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Population in Afghanistan compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.45 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan New Zealand
2100 131,803,615 5,918,837
2099 131,145,502 5,923,132
2098 130,482,225 5,927,206
2097 129,808,066 5,930,263
2096 129,147,895 5,932,907
2095 128,473,977 5,934,847
2094 127,761,785 5,936,183
2093 127,018,448 5,938,804
2092 126,270,202 5,939,085
2091 125,508,788 5,940,665
2090 124,636,092 5,941,752
2089 123,843,293 5,944,871
2088 123,034,495 5,945,635
2087 122,147,758 5,948,586
2086 121,381,088 5,951,745
2085 120,486,343 5,955,275
2084 119,491,780 5,959,115
2083 118,631,246 5,963,613
2082 117,742,446 5,966,943
2081 116,842,143 5,968,511
2080 115,793,841 5,971,082
2079 114,630,140 5,972,331
2078 113,624,958 5,972,928
2077 112,523,374 5,971,804
2076 111,442,221 5,971,386
2075 110,399,328 5,970,985
2074 109,236,338 5,969,834
2073 107,960,305 5,968,506
2072 106,746,984 5,964,548
2071 105,568,382 5,964,493
2070 104,230,485 5,963,811
2069 102,964,062 5,962,551
2068 101,629,164 5,960,918
2067 100,380,826 5,958,438
2066 99,116,663 5,954,539
2065 97,714,113 5,950,378
2064 96,306,602 5,946,851
2063 94,949,108 5,944,910
2062 93,579,065 5,940,838
2061 92,316,077 5,939,601
2060 91,000,643 5,936,094
2059 89,717,353 5,931,426
2058 88,346,732 5,925,816
2057 86,917,997 5,919,823
2056 85,480,219 5,913,287
2055 84,074,268 5,904,352
2054 82,676,432 5,894,795
2053 81,285,014 5,884,875
2052 79,908,081 5,876,162
2051 78,643,202 5,864,176
2050 77,331,830 5,852,896
2049 75,864,863 5,844,165
2048 74,479,782 5,833,178
2047 73,119,204 5,822,035
2046 71,697,214 5,809,860
2045 70,353,118 5,795,785
2044 69,024,959 5,780,884
2043 67,657,423 5,764,579
2042 66,357,363 5,746,528
2041 64,976,778 5,727,253
2040 63,535,531 5,708,874
2039 62,129,737 5,690,018
2038 60,803,646 5,669,959
2037 59,454,331 5,650,253
2036 58,114,874 5,630,126
2035 56,804,011 5,609,155
2034 55,502,408 5,588,315
2033 54,135,876 5,565,507
2032 52,791,273 5,542,488
2031 51,433,991 5,517,391
2030 50,079,746 5,491,320
2029 48,768,949 5,462,926
2028 47,533,470 5,432,752
2027 46,310,865 5,399,898
2026 45,075,045 5,364,771
2025 43,870,455 5,327,462
2024 42,647,492 5,287,500
2023 41,454,761 5,200,000
2022 40,578,842 5,081,700
2021 40,000,412 5,084,600
2020 39,068,979 5,072,400
2019 37,856,121 4,970,300
2018 36,743,039 4,900,600
2017 35,688,935 4,813,600
2016 34,700,612 4,714,100
2015 33,831,764 4,609,400
2014 32,792,523 4,516,500
2013 31,622,704 4,442,100
2012 30,560,034 4,408,100
2011 29,347,708 4,384,000
2010 28,284,089 4,350,700
2009 27,466,101 4,302,600
2008 26,482,622 4,259,800
2007 25,909,852 4,223,800
2006 25,424,094 4,184,600
2005 24,404,567 4,133,900
2004 23,560,654 4,087,500
2003 22,733,049 4,027,200
2002 21,378,117 3,948,500
2001 20,284,307 3,880,500
2000 20,130,327 3,857,700
1999 19,887,785 3,835,100
1998 19,159,996 3,815,000
1997 18,452,091 3,781,300
1996 17,763,266 3,732,000
1995 17,065,836 3,673,400
1994 16,250,794 3,620,000
