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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 529,676 people in Maldives in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 532,468 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 85.8 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
  • The countries together account for 0.56% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.006% for Maldives.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +2.28% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Maldives
2100 131,724,468 476,472
2099 131,066,750 477,887
2098 130,403,871 479,384
2097 129,730,117 481,076
2096 129,070,342 482,932
2095 128,396,829 484,892
2094 127,685,065 487,026
2093 126,942,174 489,428
2092 126,194,378 492,103
2091 125,433,421 494,866
2090 124,561,248 498,019
2089 123,768,926 501,269
2088 122,960,614 504,943
2087 122,074,409 508,705
2086 121,308,199 512,717
2085 120,413,992 516,827
2084 119,420,025 521,029
2083 118,560,008 525,309
2082 117,671,742 529,594
2081 116,771,980 534,081
2080 115,724,307 538,531
2079 114,561,305 542,993
2078 113,556,727 547,515
2077 112,455,804 551,848
2076 111,375,301 555,977
2075 110,333,033 559,992
2074 109,170,742 563,823
2073 107,895,475 567,615
2072 106,682,883 571,139
2071 105,504,989 574,565
2070 104,167,895 577,779
2069 102,902,233 580,752
2068 101,568,136 583,540
2067 100,320,548 586,154
2066 99,057,144 588,472
2065 97,655,437 590,459
2064 96,248,770 592,304
2063 94,892,092 593,970
2062 93,522,871 595,364
2061 92,260,642 596,441
2060 90,945,998 597,010
2059 89,663,478 597,582
2058 88,293,680 597,833
2057 86,865,803 597,770
2056 85,428,888 597,319
2055 84,023,782 596,595
2054 82,626,785 595,791
2053 81,236,203 594,788
2052 79,860,096 593,417
2051 78,595,977 591,901
2050 77,285,393 590,081
2049 75,819,307 587,930
2048 74,435,057 585,552
2047 73,075,297 583,266
2046 71,654,160 580,802
2045 70,310,871 578,120
2044 68,983,509 575,506
2043 67,616,795 572,763
2042 66,317,516 569,981
2041 64,937,760 567,207
2040 63,497,378 564,359
2039 62,092,429 561,507
2038 60,767,134 558,901
2037 59,418,629 556,305
2036 58,079,976 553,800
2035 56,769,901 551,310
2034 55,469,080 548,914
2033 54,103,368 546,428
2032 52,759,572 544,034
2031 51,403,105 541,696
2030 50,049,673 539,519
2029 48,739,663 537,496
2028 47,504,926 535,357
2027 46,283,055 533,364
2026 45,047,977 531,523
2025 43,844,111 529,676
2024 42,647,492 527,799
2023 41,454,761 525,994
2022 40,578,842 524,106
2021 40,000,412 516,154
2020 39,068,979 502,118
2019 37,856,121 487,731
2018 36,743,039 473,099
2017 35,688,935 458,287
2016 34,700,612 443,308
2015 33,831,764 428,154
2014 32,792,523 413,617
2013 31,622,704 400,070
2012 30,560,034 386,818
2011 29,347,708 373,674
2010 28,284,089 360,792
2009 27,466,101 348,275
2008 26,482,622 336,170
2007 25,909,852 324,479
2006 25,424,094 313,851
2005 24,404,567 306,429
2004 23,560,654 301,413
2003 22,733,049 296,491
2002 21,378,117 291,616
2001 20,284,307 286,767
2000 20,130,327 282,019
1999 19,887,785 277,412
1998 19,159,996 272,723
1997 18,452,091 267,707
1996 17,763,266 262,347
1995 17,065,836 256,649
1994 16,250,794 250,822
1993 14,943,172 244,884
1992 13,278,974 238,543
1991 12,238,879 231,802
1990 12,045,660 224,762
1989 11,874,088 217,738
1988 11,523,298 210,885
1987 11,387,818 203,944
1986 11,420,074 196,935
1985 11,426,852 190,169
1984 11,190,221 184,198
1983 10,917,982 179,128
1982 10,991,378 174,333
1981 11,937,581 169,532
1980 13,169,311 164,835
1979 13,655,567 160,360
1978 13,611,441 156,159
1977 13,340,756 151,930
1976 13,059,851 147,525
1975 12,773,954 143,158
1974 12,469,127 138,978
1973 12,157,999 134,952
1972 11,853,696 130,968
1971 11,567,667 127,035
1970 11,290,128 123,219
1969 11,017,409 119,564
1968 10,756,922 116,075
1967 10,505,959 112,528
1966 10,266,395 108,507
1965 10,036,008 104,102
1964 9,814,318 100,662
1963 9,604,487 98,222
1962 9,404,406 95,802
1961 9,214,083 93,450
1960 9,035,043 91,189

