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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,169,395 people in Mauritania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,505,206 in Mauritania.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.25 times bigger than Mauritania's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Mauritania is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.07% for Mauritania.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +3% in Mauritania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Mauritania has grown from 3.01M to 5.51M (82.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Mauritania: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Mauritania
2100 131,803,615 17,309,980
2099 131,145,502 17,202,690
2098 130,482,225 17,090,030
2097 129,808,066 16,975,270
2096 129,147,895 16,857,252
2095 128,473,977 16,739,240
2094 127,761,785 16,617,272
2093 127,018,448 16,492,589
2092 126,270,202 16,366,098
2091 125,508,788 16,235,771
2090 124,636,092 16,103,700
2089 123,843,293 15,969,059
2088 123,034,495 15,831,339
2087 122,147,758 15,690,143
2086 121,381,088 15,547,605
2085 120,486,343 15,403,967
2084 119,491,780 15,257,740
2083 118,631,246 15,108,271
2082 117,742,446 14,958,279
2081 116,842,143 14,805,332
2080 115,793,841 14,651,508
2079 114,630,140 14,496,397
2078 113,624,958 14,337,117
2077 112,523,374 14,175,812
2076 111,442,221 14,013,255
2075 110,399,328 13,849,027
2074 109,236,338 13,684,146
2073 107,960,305 13,517,681
2072 106,746,984 13,349,376
2071 105,568,382 13,178,237
2070 104,230,485 13,007,812
2069 102,964,062 12,835,311
2068 101,629,164 12,662,862
2067 100,380,826 12,487,379
2066 99,116,663 12,311,503
2065 97,714,113 12,136,616
2064 96,306,602 11,958,955
2063 94,949,108 11,783,144
2062 93,579,065 11,606,044
2061 92,316,077 11,428,738
2060 91,000,643 11,251,427
2059 89,717,353 11,072,236
2058 88,346,732 10,892,076
2057 86,917,997 10,713,858
2056 85,480,219 10,536,935
2055 84,074,268 10,358,532
2054 82,676,432 10,179,658
2053 81,285,014 9,999,712
2052 79,908,081 9,819,098
2051 78,643,202 9,639,209
2050 77,331,830 9,461,249
2049 75,864,863 9,283,353
2048 74,479,782 9,104,299
2047 73,119,204 8,926,851
2046 71,697,214 8,748,845
2045 70,353,118 8,572,397
2044 69,024,959 8,397,189
2043 67,657,423 8,222,194
2042 66,357,363 8,048,139
2041 64,976,778 7,876,803
2040 63,535,531 7,706,696
2039 62,129,737 7,537,689
2038 60,803,646 7,369,184
2037 59,454,331 7,202,472
2036 58,114,874 7,036,729
2035 56,804,011 6,871,981
2034 55,502,408 6,708,364
2033 54,135,876 6,546,168
2032 52,791,273 6,385,827
2031 51,433,991 6,227,564
2030 50,079,746 6,070,865
2029 48,768,949 5,916,516
2028 47,533,470 5,764,060
2027 46,310,865 5,613,919
2026 45,075,045 5,464,898
2025 43,870,455 5,317,228
2024 42,647,492 5,169,395
2023 41,454,761 5,022,441
2022 40,578,842 4,875,637
2021 40,000,412 4,734,874
2020 39,068,979 4,600,131
2019 37,856,121 4,467,708
2018 36,743,039 4,337,685
2017 35,688,935 4,210,600
2016 34,700,612 4,086,657
2015 33,831,764 3,965,959
2014 32,792,523 3,848,514
2013 31,622,704 3,734,318
2012 30,560,034 3,619,034
2011 29,347,708 3,502,811
2010 28,284,089 3,390,965
2009 27,466,101 3,284,448
2008 26,482,622 3,183,269
2007 25,909,852 3,093,059
2006 25,424,094 3,013,660
2005 24,404,567 2,939,059
2004 23,560,654 2,868,664
2003 22,733,049 2,802,046
2002 21,378,117 2,738,655
2001 20,284,307 2,678,760
2000 20,130,327 2,613,441
1999 19,887,785 2,541,698
1998 19,159,996 2,474,651
1997 18,452,091 2,411,306
1996 17,763,266 2,358,188
1995 17,065,836 2,312,017
1994 16,250,794 2,249,454
1993 14,943,172 2,174,328
1992 13,278,974 2,088,135
1991 12,238,879 2,009,738
1990 12,045,660 1,951,878
1989 11,874,088 1,903,048
1988 11,523,298 1,855,859
1987 11,387,818 1,803,014
1986 11,420,074 1,751,835
1985 11,426,852 1,702,107
1984 11,190,221 1,653,693
1983 10,917,982 1,606,746
1982 10,991,378 1,561,176
1981 11,937,581 1,516,877
1980 13,169,311 1,474,043
1979 13,655,567 1,432,758
1978 13,611,441 1,392,713
1977 13,340,756 1,353,768
1976 13,059,851 1,315,336
1975 12,773,954 1,277,330
1974 12,469,127 1,240,188
1973 12,157,999 1,203,838
1972 11,853,696 1,168,355
1971 11,567,667 1,133,702
1970 11,290,128 1,099,806
1969 11,017,409 1,066,754
1968 10,756,922 1,034,739
1967 10,505,959 1,003,843
1966 10,266,395 974,157
1965 10,036,008 945,838
1964 9,814,318 918,955
1963 9,604,487 893,423
1962 9,404,406 869,184
1961 9,214,083 846,167
1960 9,035,043 824,298

