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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 29,651,054 people in Nepal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 29,596,762 in Nepal.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.53 times bigger than Nepal's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Nepal is the 52nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.36% for Nepal.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.66% in Nepal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Nepal has grown from 26.6M to 29.6M (11.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Nepal: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Nepal
2100 131,803,615 31,902,377
2099 131,145,502 32,090,762
2098 130,482,225 32,277,789
2097 129,808,066 32,464,318
2096 129,147,895 32,647,891
2095 128,473,977 32,828,594
2094 127,761,785 33,009,460
2093 127,018,448 33,186,290
2092 126,270,202 33,361,327
2091 125,508,788 33,532,505
2090 124,636,092 33,699,660
2089 123,843,293 33,863,636
2088 123,034,495 34,022,597
2087 122,147,758 34,175,457
2086 121,381,088 34,322,945
2085 120,486,343 34,468,441
2084 119,491,780 34,605,513
2083 118,631,246 34,735,114
2082 117,742,446 34,856,938
2081 116,842,143 34,972,075
2080 115,793,841 35,080,783
2079 114,630,140 35,183,584
2078 113,624,958 35,277,254
2077 112,523,374 35,362,658
2076 111,442,221 35,440,746
2075 110,399,328 35,510,291
2074 109,236,338 35,573,094
2073 107,960,305 35,627,375
2072 106,746,984 35,670,886
2071 105,568,382 35,709,979
2070 104,230,485 35,739,580
2069 102,964,062 35,759,193
2068 101,629,164 35,770,405
2067 100,380,826 35,774,081
2066 99,116,663 35,770,220
2065 97,714,113 35,758,824
2064 96,306,602 35,737,661
2063 94,949,108 35,709,945
2062 93,579,065 35,669,839
2061 92,316,077 35,623,365
2060 91,000,643 35,567,728
2059 89,717,353 35,503,043
2058 88,346,732 35,427,419
2057 86,917,997 35,345,633
2056 85,480,219 35,253,644
2055 84,074,268 35,155,433
2054 82,676,432 35,050,330
2053 81,285,014 34,936,594
2052 79,908,081 34,816,009
2051 78,643,202 34,684,328
2050 77,331,830 34,546,267
2049 75,864,863 34,400,898
2048 74,479,782 34,250,249
2047 73,119,204 34,091,495
2046 71,697,214 33,921,975
2045 70,353,118 33,747,892
2044 69,024,959 33,566,784
2043 67,657,423 33,380,395
2042 66,357,363 33,186,321
2041 64,976,778 32,987,097
2040 63,535,531 32,781,189
2039 62,129,737 32,569,731
2038 60,803,646 32,349,742
2037 59,454,331 32,125,036
2036 58,114,874 31,892,962
2035 56,804,011 31,653,976
2034 55,502,408 31,407,460
2033 54,135,876 31,152,292
2032 52,791,273 30,890,627
2031 51,433,991 30,623,706
2030 50,079,746 30,349,201
2029 48,768,949 30,068,368
2028 47,533,470 29,780,585
2027 46,310,865 29,627,864
2026 45,075,045 29,585,230
2025 43,870,455 29,605,298
2024 42,647,492 29,651,054
2023 41,454,761 29,694,614
2022 40,578,842 29,715,436
2021 40,000,412 29,475,010
2020 39,068,979 28,966,574
2019 37,856,121 28,414,064
2018 36,743,039 28,079,689
2017 35,688,935 28,011,258
2016 34,700,612 27,955,462
2015 33,831,764 27,823,629
2014 32,792,523 27,672,370
2013 31,622,704 27,589,996
2012 30,560,034 27,534,915
2011 29,347,708 27,464,494
2010 28,284,089 27,341,952
2009 27,466,101 27,173,035
2008 26,482,622 26,990,037
2007 25,909,852 26,788,492
2006 25,424,094 26,565,425
2005 24,404,567 26,309,458
2004 23,560,654 26,016,656
2003 22,733,049 25,688,758
2002 21,378,117 25,328,981
2001 20,284,307 24,946,748
2000 20,130,327 24,546,509
1999 19,887,785 24,125,199
1998 19,159,996 23,680,357
1997 18,452,091 23,219,463
1996 17,763,266 22,741,862
1995 17,065,836 22,245,439
1994 16,250,794 21,717,479
1993 14,943,172 21,180,159
1992 13,278,974 20,609,707
1991 12,238,879 20,036,500
1990 12,045,660 19,524,573
1989 11,874,088 19,057,807
1988 11,523,298 18,638,661
1987 11,387,818 18,250,505
1986 11,420,074 17,868,124
1985 11,426,852 17,477,692
1984 11,190,221 17,085,242
1983 10,917,982 16,689,119
1982 10,991,378 16,297,987
1981 11,937,581 15,922,423
