Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 2,402,306 people in Moldova in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 2,341,166 in Moldova.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 19.4 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Moldova is the 145th.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.03% for Moldova.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -1.57% in Moldova.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Moldova has declined from 2.88M to 2.34M (18.7% decline).

Afghanistan vs Moldova: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Moldova
2100 131,803,615 1,175,882
2099 131,145,502 1,186,641
2098 130,482,225 1,197,541
2097 129,808,066 1,208,458
2096 129,147,895 1,219,478
2095 128,473,977 1,230,573
2094 127,761,785 1,241,540
2093 127,018,448 1,252,531
2092 126,270,202 1,263,471
2091 125,508,788 1,274,372
2090 124,636,092 1,285,020
2089 123,843,293 1,295,696
2088 123,034,495 1,306,424
2087 122,147,758 1,317,064
2086 121,381,088 1,327,799
2085 120,486,343 1,338,702
2084 119,491,780 1,349,432
2083 118,631,246 1,360,333
2082 117,742,446 1,371,322
2081 116,842,143 1,382,447
2080 115,793,841 1,393,733
2079 114,630,140 1,405,298
2078 113,624,958 1,417,062
2077 112,523,374 1,429,240
2076 111,442,221 1,441,240
2075 110,399,328 1,453,677
2074 109,236,338 1,466,568
2073 107,960,305 1,479,672
2072 106,746,984 1,493,311
2071 105,568,382 1,507,315
2070 104,230,485 1,522,149
2069 102,964,062 1,537,091
2068 101,629,164 1,552,724
2067 100,380,826 1,568,676
2066 99,116,663 1,584,782
2065 97,714,113 1,601,356
2064 96,306,602 1,618,317
2063 94,949,108 1,635,288
2062 93,579,065 1,652,720
2061 92,316,077 1,670,255
2060 91,000,643 1,688,120
2059 89,717,353 1,705,595
2058 88,346,732 1,722,942
2057 86,917,997 1,740,252
2056 85,480,219 1,757,829
2055 84,074,268 1,775,082
2054 82,676,432 1,792,262
2053 81,285,014 1,809,221
2052 79,908,081 1,825,831
2051 78,643,202 1,842,337
2050 77,331,830 1,858,281
2049 75,864,863 1,874,666
2048 74,479,782 1,890,586
2047 73,119,204 1,906,615
2046 71,697,214 1,922,962
2045 70,353,118 1,939,938
2044 69,024,959 1,956,858
2043 67,657,423 1,974,616
2042 66,357,363 1,992,765
2041 64,976,778 2,011,342
2040 63,535,531 2,030,732
2039 62,129,737 2,051,163
2038 60,803,646 2,071,871
2037 59,454,331 2,093,068
2036 58,114,874 2,114,669
2035 56,804,011 2,136,998
2034 55,502,408 2,159,450
2033 54,135,876 2,182,023
2032 52,791,273 2,204,431
2031 51,433,991 2,227,006
2030 50,079,746 2,250,038
2029 48,768,949 2,272,963
2028 47,533,470 2,295,739
2027 46,310,865 2,318,425
2026 45,075,045 2,341,166
2025 43,870,455 2,373,265
2024 42,647,492 2,402,306
2023 41,454,761 2,457,783
2022 40,578,842 2,528,654
2021 40,000,412 2,595,809
2020 39,068,979 2,635,130
2019 37,856,121 2,664,224
2018 36,743,039 2,707,203
2017 35,688,935 2,755,189
2016 34,700,612 2,803,186
2015 33,831,764 2,835,978
2014 32,792,523 2,857,815
2013 31,622,704 2,859,558
2012 30,560,034 2,860,324
2011 29,347,708 2,860,699
2010 28,284,089 2,862,354
2009 27,466,101 2,865,213
2008 26,482,622 2,868,833
2007 25,909,852 2,874,299
2006 25,424,094 2,880,967
2005 24,404,567 2,888,985
2004 23,560,654 2,896,023
2003 22,733,049 2,903,198
2002 21,378,117 2,911,385
2001 20,284,307 2,918,135
2000 20,130,327 2,924,668
1999 19,887,785 2,930,622
1998 19,159,996 2,935,227
1997 18,452,091 2,936,413
1996 17,763,266 2,947,293
1995 17,065,836 2,953,200
1994 16,250,794 2,966,745
1993 14,943,172 2,975,966
1992 13,278,974 2,980,965
1991 12,238,879 2,981,566
1990 12,045,660 2,977,912
1989 11,874,088 2,970,039
1988 11,523,298 2,948,891
1987 11,387,818 2,916,306
1986 11,420,074 2,883,057
1985 11,426,852 2,850,787
1984 11,190,221 2,820,518
1983 10,917,982 2,791,207
1982 10,991,378 2,763,101
1981 11,937,581 2,735,987
1980 13,169,311 2,708,675
1979 13,655,567 2,683,035
1978 13,611,441 2,656,211
1977 13,340,756 2,626,298
1976 13,059,851 2,596,491
1975 12,773,954 2,566,998
1974 12,469,127 2,538,164
1973 12,157,999 2,510,584
1972 11,853,696 2,484,742
1971 11,567,667 2,460,611
1970 11,290,128 2,437,590
1969 11,017,409 2,408,469
1968 10,756,922 2,373,073
1967 10,505,959 2,337,695
1966 10,266,395 2,301,871
1965 10,036,008 2,265,287
1964 9,814,318 2,228,000
1963 9,604,487 2,188,895
1962 9,404,406 2,147,227
1961 9,214,083 2,103,327
1960 9,035,043 2,058,020

