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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 26,322,576 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 0.87% 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 +2.68% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Mali
2100 131,724,468 80,362,778
2099 131,066,750 80,043,103
2098 130,403,871 79,704,143
2097 129,730,117 79,354,569
2096 129,070,342 78,987,874
2095 128,396,829 78,602,449
2094 127,685,065 78,192,601
2093 126,942,174 77,771,649
2092 126,194,378 77,337,997
2091 125,433,421 76,884,320
2090 124,561,248 76,409,599
2089 123,768,926 75,916,129
2088 122,960,614 75,405,009
2087 122,074,409 74,874,565
2086 121,308,199 74,331,613
2085 120,413,992 73,769,979
2084 119,420,025 73,189,821
2083 118,560,008 72,588,675
2082 117,671,742 71,975,720
2081 116,771,980 71,340,622
2080 115,724,307 70,699,377
2079 114,561,305 70,036,857
2078 113,556,727 69,359,523
2077 112,455,804 68,668,133
2076 111,375,301 67,965,034
2075 110,333,033 67,249,105
2074 109,170,742 66,516,075
2073 107,895,475 65,768,739
2072 106,682,883 65,009,716
2071 105,504,989 64,232,600
2070 104,167,895 63,450,597
2069 102,902,233 62,657,123
2068 101,568,136 61,850,168
2067 100,320,548 61,035,806
2066 99,057,144 60,215,831
2065 97,655,437 59,394,005
2064 96,248,770 58,560,766
2063 94,892,092 57,720,905
2062 93,522,871 56,873,801
2061 92,260,642 56,020,633
2060 90,945,998 55,160,220
2059 89,663,478 54,298,509
2058 88,293,680 53,431,783
2057 86,865,803 52,559,686
2056 85,428,888 51,686,173
2055 84,023,782 50,807,502
2054 82,626,785 49,930,546
2053 81,236,203 49,048,457
2052 79,860,096 48,161,836
2051 78,595,977 47,275,159
2050 77,285,393 46,385,854
2049 75,819,307 45,500,920
2048 74,435,057 44,612,126
2047 73,075,297 43,725,546
2046 71,654,160 42,836,054
2045 70,310,871 41,946,522
2044 68,983,509 41,057,406
2043 67,616,795 40,168,481
2042 66,317,516 39,281,666
2041 64,937,760 38,402,142
2040 63,497,378 37,521,801
2039 62,092,429 36,648,491
2038 60,767,134 35,768,661
2037 59,418,629 34,898,973
2036 58,079,976 34,032,460
2035 56,769,901 33,174,985
2034 55,469,080 32,324,451
2033 54,103,368 31,482,783
2032 52,759,572 30,652,485
2031 51,403,105 29,830,213
2030 50,049,673 29,025,640
2029 48,739,663 28,232,427
2028 47,504,926 27,453,124
2027 46,283,055 26,687,226
2026 45,047,977 25,937,442
2025 43,844,111 25,198,821
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

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 2.81% 2.94%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Mali
Current population
45682388
26322576
Population rank 36/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.32%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
43.9 seconds
One birth every
21.1 seconds
32.6 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +1,973
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 14/197
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 1,249,785 -44,089 759,375 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 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 226K
Segou 131K
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 (1960–2025, 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/mali | 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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