1963 198,035 6,681 265,815 -40,952
1962 188,427 7,016 262,140 -43,033
1961 179,094 6,109 257,270 -44,916
1960 170,257 2,606 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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