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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 579,704 people in Malta in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 586,345 in Malta.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 77.9 times bigger than Malta's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Malta is the 167th.
  • The countries together account for 0.56% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.007% for Malta.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +2.68% in Malta.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Malta has grown from 405K to 586K (44.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Malta: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Malta
2100 131,724,468 385,935
2099 131,066,750 389,134
2098 130,403,871 392,349
2097 129,730,117 395,676
2096 129,070,342 399,078
2095 128,396,829 402,765
2094 127,685,065 406,545
2093 126,942,174 410,348
2092 126,194,378 414,228
2091 125,433,421 418,324
2090 124,561,248 422,539
2089 123,768,926 426,802
2088 122,960,614 431,058
2087 122,074,409 435,593
2086 121,308,199 440,311
2085 120,413,992 444,985
2084 119,420,025 449,785
2083 118,560,008 454,721
2082 117,671,742 459,549
2081 116,771,980 464,574
2080 115,724,307 469,503
2079 114,561,305 474,408
2078 113,556,727 479,266
2077 112,455,804 484,147
2076 111,375,301 489,066
2075 110,333,033 493,650
2074 109,170,742 498,129
2073 107,895,475 502,551
2072 106,682,883 506,905
2071 105,504,989 511,168
2070 104,167,895 515,276
2069 102,902,233 519,370
2068 101,568,136 523,386
2067 100,320,548 527,196
2066 99,057,144 530,842
2065 97,655,437 534,346
2064 96,248,770 537,672
2063 94,892,092 540,800
2062 93,522,871 543,938
2061 92,260,642 546,831
2060 90,945,998 549,661
2059 89,663,478 552,414
2058 88,293,680 554,917
2057 86,865,803 557,274
2056 85,428,888 559,707
2055 84,023,782 562,109
2054 82,626,785 564,244
2053 81,236,203 566,461
2052 79,860,096 568,738
2051 78,595,977 571,060
2050 77,285,393 573,186
2049 75,819,307 575,026
2048 74,435,057 576,946
2047 73,075,297 579,015
2046 71,654,160 580,778
2045 70,310,871 582,504
2044 68,983,509 584,119
2043 67,616,795 585,724
2042 66,317,516 587,136
2041 64,937,760 588,589
2040 63,497,378 589,860
2039 62,092,429 591,157
2038 60,767,134 592,353
2037 59,418,629 593,277
2036 58,079,976 594,028
2035 56,769,901 594,615
2034 55,469,080 595,017
2033 54,103,368 594,907
2032 52,759,572 594,310
2031 51,403,105 593,505
2030 50,049,673 592,412
2029 48,739,663 591,100
2028 47,504,926 589,420
2027 46,283,055 587,406
2026 45,047,977 585,225
2025 43,844,111 579,704
2024 42,647,492 568,847
2023 41,454,761 552,747
2022 40,578,842 531,113
2021 40,000,412 518,150
2020 39,068,979 515,490
2019 37,856,121 503,912
2018 36,743,039 483,903
2017 35,688,935 467,106
2016 34,700,612 454,505
2015 33,831,764 444,220
2014 32,792,523 433,481
2013 31,622,704 424,810
2012 30,560,034 420,028
2011 29,347,708 416,268
2010 28,284,089 414,508
2009 27,466,101 412,477
2008 26,482,622 409,379
2007 25,909,852 406,724
2006 25,424,094 405,308
2005 24,404,567 403,834
2004 23,560,654 401,268
2003 22,733,049 398,582
2002 21,378,117 395,969
2001 20,284,307 393,028
2000 20,130,327 390,087
1999 19,887,785 387,578
1998 19,159,996 385,287
1997 18,452,091 382,791
1996 17,763,266 379,905
1995 17,065,836 377,419
1994 16,250,794 374,797
1993 14,943,172 371,308
1992 13,278,974 367,618
1991 12,238,879 363,845
1990 12,045,660 354,170
1989 11,874,088 350,722
1988 11,523,298 347,325
1987 11,387,818 344,485
1986 11,420,074 342,121
1985 11,426,852 336,452
1984 11,190,221 330,593
1983 10,917,982 330,524
1982 10,991,378 325,898
1981 11,937,581 318,982
1980 13,169,311 316,645
1979 13,655,567 313,342
1978 13,611,441 310,182
1977 13,340,756 306,970
1976 13,059,851 305,774
1975 12,773,954 304,222
1974 12,469,127 301,996
1973 12,157,999 302,200
1972 11,853,696 302,450
1971 11,567,667 302,700
1970 11,290,128 302,650
1969 11,017,409 304,300
1968 10,756,922 307,900
1967 10,505,959 311,550
1966 10,266,395 315,200
1965 10,036,008 318,800
1964 9,814,318 321,250
1963 9,604,487 322,550
1962 9,404,406 323,900
1961 9,214,083 325,250
1960 9,035,043 326,550

