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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 3,030,131 people in Namibia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 3,173,089 in Namibia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 14.3 times bigger than Namibia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Namibia is the 134th.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.04% for Namibia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.73% in Namibia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Namibia has grown from 1.99M to 3.17M (59.3% growth).

Afghanistan vs Namibia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Namibia
2100 131,803,615 5,958,153
2099 131,145,502 5,952,623
2098 130,482,225 5,947,142
2097 129,808,066 5,942,285
2096 129,147,895 5,938,162
2095 128,473,977 5,930,395
2094 127,761,785 5,922,248
2093 127,018,448 5,911,235
2092 126,270,202 5,899,026
2091 125,508,788 5,886,490
2090 124,636,092 5,871,938
2089 123,843,293 5,858,234
2088 123,034,495 5,842,720
2087 122,147,758 5,825,856
2086 121,381,088 5,806,643
2085 120,486,343 5,789,246
2084 119,491,780 5,771,050
2083 118,631,246 5,751,610
2082 117,742,446 5,730,648
2081 116,842,143 5,707,476
2080 115,793,841 5,682,842
2079 114,630,140 5,659,698
2078 113,624,958 5,634,313
2077 112,523,374 5,608,096
2076 111,442,221 5,580,829
2075 110,399,328 5,551,107
2074 109,236,338 5,522,025
2073 107,960,305 5,494,180
2072 106,746,984 5,464,749
2071 105,568,382 5,434,461
2070 104,230,485 5,403,822
2069 102,964,062 5,371,517
2068 101,629,164 5,336,950
2067 100,380,826 5,300,707
2066 99,116,663 5,263,191
2065 97,714,113 5,227,346
2064 96,306,602 5,190,323
2063 94,949,108 5,150,579
2062 93,579,065 5,109,760
2061 92,316,077 5,068,478
2060 91,000,643 5,023,587
2059 89,717,353 4,979,591
2058 88,346,732 4,933,964
2057 86,917,997 4,887,985
2056 85,480,219 4,840,537
2055 84,074,268 4,790,848
2054 82,676,432 4,741,942
2053 81,285,014 4,691,180
2052 79,908,081 4,639,835
2051 78,643,202 4,587,353
2050 77,331,830 4,533,502
2049 75,864,863 4,482,650
2048 74,479,782 4,430,309
2047 73,119,204 4,373,597
2046 71,697,214 4,318,050
2045 70,353,118 4,259,166
2044 69,024,959 4,202,338
2043 67,657,423 4,144,892
2042 66,357,363 4,088,713
2041 64,976,778 4,032,347
2040 63,535,531 3,976,987
2039 62,129,737 3,920,720
2038 60,803,646 3,862,015
2037 59,454,331 3,804,482
2036 58,114,874 3,747,072
2035 56,804,011 3,689,163
2034 55,502,408 3,631,737
2033 54,135,876 3,575,000
2032 52,791,273 3,516,310
2031 51,433,991 3,456,265
2030 50,079,746 3,395,964
2029 48,768,949 3,336,698
2028 47,533,470 3,277,428
2027 46,310,865 3,216,917
2026 45,075,045 3,156,839
2025 43,870,455 3,094,769
2024 42,647,492 3,030,131
2023 41,454,761 2,963,095
2022 40,578,842 2,889,662
2021 40,000,412 2,810,548
2020 39,068,979 2,728,762
2019 37,856,121 2,650,494
2018 36,743,039 2,577,327
2017 35,688,935 2,506,853
2016 34,700,612 2,439,213
2015 33,831,764 2,374,300
2014 32,792,523 2,312,139
2013 31,622,704 2,252,508
2012 30,560,034 2,194,654
2011 29,347,708 2,146,325
2010 28,284,089 2,109,811
2009 27,466,101 2,077,394
2008 26,482,622 2,047,056
2007 25,909,852 2,018,600
2006 25,424,094 1,991,888
2005 24,404,567 1,966,582
2004 23,560,654 1,942,082
2003 22,733,049 1,917,464
2002 21,378,117 1,889,970
2001 20,284,307 1,857,048
2000 20,130,327 1,818,647
1999 19,887,785 1,776,368
1998 19,159,996 1,732,745
1997 18,452,091 1,689,264
1996 17,763,266 1,646,103
1995 17,065,836 1,602,170
1994 16,250,794 1,556,304
1993 14,943,172 1,508,697
1992 13,278,974 1,461,322
1991 12,238,879 1,415,684
1990 12,045,660 1,369,303
1989 11,874,088 1,288,947
1988 11,523,298 1,209,696
1987 11,387,818 1,167,889
1986 11,420,074 1,131,081
1985 11,426,852 1,096,890
1984 11,190,221 1,065,989
1983 10,917,982 1,037,511
1982 10,991,378 1,010,308
1981 11,937,581 992,500
1980 13,169,311 981,434
1979 13,655,567 962,825
1978 13,611,441 947,269
1977 13,340,756 931,104
1976 13,059,851 906,566
1975 12,773,954 881,032
1974 12,469,127 854,320
1973 12,157,999 828,928
1972 11,853,696 804,399
1971 11,567,667 780,584
1970 11,290,128 757,868
1969 11,017,409 736,120
1968 10,756,922 715,542
1967 10,505,959 696,045
1966 10,266,395 677,655
1965 10,036,008 660,558
1964 9,814,318 644,530
1963 9,604,487 629,589
1962 9,404,406 615,759
1961 9,214,083 603,067
1960 9,035,043 591,465