1993 14,943,172 3,572,200
1992 13,278,974 3,531,700
1991 12,238,879 3,495,100
1990 12,045,660 3,329,800
1989 11,874,088 3,299,200
1988 11,523,298 3,283,400
1987 11,387,818 3,274,400
1986 11,420,074 3,246,300
1985 11,426,852 3,247,100
1984 11,190,221 3,227,100
1983 10,917,982 3,199,300
1982 10,991,378 3,156,100
1981 11,937,581 3,124,900
1980 13,169,311 3,112,900
1979 13,655,567 3,109,000
1978 13,611,441 3,121,200
1977 13,340,756 3,120,200
1976 13,059,851 3,110,500
1975 12,773,954 3,083,100
1974 12,469,127 3,023,700
1973 12,157,999 2,961,300
1972 11,853,696 2,903,900
1971 11,567,667 2,853,000
1970 11,290,128 2,810,700
1969 11,017,409 2,772,800
1968 10,756,922 2,748,100
1967 10,505,959 2,724,100
1966 10,266,395 2,675,900
1965 10,036,008 2,628,400
1964 9,814,318 2,585,400
1963 9,604,487 2,531,800
1962 9,404,406 2,482,000
1961 9,214,083 2,419,700
1960 9,035,043 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan New Zealand
2100 0.5% -0.07%
2099 0.51% -0.07%
2098 0.52% -0.05%
2097 0.51% -0.04%
2096 0.52% -0.03%
2095 0.56% -0.02%
2094 0.59% -0.04%
2093 0.59% -0.005%
2092 0.61% -0.03%
2091 0.7% -0.02%
2090 0.64% -0.05%
2089 0.66% -0.01%
2088 0.73% -0.05%
2087 0.63% -0.05%
2086 0.74% -0.06%
2085 0.83% -0.06%
2084 0.73% -0.08%
2083 0.75% -0.06%
2082 0.77% -0.03%
2081 0.91% -0.04%
2080 1.02% -0.02%
2079 0.88% -0.01%
2078 0.98% 0.02%
2077 0.97% 0.007%
2076 0.94% 0.007%
2075 1.06% 0.02%
2074 1.18% 0.02%
2073 1.14% 0.07%
2072 1.12% 0.001%
2071 1.28% 0.01%
2070 1.23% 0.02%
2069 1.31% 0.03%
2068 1.24% 0.04%
2067 1.28% 0.07%
2066 1.44% 0.07%
2065 1.46% 0.06%
2064 1.43% 0.03%
2063 1.46% 0.07%
2062 1.37% 0.02%
2061 1.45% 0.06%
2060 1.43% 0.08%
2059 1.55% 0.09%
2058 1.64% 0.1%
2057 1.68% 0.11%
2056 1.67% 0.15%
2055 1.69% 0.16%
2054 1.71% 0.17%
2053 1.72% 0.15%
2052 1.61% 0.2%
2051 1.7% 0.19%
2050 1.93% 0.15%
2049 1.86% 0.19%
2048 1.86% 0.19%
2047 1.98% 0.21%
2046 1.91% 0.24%
2045 1.92% 0.26%
2044 2.02% 0.28%
2043 1.96% 0.31%
2042 2.12% 0.34%
2041 2.27% 0.32%
2040 2.26% 0.33%
2039 2.18% 0.35%
2038 2.27% 0.35%
2037 2.3% 0.36%
2036 2.31% 0.37%
2035 2.35% 0.37%
2034 2.52% 0.41%
2033 2.55% 0.42%
2032 2.64% 0.45%
2031 2.7% 0.47%
2030 2.69% 0.52%
2029 2.6% 0.56%
2028 2.64% 0.61%
2027 2.74% 0.65%
2026 2.75% 0.7%
2025 2.87% 0.76%
2024 2.88% 1.68%
2023 2.16% 2.33%
2022 1.45% -0.06%
2021 2.38% 0.24%
2020 3.2% 2.05%
2019 3.03% 1.42%
2018 2.95% 1.81%
2017 2.85% 2.11%
2016 2.57% 2.27%
2015 3.17% 2.06%
2014 3.7% 1.67%
2013 3.48% 0.77%
2012 4.13% 0.55%
2011 3.76% 0.77%
2010 2.98% 1.12%
2009 3.71% 1%
2008 2.21% 0.85%
2007 1.91% 0.94%
2006 4.18% 1.23%
2005 3.58% 1.14%
2004 3.64% 1.5%
2003 6.34% 1.99%
2002 5.39% 1.75%
2001 0.76% 0.59%
2000 1.22% 0.59%
1999 3.8% 0.53%
1998 3.84% 0.89%
1997 3.88% 1.32%
1996 4.09% 1.6%
1995 5.02% 1.48%
1994 8.75% 1.34%
1993 12.5% 1.15%
1992 8.5% 1.05%
1991 1.6% 4.96%
1990 1.44% 0.93%
1989 3.04% 0.48%
1988 1.19% 0.27%
1987 -0.28% 0.87%
1986 -0.06% -0.02%
1985 2.11% 0.62%
1984 2.49% 0.87%
1983 -0.67% 1.37%
1982 -7.93% 1%
1981 -9.35% 0.39%
1980 -3.56% 0.13%
1979 0.32% -0.39%
1978 2.03% 0.03%
