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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.74 times bigger than Mali's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Mali
2100 131,803,615 80,371,693
2099 131,145,502 80,051,982
2098 130,482,225 79,712,985
2097 129,808,066 79,363,373
2096 129,147,895 78,996,636
2095 128,473,977 78,611,169
2094 127,761,785 78,201,275
2093 127,018,448 77,780,277
2092 126,270,202 77,346,576
2091 125,508,788 76,892,849
2090 124,636,092 76,418,075
2089 123,843,293 75,924,551
2088 123,034,495 75,413,374
2087 122,147,758 74,882,872
2086 121,381,088 74,339,859
2085 120,486,343 73,778,163
2084 119,491,780 73,197,940
2083 118,631,246 72,596,727
2082 117,742,446 71,983,705
2081 116,842,143 71,348,537
2080 115,793,841 70,707,220
2079 114,630,140 70,044,626
2078 113,624,958 69,367,218
2077 112,523,374 68,675,750
2076 111,442,221 67,972,574
2075 110,399,328 67,256,565
2074 109,236,338 66,523,454
2073 107,960,305 65,776,035
2072 106,746,984 65,016,928
2071 105,568,382 64,239,726
2070 104,230,485 63,457,636
2069 102,964,062 62,664,074
2068 101,629,164 61,857,029
2067 100,380,826 61,042,577
2066 99,116,663 60,222,511
2065 97,714,113 59,400,594
2064 96,306,602 58,567,263
2063 94,949,108 57,727,308
2062 93,579,065 56,880,111
2061 92,316,077 56,026,848
2060 91,000,643 55,166,339
2059 89,717,353 54,304,533
2058 88,346,732 53,437,711
2057 86,917,997 52,565,517
2056 85,480,219 51,691,907
2055 84,074,268 50,813,138
2054 82,676,432 49,936,085
2053 81,285,014 49,053,898
2052 79,908,081 48,167,179
2051 78,643,202 47,280,403
2050 77,331,830 46,390,999
2049 75,864,863 45,505,968
2048 74,479,782 44,617,075
2047 73,119,204 43,730,396
2046 71,697,214 42,840,806
2045 70,353,118 41,951,176
2044 69,024,959 41,061,960
2043 67,657,423 40,172,937
2042 66,357,363 39,286,024
2041 64,976,778 38,406,403
2040 63,535,531 37,525,963
2039 62,129,737 36,652,557
2038 60,803,646 35,772,629
2037 59,454,331 34,902,845
2036 58,114,874 34,036,236
2035 56,804,011 33,178,665
2034 55,502,408 32,328,037
2033 54,135,876 31,486,276
2032 52,791,273 30,655,886
2031 51,433,991 29,833,522
2030 50,079,746 29,028,860
2029 48,768,949 28,235,559
2028 47,533,470 27,456,170
2027 46,310,865 26,690,187
2026 45,075,045 25,940,320
2025 43,870,455 25,201,616
2024 42,647,492 24,478,595
2023 41,454,761 23,769,127
2022 40,578,842 23,072,640
2021 40,000,412 22,388,630
2020 39,068,979 21,713,836
2019 37,856,121 21,068,405
2018 36,743,039 20,442,030
2017 35,688,935 19,813,011
2016 34,700,612 19,191,289
2015 33,831,764 18,593,022
2014 32,792,523 18,020,267
2013 31,622,704 17,459,615
2012 30,560,034 16,957,033
2011 29,347,708 16,469,049
2010 28,284,089 15,945,198
2009 27,466,101 15,435,539
2008 26,482,622 14,940,782
2007 25,909,852 14,457,775
2006 25,424,094 13,990,139
2005 24,404,567 13,538,647
2004 23,560,654 13,102,409
2003 22,733,049 12,684,955
2002 21,378,117 12,288,050
2001 20,284,307 11,912,158
2000 20,130,327 11,559,290
1999 19,887,785 11,227,415
1998 19,159,996 10,919,573
1997 18,452,091 10,646,495
1996 17,763,266 10,407,278
1995 17,065,836 10,185,365
1994 16,250,794 9,967,031
1993 14,943,172 9,754,786
1992 13,278,974 9,553,540
1991 12,238,879 9,362,888
1990 12,045,660 9,178,830
1989 11,874,088 8,999,938
1988 11,523,298 8,833,996
1987 11,387,818 8,681,164
1986 11,420,074 8,531,277
1985 11,426,852 8,374,663
1984 11,190,221 8,208,599
1983 10,917,982 8,034,400
1982 10,991,378 7,860,194
1981 11,937,581 7,692,766
1980 13,169,311 7,530,515