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/mauritania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Mauritania gained 1,072,997 people (a 35.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Mauritania's population increased by 1,418,549 people (a 34.7% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Mauritania was ranked 132nd in 2006 and ranked 122nd 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 Mauritania will increase by 71.9% to 9,461,249 people and rank change from 122nd to 102nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 17.3M people in 2100 for Mauritania.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Mauritania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Mauritania
2100 0.5% 0.62%
2099 0.51% 0.66%
2098 0.52% 0.68%
2097 0.51% 0.7%
2096 0.52% 0.7%
2095 0.56% 0.73%
2094 0.59% 0.76%
2093 0.59% 0.77%
2092 0.61% 0.8%
2091 0.7% 0.82%
2090 0.64% 0.84%
2089 0.66% 0.87%
2088 0.73% 0.9%
2087 0.63% 0.92%
2086 0.74% 0.93%
2085 0.83% 0.96%
2084 0.73% 0.99%
2083 0.75% 1%
2082 0.77% 1.03%
2081 0.91% 1.05%
2080 1.02% 1.07%
2079 0.88% 1.11%
2078 0.98% 1.14%
2077 0.97% 1.16%
2076 0.94% 1.19%
2075 1.06% 1.2%
2074 1.18% 1.23%
2073 1.14% 1.26%
2072 1.12% 1.3%
2071 1.28% 1.31%
2070 1.23% 1.34%
2069 1.31% 1.36%
2068 1.24% 1.41%
2067 1.28% 1.43%
2066 1.44% 1.44%
2065 1.46% 1.49%
2064 1.43% 1.49%
2063 1.46% 1.53%
2062 1.37% 1.55%
2061 1.45% 1.58%
2060 1.43% 1.62%
2059 1.55% 1.65%
2058 1.64% 1.66%
2057 1.68% 1.68%
2056 1.67% 1.72%
2055 1.69% 1.76%
2054 1.71% 1.8%
2053 1.72% 1.84%
2052 1.61% 1.87%
2051 1.7% 1.88%
2050 1.93% 1.92%
2049 1.86% 1.97%
2048 1.86% 1.99%
2047 1.98% 2.03%
2046 1.91% 2.06%
2045 1.92% 2.09%
2044 2.02% 2.13%
2043 1.96% 2.16%
2042 2.12% 2.18%
2041 2.27% 2.21%
2040 2.26% 2.24%
2039 2.18% 2.29%
2038 2.27% 2.31%
2037 2.3% 2.36%
2036 2.31% 2.4%
2035 2.35% 2.44%
2034 2.52% 2.48%
2033 2.55% 2.51%
2032 2.64% 2.54%
2031 2.7% 2.58%
2030 2.69% 2.61%
2029 2.6% 2.64%
2028 2.64% 2.67%
2027 2.74% 2.73%
2026 2.75% 2.78%
2025 2.87% 2.86%
2024 2.88% 2.93%
2023 2.16% 3.01%
2022 1.45% 2.97%
2021 2.38% 2.93%
2020 3.2% 2.96%
2019 3.03% 3%
2018 2.95% 3.02%
2017 2.85% 3.03%
2016 2.57% 3.04%
2015 3.17% 3.05%
2014 3.7% 3.06%
2013 3.48% 3.19%
2012 4.13% 3.32%
2011 3.76% 3.3%
2010 2.98% 3.24%
2009 3.71% 3.18%
2008 2.21% 2.92%
2007 1.91% 2.63%
2006 4.18% 2.54%
2005 3.58% 2.45%
2004 3.64% 2.38%
2003 6.34% 2.31%
2002 5.39% 2.24%
2001 0.76% 2.5%
2000 1.22% 2.82%
1999 3.8% 2.71%
1998 3.84% 2.63%
1997 3.88% 2.25%
1996 4.09% 2%
1995 5.02% 2.78%
1994 8.75% 3.46%
1993 12.5% 4.13%
1992 8.5% 3.9%
1991 1.6% 2.96%
1990 1.44% 2.57%
1989 3.04% 2.54%
1988 1.19% 2.93%
1987 -0.28% 2.92%
1986 -0.06% 2.92%
1985 2.11% 2.93%
1984 2.49% 2.92%
1983 -0.67% 2.92%
1982 -7.93% 2.92%
1981 -9.35% 2.91%
1980 -3.56% 2.88%
1979 0.32% 2.88%
1978 2.03% 2.88%
1977 2.15% 2.92%
1976 2.24% 2.98%
1975 2.44% 2.99%
1974 2.56% 3.02%
1973 2.57% 3.04%
1972 2.47% 3.06%
1971 2.46% 3.08%
1970 2.48% 3.1%
1969 2.42% 3.09%
1968 2.39% 3.08%
1967 2.33% 3.05%
1966 2.3% 2.99%
1965 2.26% 2.93%
1964 2.18% 2.86%
1963 2.13% 2.79%
1962 2.07% 2.72%
1961 1.98% 2.65%