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/namibia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Namibia gained 447,325 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Namibia's population increased by 733,876 people (a 30.1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Namibia was ranked 143rd in 2006 and ranked 134th 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 Namibia will increase by 42.9% to 4,533,502 people and rank change from 134th to 131st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 5.96M people in 2100 for Namibia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Namibia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Namibia
2100 0.5% 0.09%
2099 0.51% 0.09%
2098 0.52% 0.08%
2097 0.51% 0.07%
2096 0.52% 0.13%
2095 0.56% 0.14%
2094 0.59% 0.19%
2093 0.59% 0.21%
2092 0.61% 0.21%
2091 0.7% 0.25%
2090 0.64% 0.23%
2089 0.66% 0.27%
2088 0.73% 0.29%
2087 0.63% 0.33%
2086 0.74% 0.3%
2085 0.83% 0.32%
2084 0.73% 0.34%
2083 0.75% 0.37%
2082 0.77% 0.41%
2081 0.91% 0.43%
2080 1.02% 0.41%
2079 0.88% 0.45%
2078 0.98% 0.47%
2077 0.97% 0.49%
2076 0.94% 0.54%
2075 1.06% 0.53%
2074 1.18% 0.51%
2073 1.14% 0.54%
2072 1.12% 0.56%
2071 1.28% 0.57%
2070 1.23% 0.6%
2069 1.31% 0.65%
2068 1.24% 0.68%
2067 1.28% 0.71%
2066 1.44% 0.69%
2065 1.46% 0.71%
2064 1.43% 0.77%
2063 1.46% 0.8%
2062 1.37% 0.81%
2061 1.45% 0.89%
2060 1.43% 0.88%
2059 1.55% 0.92%
2058 1.64% 0.94%
2057 1.68% 0.98%
2056 1.67% 1.04%
2055 1.69% 1.03%
2054 1.71% 1.08%
2053 1.72% 1.11%
2052 1.61% 1.14%
2051 1.7% 1.19%
2050 1.93% 1.13%
2049 1.86% 1.18%
2048 1.86% 1.3%
2047 1.98% 1.29%
2046 1.91% 1.38%
2045 1.92% 1.35%
2044 2.02% 1.39%
2043 1.96% 1.37%
2042 2.12% 1.4%
2041 2.27% 1.39%
2040 2.26% 1.44%
2039 2.18% 1.52%
2038 2.27% 1.51%
2037 2.3% 1.53%
2036 2.31% 1.57%
2035 2.35% 1.58%
2034 2.52% 1.59%
2033 2.55% 1.67%
2032 2.64% 1.74%
2031 2.7% 1.78%
2030 2.69% 1.78%
2029 2.6% 1.81%
2028 2.64% 1.88%
2027 2.74% 1.9%
2026 2.75% 2.01%
2025 2.87% 2.13%
2024 2.88% 2.26%
2023 2.16% 2.54%
2022 1.45% 2.81%
2021 2.38% 3%
2020 3.2% 2.95%
2019 3.03% 2.84%
2018 2.95% 2.81%
2017 2.85% 2.77%
2016 2.57% 2.73%
2015 3.17% 2.69%
2014 3.7% 2.65%
2013 3.48% 2.64%
2012 4.13% 2.25%
2011 3.76% 1.73%
2010 2.98% 1.56%
2009 3.71% 1.48%
2008 2.21% 1.41%
2007 1.91% 1.34%
2006 4.18% 1.29%
2005 3.58% 1.26%
2004 3.64% 1.28%
2003 6.34% 1.45%
2002 5.39% 1.77%
2001 0.76% 2.11%
2000 1.22% 2.38%
1999 3.8% 2.52%
1998 3.84% 2.57%
1997 3.88% 2.62%
1996 4.09% 2.74%
1995 5.02% 2.95%
1994 8.75% 3.16%
1993 12.5% 3.24%
1992 8.5% 3.22%
1991 1.6% 3.39%
1990 1.44% 6.23%
1989 3.04% 6.55%
1988 1.19% 3.58%
1987 -0.28% 3.25%
1986 -0.06% 3.12%
1985 2.11% 2.9%
1984 2.49% 2.74%
1983 -0.67% 2.69%
1982 -7.93% 1.79%
1981 -9.35% 1.13%
1980 -3.56% 1.93%
1979 0.32% 1.64%
1978 2.03% 1.74%
1977 2.15% 2.71%
1976 2.24% 2.9%
1975 2.44% 3.13%
1974 2.56% 3.06%
1973 2.57% 3.05%
1972 2.47% 3.05%
1971 2.46% 3%
1970 2.48% 2.95%
1969 2.42% 2.88%
1968 2.39% 2.8%
1967 2.33% 2.71%
1966 2.3% 2.59%
1965 2.26% 2.49%
1964 2.18% 2.37%
1963 2.13% 2.25%
1962 2.07% 2.1%
1961 1.98% 1.96%