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/moldova | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Moldova lost 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Moldova's population decreased by 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Moldova was ranked 134th in 2006 and ranked 145th 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 Moldova will decrease by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people and rank change from 145th to 150th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.18M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Moldova
2100 0.5% -0.91%
2099 0.51% -0.91%
2098 0.52% -0.9%
2097 0.51% -0.9%
2096 0.52% -0.9%
2095 0.56% -0.88%
2094 0.59% -0.88%
2093 0.59% -0.87%
2092 0.61% -0.86%
2091 0.7% -0.83%
2090 0.64% -0.82%
2089 0.66% -0.82%
2088 0.73% -0.81%
2087 0.63% -0.81%
2086 0.74% -0.81%
2085 0.83% -0.8%
2084 0.73% -0.8%
2083 0.75% -0.8%
2082 0.77% -0.8%
2081 0.91% -0.81%
2080 1.02% -0.82%
2079 0.88% -0.83%
2078 0.98% -0.85%
2077 0.97% -0.83%
2076 0.94% -0.86%
2075 1.06% -0.88%
2074 1.18% -0.89%
2073 1.14% -0.91%
2072 1.12% -0.93%
2071 1.28% -0.97%
2070 1.23% -0.97%
2069 1.31% -1.01%
2068 1.24% -1.02%
2067 1.28% -1.02%
2066 1.44% -1.03%
2065 1.46% -1.05%
2064 1.43% -1.04%
2063 1.46% -1.05%
2062 1.37% -1.05%
2061 1.45% -1.06%
2060 1.43% -1.02%
2059 1.55% -1.01%
2058 1.64% -0.99%
2057 1.68% -1%
2056 1.67% -0.97%
2055 1.69% -0.96%
2054 1.71% -0.94%
2053 1.72% -0.91%
2052 1.61% -0.9%
2051 1.7% -0.86%
2050 1.93% -0.87%
2049 1.86% -0.84%
2048 1.86% -0.84%
2047 1.98% -0.85%
2046 1.91% -0.88%
2045 1.92% -0.86%
2044 2.02% -0.9%
2043 1.96% -0.91%
2042 2.12% -0.92%
2041 2.27% -0.95%
2040 2.26% -1%
2039 2.18% -1%
2038 2.27% -1.01%
2037 2.3% -1.02%
2036 2.31% -1.04%
2035 2.35% -1.04%
2034 2.52% -1.03%
2033 2.55% -1.02%
2032 2.64% -1.01%
2031 2.7% -1.02%
2030 2.69% -1.01%
2029 2.6% -0.99%
2028 2.64% -0.98%
2027 2.74% -0.97%
2026 2.75% -1.35%
2025 2.87% -1.21%
2024 2.88% -2.26%
2023 2.16% -2.8%
2022 1.45% -2.59%
2021 2.38% -1.49%
2020 3.2% -1.09%
2019 3.03% -1.59%
2018 2.95% -1.74%
2017 2.85% -1.71%
2016 2.57% -1.16%
2015 3.17% -0.76%
2014 3.7% -0.06%
2013 3.48% -0.03%
2012 4.13% -0.01%
2011 3.76% -0.06%
2010 2.98% -0.1%
2009 3.71% -0.13%
2008 2.21% -0.19%
2007 1.91% -0.23%
2006 4.18% -0.28%
2005 3.58% -0.24%
2004 3.64% -0.25%
2003 6.34% -0.28%
2002 5.39% -0.23%
2001 0.76% -0.22%
2000 1.22% -0.2%
1999 3.8% -0.16%
1998 3.84% -0.04%
1997 3.88% -0.37%
1996 4.09% -0.2%
1995 5.02% -0.46%
1994 8.75% -0.31%
1993 12.5% -0.17%
1992 8.5% -0.02%
1991 1.6% 0.12%
1990 1.44% 0.27%
1989 3.04% 0.72%
1988 1.19% 1.12%
1987 -0.28% 1.15%
1986 -0.06% 1.13%
1985 2.11% 1.07%
1984 2.49% 1.05%
1983 -0.67% 1.02%
1982 -7.93% 0.99%
1981 -9.35% 1.01%
1980 -3.56% 0.96%
1979 0.32% 1.01%
1978 2.03% 1.14%
1977 2.15% 1.15%
1976 2.24% 1.15%
1975 2.44% 1.14%
1974 2.56% 1.1%
1973 2.57% 1.04%
1972 2.47% 0.98%
1971 2.46% 0.94%
1970 2.48% 1.21%
1969 2.42% 1.49%
1968 2.39% 1.51%
1967 2.33% 1.56%
1966 2.3% 1.61%
1965 2.26% 1.67%
1964 2.18% 1.79%
1963 2.13% 1.94%
1962 2.07% 2.09%
1961 1.98% 2.2%