1979 13,655,567 7,375,266
1978 13,611,441 7,229,651
1977 13,340,756 7,090,979
1976 13,059,851 6,960,979
1975 12,773,954 6,837,261
1974 12,469,127 6,715,436
1973 12,157,999 6,597,106
1972 11,853,696 6,483,726
1971 11,567,667 6,377,944
1970 11,290,128 6,276,472
1969 11,017,409 6,177,704
1968 10,756,922 6,082,979
1967 10,505,959 5,990,906
1966 10,266,395 5,902,204
1965 10,036,008 5,815,487
1964 9,814,318 5,730,125
1963 9,604,487 5,646,605
1962 9,404,406 5,563,917
1961 9,214,083 5,482,283
1960 9,035,043 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 80.4M people in 2100 for Mali.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Mali
2100 0.5% 0.4%
2099 0.51% 0.43%
2098 0.52% 0.44%
2097 0.51% 0.46%
2096 0.52% 0.49%
2095 0.56% 0.52%
2094 0.59% 0.54%
2093 0.59% 0.56%
2092 0.61% 0.59%
2091 0.7% 0.62%
2090 0.64% 0.65%
2089 0.66% 0.68%
2088 0.73% 0.71%
2087 0.63% 0.73%
2086 0.74% 0.76%
2085 0.83% 0.79%
2084 0.73% 0.83%
2083 0.75% 0.85%
2082 0.77% 0.89%
2081 0.91% 0.91%
2080 1.02% 0.95%
2079 0.88% 0.98%
2078 0.98% 1.01%
2077 0.97% 1.03%
2076 0.94% 1.06%
2075 1.06% 1.1%
2074 1.18% 1.14%
2073 1.14% 1.17%
2072 1.12% 1.21%
2071 1.28% 1.23%
2070 1.23% 1.27%
2069 1.31% 1.3%
2068 1.24% 1.33%
2067 1.28% 1.36%
2066 1.44% 1.38%
2065 1.46% 1.42%
2064 1.43% 1.46%
2063 1.46% 1.49%
2062 1.37% 1.52%
2061 1.45% 1.56%
2060 1.43% 1.59%
2059 1.55% 1.62%
2058 1.64% 1.66%
2057 1.68% 1.69%
2056 1.67% 1.73%
2055 1.69% 1.76%
2054 1.71% 1.8%
2053 1.72% 1.84%
2052 1.61% 1.88%
2051 1.7% 1.92%
2050 1.93% 1.94%
2049 1.86% 1.99%
2048 1.86% 2.03%
2047 1.98% 2.08%
2046 1.91% 2.12%
2045 1.92% 2.17%
2044 2.02% 2.21%
2043 1.96% 2.26%
2042 2.12% 2.29%
2041 2.27% 2.35%
2040 2.26% 2.38%
2039 2.18% 2.46%
2038 2.27% 2.49%
2037 2.3% 2.55%
2036 2.31% 2.58%
2035 2.35% 2.63%
2034 2.52% 2.67%
2033 2.55% 2.71%
2032 2.64% 2.76%
2031 2.7% 2.77%
2030 2.69% 2.81%
2029 2.6% 2.84%
2028 2.64% 2.87%
2027 2.74% 2.89%
2026 2.75% 2.93%
2025 2.87% 2.95%
2024 2.88% 2.98%
2023 2.16% 3.02%
2022 1.45% 3.06%
2021 2.38% 3.11%
2020 3.2% 3.06%
2019 3.03% 3.06%
2018 2.95% 3.17%
2017 2.85% 3.24%
2016 2.57% 3.22%
2015 3.17% 3.18%
2014 3.7% 3.21%
2013 3.48% 2.96%
2012 4.13% 2.96%
2011 3.76% 3.29%
2010 2.98% 3.3%
2009 3.71% 3.31%
2008 2.21% 3.34%
2007 1.91% 3.34%
2006 4.18% 3.33%
2005 3.58% 3.33%
2004 3.64% 3.29%
2003 6.34% 3.23%
2002 5.39% 3.16%
2001 0.76% 3.05%
2000 1.22% 2.96%
1999 3.8% 2.82%
1998 3.84% 2.56%
1997 3.88% 2.3%
1996 4.09% 2.18%
1995 5.02% 2.19%
1994 8.75% 2.18%
1993 12.5% 2.11%
1992 8.5% 2.04%
1991 1.6% 2.01%
1990 1.44% 1.99%
1989 3.04% 1.88%
1988 1.19% 1.76%
1987 -0.28% 1.76%
1986 -0.06% 1.87%
1985 2.11% 2.02%
1984 2.49% 2.17%
1983 -0.67% 2.22%
1982 -7.93% 2.18%
1981 -9.35% 2.15%
1980 -3.56% 2.1%
1979 0.32% 2.01%
1978 2.03% 1.96%
1977 2.15% 1.87%
1976 2.24% 1.81%
1975 2.44% 1.81%
1974 2.56% 1.79%
1973 2.57% 1.75%
1972 2.47% 1.66%
1971 2.46% 1.62%
1970 2.48% 1.6%
1969 2.42% 1.56%
1968 2.39% 1.54%
1967 2.33% 1.5%
1966 2.3% 1.49%
1965 2.26% 1.49%
1964 2.18% 1.48%
1963 2.13% 1.49%
1962 2.07% 1.49%
1961 1.98% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Mali
Current population
45409324
26143152
Population rank 36/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.32%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
44.5 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
33.1 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.56 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,944
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +709,468