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/namibia | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Afghanistan Namibia
Current population
45409324
3173089
Population rank 36/197 134/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.04%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
7.84 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
6.85 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
28.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +184
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +67,036
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.26%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 41/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
4.71 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 +1,866
Net migration rank 179/196 57/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 116,035
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 127/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 108/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Namibia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Namibia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 1,866
2024 - -44,089 - 4,211
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 58,435 11,675
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 54,534 22,212
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 50,160 31,327
2020 1,134,407 143,634 55,034 27,056
2019 1,138,485 9,159 54,769 19,676
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 53,970 17,920
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 52,975 16,080
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 52,228 14,002
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 50,846 12,755
2014 1,053,788 233,913 49,581 11,134
2013 1,033,778 18,119 47,801 10,748
2012 1,004,814 68,628 46,204 10,957
2011 966,743 384,486 43,557 -4,067
2010 943,473 -167,460 42,046 -8,518
2009 920,581 -60,602 39,942 -8,626
2008 891,246 215,753 38,147 -8,775
2007 889,848 -851,298 36,430 -8,905
2006 875,301 57,673 34,690 -8,792
2005 855,112 250,971 32,909 -8,195
2004 850,940 -269,194 31,478 -7,192
2003 826,165 247,317 31,115 -6,153
2002 776,048 860,349 31,947 -1,913
2001 764,090 -212,872 32,942 2,869
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 35,280 5,709
1999 760,727 -32,400 37,233 6,333
1998 719,860 7,380 37,500 6,180
1997 709,778 -21,215 37,256 6,023
1996 685,005 4,072 37,177 5,866
1995 653,280 52,505 39,119 5,712
1994 609,096 315,206 41,316 5,578
1993 541,257 1,149,684 42,861 5,464
1992 440,132 1,197,329 43,945 2,487
1991 409,954 32,782 44,523 309
1990 402,433 -458,737 43,956 3,969
1989 381,158 18,296 37,715 75,072
1988 358,397 -56,263 34,798 10,916
1987 314,361 -345,535 33,340 4,559
1986 310,066 -343,397 31,764 3,953
1985 228,469 -208,685 30,575 2,090
1984 205,262 248,224 29,395 -267
1983 263,778 -172,797 28,307 -481
1982 263,210 -500,998 27,474 -889
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 27,938 -18,901
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 28,142 -15,041
1979 361,750 -525,413 28,930 -4,818
1978 369,101 -117,186 29,821 -22,827
1977 372,567 -83,115 29,241 -3,907
1976 357,775 -85,430 28,785 -5,048
1975 343,850 -44,418 27,882 -553
1974 330,232 -20,009 26,844 -744
1973 315,062 -3,030 25,754 -1,066
1972 300,633 -4,050 24,606 -236
1971 288,267 -12,801 23,467 -208
1970 275,129 4,458 22,414 -244
1969 263,823 2,029 21,387 -57
1968 251,798 3,333 20,470 -636
1967 239,967 6,824 19,498 -339
1966 228,786 3,563 18,635 -1,023
1965 217,741 10,695 17,902 -1,327
1964 207,867 7,079 17,134 -1,660
1963 198,035 6,681 16,430 -2,016
1962 188,427 7,016 15,656 -2,403
1961 179,094 6,109 14,936 -2,807
1960 170,257 2,606 14,307 -3,227

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/namibia | 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 Namibia 74.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 532,532 people) and 25.7% is from migration (a gain of 183,837 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 116,035 people or 3.8% in Namibia.

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
Namibia
City Population
Windhoek 431K
Walvis Bay 103K
Swakopmund 75.9K
Otjiwarongo 49K
Rehoboth 40.8K
Tsumeb 35K
Gobabis 33.4K
Mariental 18.5K
Oshikango 12.4K
Omaruru 10.8K

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

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