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/moldova | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Moldova's population declined by 2.26%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Moldova
Current population
45409324
2341166
Population rank 36/197 145/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.03%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
9.47 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
19.9 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
15.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -152
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -55,477
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -2.26%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 196/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -29,766
Net migration rank 179/196 164/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 188,207
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 116/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 6.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 85/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Moldova
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Moldova
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -29,766
2024 - -44,089 - -27,088
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -7,007 -18,570
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -6,385 89,154
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -13,444 -33,405
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -7,067 -33,405
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -3,416 -41,233
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -961 -36,085
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 1,402 -43,871
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 4,580 -51,642
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 6,049 -59,399
2014 1,053,788 233,913 7,248 -67,175
2013 1,033,778 18,119 3,537 -77,571
2012 1,004,814 68,628 5,581 -81,215
2011 966,743 384,486 5,948 -82,271
2010 943,473 -167,460 7,456 -84,039
2009 920,581 -60,602 7,492 -83,546
2008 891,246 215,753 5,210 -79,593
2007 889,848 -851,298 3,490 -75,734
2006 875,301 57,673 2,406 -72,061
2005 855,112 250,971 2,005 -68,681
2004 850,940 -269,194 1,714 -52,491
2003 826,165 247,317 -322 -46,947
2002 776,048 860,349 -1,249 -45,833
2001 764,090 -212,872 -718 -45,043
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -324 -43,854
1999 760,727 -32,400 642 -43,111
1998 719,860 7,380 2,140 -41,975
1997 709,778 -21,215 4,669 -41,743
1996 685,005 4,072 2,655 -33,369
1995 653,280 52,505 5,534 -31,975
1994 609,096 315,206 9,921 -31,616
1993 541,257 1,149,684 13,886 -31,526
1992 440,132 1,197,329 17,373 -30,136
1991 409,954 32,782 21,127 -29,204
1990 402,433 -458,737 25,824 -30,053
1989 381,158 18,296 29,638 -29,307
1988 358,397 -56,263 35,608 -4,989
1987 314,361 -345,535 40,122 -10,796
1986 310,066 -343,397 39,463 -8,769
1985 228,469 -208,685 38,060 -10,627
1984 205,262 248,224 38,108 -12,732
1983 263,778 -172,797 36,076 -10,543
1982 263,210 -500,998 32,814 -8,412
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 31,360 -6,452
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 30,053 -3,693
1979 361,750 -525,413 28,322 -6,912
1978 369,101 -117,186 27,622 3,483
1977 372,567 -83,115 27,707 3,245
1976 357,775 -85,430 27,801 2,885
1975 343,850 -44,418 27,677 2,355
1974 330,232 -20,009 27,219 1,785
1973 315,062 -3,030 25,967 1,156
1972 300,633 -4,050 24,626 481
1971 288,267 -12,801 23,359 -61
1970 275,129 4,458 22,314 606
1969 263,823 2,029 21,768 20,561
1968 251,798 3,333 22,005 19,830
1967 239,967 6,824 22,654 19,175
1966 228,786 3,563 23,720 18,601
1965 217,741 10,695 24,916 18,066
1964 207,867 7,079 25,860 17,509
1963 198,035 6,681 29,382 16,816
1962 188,427 7,016 32,082 15,884
1961 179,094 6,109 35,180 14,818
1960 170,257 2,606 36,352 13,697

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/moldova | 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 Moldova 6.04% is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 188,207 people or 6.2% in Moldova.

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
Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K

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/moldova | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.