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/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 89,160 people (a 20.1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th 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 Maldives will increase by 10.8% to 590,081 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 598K people in 2058 for Maldives.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Maldives
2100 0.5% -0.3%
2099 0.51% -0.31%
2098 0.52% -0.35%
2097 0.51% -0.38%
2096 0.52% -0.4%
2095 0.56% -0.44%
2094 0.59% -0.49%
2093 0.59% -0.54%
2092 0.61% -0.56%
2091 0.7% -0.63%
2090 0.64% -0.65%
2089 0.66% -0.73%
2088 0.73% -0.74%
2087 0.63% -0.78%
2086 0.74% -0.8%
2085 0.83% -0.81%
2084 0.73% -0.81%
2083 0.75% -0.81%
2082 0.77% -0.84%
2081 0.91% -0.83%
2080 1.02% -0.82%
2079 0.88% -0.83%
2078 0.98% -0.79%
2077 0.97% -0.74%
2076 0.94% -0.72%
2075 1.06% -0.68%
2074 1.18% -0.67%
2073 1.14% -0.62%
2072 1.12% -0.6%
2071 1.28% -0.56%
2070 1.23% -0.51%
2069 1.31% -0.48%
2068 1.24% -0.45%
2067 1.28% -0.39%
2066 1.44% -0.34%
2065 1.46% -0.31%
2064 1.43% -0.28%
2063 1.46% -0.23%
2062 1.37% -0.18%
2061 1.45% -0.1%
2060 1.43% -0.1%
2059 1.55% -0.04%
2058 1.64% 0.01%
2057 1.68% 0.08%
2056 1.67% 0.12%
2055 1.69% 0.14%
2054 1.71% 0.17%
2053 1.72% 0.23%
2052 1.61% 0.26%
2051 1.7% 0.31%
2050 1.93% 0.37%
2049 1.86% 0.41%
2048 1.86% 0.39%
2047 1.98% 0.42%
2046 1.91% 0.46%
2045 1.92% 0.45%
2044 2.02% 0.48%
2043 1.96% 0.49%
2042 2.12% 0.49%
2041 2.27% 0.5%
2040 2.26% 0.51%
2039 2.18% 0.47%
2038 2.27% 0.47%
2037 2.3% 0.45%
2036 2.31% 0.45%
2035 2.35% 0.44%
2034 2.52% 0.46%
2033 2.55% 0.44%
2032 2.64% 0.43%
2031 2.7% 0.4%
2030 2.69% 0.38%
2029 2.6% 0.4%
2028 2.64% 0.37%
2027 2.74% 0.35%
2026 2.75% 0.35%
2025 2.81% 0.36%
2024 2.88% 0.34%
2023 2.16% 0.36%
2022 1.45% 1.54%
2021 2.38% 2.8%
2020 3.2% 2.95%
2019 3.03% 3.09%
2018 2.95% 3.23%
2017 2.85% 3.38%
2016 2.57% 3.54%
2015 3.17% 3.51%
2014 3.7% 3.39%
2013 3.48% 3.43%
2012 4.13% 3.52%
2011 3.76% 3.57%
2010 2.98% 3.59%
2009 3.71% 3.6%
2008 2.21% 3.6%
2007 1.91% 3.39%
2006 4.18% 2.42%
2005 3.58% 1.66%
2004 3.64% 1.66%
2003 6.34% 1.67%
2002 5.39% 1.69%
2001 0.76% 1.68%
2000 1.22% 1.66%
1999 3.8% 1.72%
1998 3.84% 1.87%
1997 3.88% 2.04%
1996 4.09% 2.22%
1995 5.02% 2.32%
1994 8.75% 2.42%
1993 12.5% 2.66%
1992 8.5% 2.91%
1991 1.6% 3.13%
1990 1.44% 3.23%
1989 3.04% 3.25%
1988 1.19% 3.4%
1987 -0.28% 3.56%
1986 -0.06% 3.56%
1985 2.11% 3.24%
1984 2.49% 2.83%
1983 -0.67% 2.75%
1982 -7.93% 2.83%
1981 -9.35% 2.85%
1980 -3.56% 2.79%
1979 0.32% 2.69%
1978 2.03% 2.78%
1977 2.15% 2.99%
1976 2.24% 3.05%
1975 2.44% 3.01%
1974 2.56% 2.98%
1973 2.57% 3.04%
1972 2.47% 3.1%
1971 2.46% 3.1%
1970 2.48% 3.06%
1969 2.42% 3.01%
1968 2.39% 3.15%
1967 2.33% 3.71%
1966 2.3% 4.23%
1965 2.26% 3.42%
1964 2.18% 2.48%
1963 2.13% 2.53%
1962 2.07% 2.52%
1961 1.98% 2.48%