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/malta | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Malta gained 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Malta's population increased by 131,840 people (a 29% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Malta was ranked 168th in 2006 and ranked 167th 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 Malta will decrease by 2.24% to 573,186 people and will still be ranked 167th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 595K people in 2034 for Malta.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Malta
2100 0.5% -0.82%
2099 0.51% -0.82%
2098 0.52% -0.84%
2097 0.51% -0.85%
2096 0.52% -0.92%
2095 0.56% -0.93%
2094 0.59% -0.93%
2093 0.59% -0.94%
2092 0.61% -0.98%
2091 0.7% -1%
2090 0.64% -1%
2089 0.66% -0.99%
2088 0.73% -1.04%
2087 0.63% -1.07%
2086 0.74% -1.05%
2085 0.83% -1.07%
2084 0.73% -1.09%
2083 0.75% -1.05%
2082 0.77% -1.08%
2081 0.91% -1.05%
2080 1.02% -1.03%
2079 0.88% -1.01%
2078 0.98% -1.01%
2077 0.97% -1.01%
2076 0.94% -0.93%
2075 1.06% -0.9%
2074 1.18% -0.88%
2073 1.14% -0.86%
2072 1.12% -0.83%
2071 1.28% -0.8%
2070 1.23% -0.79%
2069 1.31% -0.77%
2068 1.24% -0.72%
2067 1.28% -0.69%
2066 1.44% -0.66%
2065 1.46% -0.62%
2064 1.43% -0.58%
2063 1.46% -0.58%
2062 1.37% -0.53%
2061 1.45% -0.51%
2060 1.43% -0.5%
2059 1.55% -0.45%
2058 1.64% -0.42%
2057 1.68% -0.43%
2056 1.67% -0.43%
2055 1.69% -0.38%
2054 1.71% -0.39%
2053 1.72% -0.4%
2052 1.61% -0.41%
2051 1.7% -0.37%
2050 1.93% -0.32%
2049 1.86% -0.33%
2048 1.86% -0.36%
2047 1.98% -0.3%
2046 1.91% -0.3%
2045 1.92% -0.28%
2044 2.02% -0.27%
2043 1.96% -0.24%
2042 2.12% -0.25%
2041 2.27% -0.22%
2040 2.26% -0.22%
2039 2.18% -0.2%
2038 2.27% -0.16%
2037 2.3% -0.13%
2036 2.31% -0.1%
2035 2.35% -0.07%
2034 2.52% 0.02%
2033 2.55% 0.1%
2032 2.64% 0.14%
2031 2.7% 0.18%
2030 2.69% 0.22%
2029 2.6% 0.29%
2028 2.64% 0.34%
2027 2.74% 0.37%
2026 2.75% 0.95%
2025 2.81% 1.91%
2024 2.88% 2.91%
2023 2.16% 4.07%
2022 1.45% 2.5%
2021 2.38% 0.52%
2020 3.2% 2.3%
2019 3.03% 4.13%
2018 2.95% 3.6%
2017 2.85% 2.77%
2016 2.57% 2.32%
2015 3.17% 2.48%
2014 3.7% 2.04%
2013 3.48% 1.14%
2012 4.13% 0.9%
2011 3.76% 0.42%
2010 2.98% 0.49%
2009 3.71% 0.76%
2008 2.21% 0.65%
2007 1.91% 0.35%
2006 4.18% 0.37%
2005 3.58% 0.64%
2004 3.64% 0.67%
2003 6.34% 0.66%
2002 5.39% 0.75%
2001 0.76% 0.75%
2000 1.22% 0.65%
1999 3.8% 0.59%
1998 3.84% 0.65%
1997 3.88% 0.76%
1996 4.09% 0.66%
1995 5.02% 0.7%
1994 8.75% 0.94%
1993 12.5% 1%
1992 8.5% 1.04%
1991 1.6% 2.73%
1990 1.44% 0.98%
1989 3.04% 0.98%
1988 1.19% 0.82%
1987 -0.28% 0.69%
1986 -0.06% 1.68%
1985 2.11% 1.77%
1984 2.49% 0.02%
1983 -0.67% 1.42%
1982 -7.93% 2.17%
1981 -9.35% 0.74%
1980 -3.56% 1.05%
1979 0.32% 1.02%
1978 2.03% 1.05%
1977 2.15% 0.39%
1976 2.24% 0.51%
1975 2.44% 0.74%
1974 2.56% -0.07%
1973 2.57% -0.08%
1972 2.47% -0.08%
1971 2.46% 0.02%
1970 2.48% -0.54%
1969 2.42% -1.17%
1968 2.39% -1.17%
1967 2.33% -1.16%
1966 2.3% -1.13%
1965 2.26% -0.76%
1964 2.18% -0.4%
1963 2.13% -0.42%
1962 2.07% -0.42%
1961 1.98% -0.4%