1980 13,169,311 15,553,105
1979 13,655,567 15,190,590
1978 13,611,441 14,839,695
1977 13,340,756 14,499,175
1976 13,059,851 14,177,649
1975 12,773,954 13,870,695
1974 12,469,127 13,568,435
1973 12,157,999 13,275,239
1972 11,853,696 12,989,099
1971 11,567,667 12,710,061
1970 11,290,128 12,436,190
1969 11,017,409 12,167,036
1968 10,756,922 11,906,266
1967 10,505,959 11,652,716
1966 10,266,395 11,408,710
1965 10,036,008 11,173,411
1964 9,814,318 10,946,392
1963 9,604,487 10,729,818
1962 9,404,406 10,521,116
1961 9,214,083 10,318,396
1960 9,035,043 10,123,658

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/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Nepal gained 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Nepal's population increased by 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Nepal was ranked 43rd in 2006 and ranked 52nd 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 Nepal will increase by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people and rank change from 52nd to 58th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 35.8M people in 2067 for Nepal.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Nepal
2100 0.5% -0.59%
2099 0.51% -0.58%
2098 0.52% -0.57%
2097 0.51% -0.56%
2096 0.52% -0.55%
2095 0.56% -0.55%
2094 0.59% -0.53%
2093 0.59% -0.52%
2092 0.61% -0.51%
2091 0.7% -0.5%
2090 0.64% -0.48%
2089 0.66% -0.47%
2088 0.73% -0.45%
2087 0.63% -0.43%
2086 0.74% -0.42%
2085 0.83% -0.4%
2084 0.73% -0.37%
2083 0.75% -0.35%
2082 0.77% -0.33%
2081 0.91% -0.31%
2080 1.02% -0.29%
2079 0.88% -0.27%
2078 0.98% -0.24%
2077 0.97% -0.22%
2076 0.94% -0.2%
2075 1.06% -0.18%
2074 1.18% -0.15%
2073 1.14% -0.12%
2072 1.12% -0.11%
2071 1.28% -0.08%
2070 1.23% -0.05%
2069 1.31% -0.03%
2068 1.24% -0.01%
2067 1.28% 0.01%
2066 1.44% 0.03%
2065 1.46% 0.06%
2064 1.43% 0.08%
2063 1.46% 0.11%
2062 1.37% 0.13%
2061 1.45% 0.16%
2060 1.43% 0.18%
2059 1.55% 0.21%
2058 1.64% 0.23%
2057 1.68% 0.26%
2056 1.67% 0.28%
2055 1.69% 0.3%
2054 1.71% 0.33%
2053 1.72% 0.35%
2052 1.61% 0.38%
2051 1.7% 0.4%
2050 1.93% 0.42%
2049 1.86% 0.44%
2048 1.86% 0.47%
2047 1.98% 0.5%
2046 1.91% 0.52%
2045 1.92% 0.54%
2044 2.02% 0.56%
2043 1.96% 0.58%
2042 2.12% 0.6%
2041 2.27% 0.63%
2040 2.26% 0.65%
2039 2.18% 0.68%
2038 2.27% 0.7%
2037 2.3% 0.73%
2036 2.31% 0.75%
2035 2.35% 0.78%
2034 2.52% 0.82%
2033 2.55% 0.85%
2032 2.64% 0.87%
2031 2.7% 0.9%
2030 2.69% 0.93%
2029 2.6% 0.97%
2028 2.64% 0.52%
2027 2.74% 0.14%
2026 2.75% -0.07%
2025 2.87% -0.15%
2024 2.88% -0.15%
2023 2.16% -0.07%
2022 1.45% 0.82%
2021 2.38% 1.76%
2020 3.2% 1.94%
2019 3.03% 1.19%
2018 2.95% 0.24%
2017 2.85% 0.2%
2016 2.57% 0.47%
2015 3.17% 0.55%
2014 3.7% 0.3%
2013 3.48% 0.2%
2012 4.13% 0.26%
2011 3.76% 0.45%
2010 2.98% 0.62%
2009 3.71% 0.68%
2008 2.21% 0.75%
2007 1.91% 0.84%
2006 4.18% 0.97%
2005 3.58% 1.13%
2004 3.64% 1.28%
2003 6.34% 1.42%
2002 5.39% 1.53%
2001 0.76% 1.63%
2000 1.22% 1.75%
1999 3.8% 1.88%
1998 3.84% 1.98%
1997 3.88% 2.1%
1996 4.09% 2.23%
1995 5.02% 2.43%
1994 8.75% 2.54%
1993 12.5% 2.77%
1992 8.5% 2.86%
1991 1.6% 2.62%
1990 1.44% 2.45%
1989 3.04% 2.25%
1988 1.19% 2.13%
1987 -0.28% 2.14%
1986 -0.06% 2.23%
1985 2.11% 2.3%
1984 2.49% 2.37%
1983 -0.67% 2.4%
1982 -7.93% 2.36%
1981 -9.35% 2.37%
1980 -3.56% 2.39%
1979 0.32% 2.36%
1978 2.03% 2.35%
1977 2.15% 2.27%
1976 2.24% 2.21%
1975 2.44% 2.23%
1974 2.56% 2.21%
1973 2.57% 2.2%
1972 2.47% 2.2%
1971 2.46% 2.2%
1970 2.48% 2.21%
1969 2.42% 2.19%
1968 2.39% 2.18%
1967 2.33% 2.14%
1966 2.3% 2.11%
1965 2.26% 2.07%
1964 2.18% 2.02%
1963 2.13% 1.98%
1962 2.07% 1.96%
1961 1.98% 1.92%

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/nepal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Nepal's population declined by 0.15%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Nepal
Current population
45409324
29596762
Population rank 36/197 52/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.36%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