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/maldives | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.36%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Maldives
Current population
45682388
532468
Population rank 36/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.006%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
4.68 hours
One birth every
21.1 seconds
1.57 hours
One death every
2.16 minutes
7.02 hours
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +5
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +1,877
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +0.36%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 142/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.85 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -2,283
Net migration rank 179/196 101/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 75,099
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 141/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 48/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Maldives
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Maldives
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -2,283
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 4,340 -2,421
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 4,566 -2,877
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 4,752 -2,674
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 4,426 9,412
2020 1,134,407 143,634 4,594 9,642
2019 1,138,485 9,159 4,886 9,648
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 5,088 9,637
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 5,342 9,555
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 5,652 9,421
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 5,914 9,324
2014 1,053,788 233,913 6,122 7,700
2013 1,033,778 18,119 6,307 6,963
2012 1,004,814 68,628 6,445 6,800
2011 966,743 384,486 6,429 6,611
2010 943,473 -167,460 6,350 6,369
2009 920,581 -60,602 6,227 6,093
2008 891,246 215,753 5,856 6,035
2007 889,848 -851,298 5,324 6,160
2006 875,301 57,673 4,766 5,006
2005 855,112 250,971 4,493 578
2004 850,940 -269,194 4,287 668
2003 826,165 247,317 4,316 578
2002 776,048 860,349 4,257 607
2001 764,090 -212,872 4,271 560
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 4,372 300
1999 760,727 -32,400 4,601 -62
1998 719,860 7,380 4,919 -94
1997 709,778 -21,215 5,267 -60
1996 685,005 4,072 5,705 -183
1995 653,280 52,505 6,177 -302
1994 609,096 315,206 6,550 -768
1993 541,257 1,149,684 6,842 -749
1992 440,132 1,197,329 7,096 -522
1991 409,954 32,782 7,295 -378
1990 402,433 -458,737 7,444 -271
1989 381,158 18,296 7,472 -610
1988 358,397 -56,263 7,414 -564
1987 314,361 -345,535 7,300 -265
1986 310,066 -343,397 7,153 -175
1985 228,469 -208,685 6,944 -382
1984 205,262 248,224 6,680 -1,300
1983 263,778 -172,797 6,361 -1,608
1982 263,210 -500,998 6,058 -1,220
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 5,778 -1,014
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 5,526 -903
1979 361,750 -525,413 5,275 -958
1978 369,101 -117,186 4,812 -716
1977 372,567 -83,115 4,779 -413
1976 357,775 -85,430 4,538 -101
1975 343,850 -44,418 4,325 -14
1974 330,232 -20,009 4,136 -78
1973 315,062 -3,030 3,924 60
1972 300,633 -4,050 3,707 269
1971 288,267 -12,801 3,549 341
1970 275,129 4,458 3,415 330
1969 263,823 2,029 3,260 313
1968 251,798 3,333 3,150 255
1967 239,967 6,824 3,010 672
1966 228,786 3,563 2,845 1,511
1965 217,741 10,695 2,747 1,709
1964 207,867 7,079 2,660 -227
1963 198,035 6,681 2,567 -125
1962 188,427 7,016 2,475 -80
1961 179,094 6,109 2,354 -44
1960 170,257 2,606 2,241 -32

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/maldives | 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 Maldives 45.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 49,560 people) and 54.2% is from migration (a gain of 58,667 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.

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
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 65.7K

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/maldives | 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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