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/malta | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Malta's population grew by 1.91%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Malta
Current population
45682388
586345
Population rank 36/197 167/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.007%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
48.5 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
2 hours
One death every
2.16 minutes
2.11 hours
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +30
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +10,857
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +1.91%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 52/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.7 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 +5,161
Net migration rank 179/196 52/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 199,466
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 112/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 37%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 15/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Malta
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Malta
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 5,161
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 228 6,323
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 442 6,591
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 54 2,480
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 259 4,638
2020 1,134,407 143,634 361 6,904
2019 1,138,485 9,159 655 20,302
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 774 16,961
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 747 14,372
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 1,091 8,624
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 888 9,588
2014 1,053,788 233,913 910 9,192
2013 1,033,778 18,119 807 861
2012 1,004,814 68,628 714 911
2011 966,743 384,486 916 999
2010 943,473 -167,460 871 741
2009 920,581 -60,602 825 836
2008 891,246 215,753 777 869
2007 889,848 -851,298 691 926
2006 875,301 57,673 568 997
2005 855,112 250,971 727 1,626
2004 850,940 -269,194 883 1,662
2003 826,165 247,317 917 1,626
2002 776,048 860,349 911 1,821
2001 764,090 -212,872 1,061 1,678
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 1,482 1,591
1999 760,727 -32,400 1,357 1,463
1998 719,860 7,380 1,656 1,260
1997 709,778 -21,215 1,991 1,003
1996 685,005 4,072 2,279 1,142
1995 653,280 52,505 1,887 1,306
1994 609,096 315,206 2,136 1,136
1993 541,257 1,149,684 2,451 1,006
1992 440,132 1,197,329 2,573 737
1991 409,954 32,782 2,438 763
1990 402,433 -458,737 2,621 568
1989 381,158 18,296 2,981 248
1988 358,397 -56,263 2,813 164
1987 314,361 -345,535 2,412 295
1986 310,066 -343,397 2,395 464
1985 228,469 -208,685 2,590 -428
1984 205,262 248,224 2,678 -558
1983 263,778 -172,797 2,512 -740
1982 263,210 -500,998 2,835 -1,059
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 2,233 -548
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 2,375 -886
1979 361,750 -525,413 2,852 -1,311
1978 369,101 -117,186 2,389 -1,302
1977 372,567 -83,115 2,916 -1,598
1976 357,775 -85,430 2,721 -1,641
1975 343,850 -44,418 2,829 -1,742
1974 330,232 -20,009 2,687 -1,597
1973 315,062 -3,030 2,327 -1,549
1972 300,633 -4,050 2,480 -1,316
1971 288,267 -12,801 2,482 -1,327
1970 275,129 4,458 2,270 -1,123
1969 263,823 2,029 2,069 -827
1968 251,798 3,333 2,247 -753
1967 239,967 6,824 2,306 -4,073
1966 228,786 3,563 2,458 -4,318
1965 217,741 10,695 2,646 -4,329
1964 207,867 7,079 3,630 -4,768
1963 198,035 6,681 3,709 -4,773
1962 188,427 7,016 4,664 -5,360
1961 179,094 6,109 4,748 -5,099
1960 170,257 2,606 5,747 -5,540

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/malta | 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 Malta 5.38% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,499 people) and 94.6% is from migration (a gain of 96,783 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 199,466 people or 37% in Malta.

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
Malta
City Population
St. Paul's Bay 40.2K
Mosta 25.5K
Birkirkara 24.4K
Naxxar 18.1K
Zabbar 18K
Sliema 16.9K
San Gwann 16.1K
Marsaskala 15.6K
Gzira 8.03K
Valletta 6.44K

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/malta | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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