12.1 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
54.9 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.55 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -119
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -43,560
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.15%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 174/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.45 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -364,699
Net migration rank 179/196 193/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 470,719
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 82/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 142/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Nepal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Nepal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -364,699
2024 - -44,089 - -401,282
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 368,450 -409,782
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 379,021 -379,321
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 351,165 130,001
2020 1,134,407 143,634 373,553 162,139
2019 1,138,485 9,159 387,113 182,203
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 394,576 -295,151
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 406,219 -368,787
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 415,921 -341,748
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 410,565 -221,062
2014 1,053,788 233,913 423,166 -310,156
2013 1,033,778 18,119 424,804 -373,064
2012 1,004,814 68,628 430,151 -371,707
2011 966,743 384,486 429,957 -347,552
2010 943,473 -167,460 432,631 -269,963
2009 920,581 -60,602 441,290 -266,144
2008 891,246 215,753 452,353 -261,540
2007 889,848 -851,298 464,780 -252,526
2006 875,301 57,673 475,335 -241,455
2005 855,112 250,971 489,093 -211,024
2004 850,940 -269,194 504,853 -197,336
2003 826,165 247,317 516,575 -168,314
2002 776,048 860,349 525,045 -153,730
2001 764,090 -212,872 542,118 -148,973
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 554,506 -147,193
1999 760,727 -32,400 557,847 -122,551
1998 719,860 7,380 562,787 -108,400
1997 709,778 -21,215 565,882 -98,454
1996 685,005 4,072 580,099 -92,307
1995 653,280 52,505 591,283 -86,232
1994 609,096 315,206 578,293 -27,415
1993 541,257 1,149,684 561,549 -37,782
1992 440,132 1,197,329 533,029 84,113
1991 409,954 32,782 512,233 17,056
1990 402,433 -458,737 495,202 -640
1989 381,158 18,296 478,771 -39,808
1988 358,397 -56,263 463,581 -64,246
1987 314,361 -345,535 449,400 -72,437
1986 310,066 -343,397 434,802 -47,017
1985 228,469 -208,685 423,240 -30,154
1984 205,262 248,224 411,122 -19,300
1983 263,778 -172,797 399,103 1,304
1982 263,210 -500,998 385,741 -3,898
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 374,145 -4,855
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 364,254 5,084
1979 361,750 -525,413 355,597 88
1978 369,101 -117,186 345,765 346
1977 372,567 -83,115 332,843 2,108
1976 357,775 -85,430 323,222 -15,119
1975 343,850 -44,418 312,479 -6,686
1974 330,232 -20,009 303,078 -4,361
1973 315,062 -3,030 288,750 -1,076
1972 300,633 -4,050 286,708 -2,107
1971 288,267 -12,801 280,752 -7,284
1970 275,129 4,458 272,439 1,847
1969 263,823 2,029 264,560 -527
1968 251,798 3,333 258,259 -746
1967 239,967 6,824 249,240 347
1966 228,786 3,563 241,716 -3,306
1965 217,741 10,695 233,726 -1,551
1964 207,867 7,079 227,948 -6,087
1963 198,035 6,681 219,586 -8,303
1962 188,427 7,016 215,368 -9,249
1961 179,094 6,109 209,917 -10,601
1960 170,257 2,606 203,374 -13,223

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/nepal | 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 Nepal 67.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 470,719 people or 1.6% in Nepal.

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
Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/nepal | 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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