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/mauritania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Mauritania's population grew by 2.93%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Mauritania
Current population
45409324
5505206
Population rank 36/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.07%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
3.58 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
3.04 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
19 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +403
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +146,954
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.93%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 17/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.74 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -5,044
Net migration rank 179/196 115/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 195,937
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 113/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 107/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Mauritania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Mauritania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -5,044
2024 - -44,089 - -2,185
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 145,164 2,999
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 142,451 2,999
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 137,557 -1,483
2020 1,134,407 143,634 134,899 -1,483
2019 1,138,485 9,159 134,460 -3,019
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 131,584 -2,987
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 128,562 -3,001
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 125,342 -3,008
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 122,092 -3,019
2014 1,053,788 233,913 118,792 -2,980
2013 1,033,778 18,119 115,558 -2,987
2012 1,004,814 68,628 113,489 4,515
2011 966,743 384,486 111,165 3,272
2010 943,473 -167,460 108,121 1,128
2009 920,581 -60,602 105,273 -1,481
2008 891,246 215,753 102,432 -3,860
2007 889,848 -851,298 98,895 -17,048
2006 875,301 57,673 94,991 -18,033
2005 855,112 250,971 90,940 -18,693
2004 850,940 -269,194 87,578 -19,042
2003 826,165 247,317 83,804 -19,104
2002 776,048 860,349 80,993 -18,903
2001 764,090 -212,872 78,769 -21,067
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 75,929 -2,997
1999 760,727 -32,400 73,554 -2,999
1998 719,860 7,380 72,045 -8,504
1997 709,778 -21,215 71,327 -8,187
1996 685,005 4,072 71,939 -28,840
1995 653,280 52,505 72,244 -22,997
1994 609,096 315,206 70,570 5,304
1993 541,257 1,149,684 68,167 6,217
1992 440,132 1,197,329 63,501 34,505
1991 409,954 32,782 61,782 -2,997
1990 402,433 -458,737 59,934 -3,000
1989 381,158 18,296 58,666 -17,941
1988 358,397 -56,263 56,654 -2,997
1987 314,361 -345,535 55,037 -2,998
1986 310,066 -343,397 53,313 -2,998
1985 228,469 -208,685 52,125 -2,998
1984 205,262 248,224 50,705 -2,998
1983 263,778 -172,797 49,187 -2,998
1982 263,210 -500,998 47,947 -2,998
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 46,641 -2,998
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 45,026 -2,997
1979 361,750 -525,413 43,537 -2,997
1978 369,101 -117,186 42,539 -2,998
1977 372,567 -83,115 41,352 -2,999
1976 357,775 -85,430 40,149 -1,645
1975 343,850 -44,418 38,975 -1,472
1974 330,232 -20,009 38,106 -1,321
1973 315,062 -3,030 37,122 -1,201
1972 300,633 -4,050 36,184 -1,139
1971 288,267 -12,801 35,279 -1,014
1970 275,129 4,458 34,382 -855
1969 263,823 2,029 33,252 -688
1968 251,798 3,333 32,029 -565
1967 239,967 6,824 30,853 -514
1966 228,786 3,563 29,502 -466
1965 217,741 10,695 28,028 -434
1964 207,867 7,079 26,565 -390
1963 198,035 6,681 25,250 -362
1962 188,427 7,016 23,927 -342
1961 179,094 6,109 22,781 -332
1960 170,257 2,606 21,604 -318

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/mauritania | 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 Mauritania 98.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,320,903 people) and 1.12% is from migration (a loss of 14,982 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 195,937 people or 3.8% in Mauritania.

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
Mauritania
City Population
Nouakchott 1.45M
Rosso 61.2K

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/mauritania | 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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