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.98%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 15/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
11 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -48,019
Net migration rank 179/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -48,019
2024 - -44,089 - -46,880
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 746,398 -39,953
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 726,465 -39,951
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 703,674 -22,210
2020 1,134,407 143,634 683,053 -14,962
2019 1,138,485 9,159 667,110 -44,373
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 670,723 -40,710
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 661,973 -33,942
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 645,652 -30,251
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 630,006 -48,872
2014 1,053,788 233,913 614,419 -50,068
2013 1,033,778 18,119 597,887 -40,951
2012 1,004,814 68,628 588,748 -140,507
2011 966,743 384,486 570,899 -43,160
2010 943,473 -167,460 554,447 -34,483
2009 920,581 -60,602 533,730 -34,383
2008 891,246 215,753 514,665 -24,509
2007 889,848 -851,298 495,800 -19,945
2006 875,301 57,673 477,665 -18,247
2005 855,112 250,971 460,964 -17,413
2004 850,940 -269,194 439,717 -10,796
2003 826,165 247,317 417,766 -11,768
2002 776,048 860,349 396,732 -8,914
2001 764,090 -212,872 376,472 -12,507
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 359,159 -17,395
1999 760,727 -32,400 343,705 -21,702
1998 719,860 7,380 323,940 -30,255
1997 709,778 -21,215 308,429 -55,978
1996 685,005 4,072 293,953 -67,974
1995 653,280 52,505 285,598 -67,763
1994 609,096 315,206 282,356 -63,533
1993 541,257 1,149,684 274,480 -68,816
1992 440,132 1,197,329 267,605 -70,789
1991 409,954 32,782 261,656 -77,172
1990 402,433 -458,737 252,308 -68,668
1989 381,158 18,296 249,929 -75,771
1988 358,397 -56,263 245,682 -87,952
1987 314,361 -345,535 238,871 -90,940
1986 310,066 -343,397 233,799 -81,970
1985 228,469 -208,685 224,734 -63,347
1984 205,262 248,224 218,078 -47,331
1983 263,778 -172,797 211,795 -34,132
1982 263,210 -500,998 204,892 -34,140
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 198,227 -34,130
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 190,560 -30,156
1979 361,750 -525,413 182,449 -32,353
1978 369,101 -117,186 172,652 -31,520
1977 372,567 -83,115 165,071 -28,853
1976 357,775 -85,430 157,778 -33,999
1975 343,850 -44,418 150,222 -26,572
1974 330,232 -20,009 142,448 -22,449
1973 315,062 -3,030 135,801 -19,137
1972 300,633 -4,050 129,687 -19,594
1971 288,267 -12,801 123,591 -22,127
1970 275,129 4,458 118,952 -17,479
1969 263,823 2,029 114,361 -18,302
1968 251,798 3,333 111,403 -18,015
1967 239,967 6,824 107,650 -16,900
1966 228,786 3,563 103,684 -17,032
1965 217,741 10,695 100,451 -13,662
1964 207,867 7,079 97,166 -13,226
1963 198,035 6,681 95,055 -11,951
1962 188,427 7,016 93,101 -10,821
1961 179,094 6,109 91,115 -10,139
1960 170,257 2,606 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/mali | 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 Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

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
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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/mali | 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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