1977 2.15% 0.31%
1976 2.24% 0.89%
1975 2.44% 1.96%
1974 2.56% 2.11%
1973 2.57% 1.98%
1972 2.47% 1.78%
1971 2.46% 1.5%
1970 2.48% 1.37%
1969 2.42% 0.9%
1968 2.39% 0.88%
1967 2.33% 1.8%
1966 2.3% 1.81%
1965 2.26% 1.66%
1964 2.18% 2.12%
1963 2.13% 2.01%
1962 2.07% 2.57%
1961 1.98% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan New Zealand
Current population
45409324
5374272
Population rank 36/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.06%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
9.31 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +240
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 65/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +17,403
Net migration rank 179/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 17,403
2024 - -44,089 - 18,766
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 18,876 21,404
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 20,123 21,404
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 23,644 -14,944
2020 1,134,407 143,634 24,905 42,124
2019 1,138,485 9,159 25,299 69,770
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 24,797 59,139
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 26,282 68,349
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 28,237 75,512
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 29,408 70,870
2014 1,053,788 233,913 26,196 57,974
2013 1,033,778 18,119 29,096 26,385
2012 1,004,814 68,628 31,077 -1,015
2011 966,743 384,486 31,302 -2,196
2010 943,473 -167,460 35,458 6,722
2009 920,581 -60,602 33,560 12,700
2008 891,246 215,753 35,143 4,804
2007 889,848 -851,298 35,480 3,053
2006 875,301 57,673 30,924 14,542
2005 855,112 250,971 30,674 19,212
2004 850,940 -269,194 29,634 24,521
2003 826,165 247,317 28,150 42,456
2002 776,048 860,349 25,941 48,195
2001 764,090 -212,872 27,939 17,793
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 29,897 -6,604
1999 760,727 -32,400 28,916 -7,634
1998 719,860 7,380 29,146 -1,387
1997 709,778 -21,215 30,137 12,040
1996 685,005 4,072 28,997 25,169
1995 653,280 52,505 29,828 26,743
1994 609,096 315,206 30,372 20,420
1993 541,257 1,149,684 31,685 12,638
1992 440,132 1,197,329 32,067 6,460
1991 409,954 32,782 33,518 31,156
1990 402,433 -458,737 33,298 70,432
1989 381,158 18,296 30,749 -8,818
1988 358,397 -56,263 29,846 -17,005
1987 314,361 -345,535 27,603 -7,631
1986 310,066 -343,397 25,549 -10,234
1985 228,469 -208,685 24,126 -13,462
1984 205,262 248,224 26,043 -901
1983 263,778 -172,797 24,315 11,464
1982 263,210 -500,998 24,207 7,982
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 25,374 -7,606
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 23,658 -15,423
1979 361,750 -525,413 26,675 -26,694
1978 369,101 -117,186 26,156 -28,783
1977 372,567 -83,115 28,020 -22,697
1976 357,775 -85,430 29,456 -9,138
1975 343,850 -44,418 31,355 13,196
1974 330,232 -20,009 33,896 27,580
1973 315,062 -3,030 35,239 28,261
1972 300,633 -4,050 38,244 17,779
1971 288,267 -12,801 40,000 7,547
1970 275,129 4,458 37,101 4,511
1969 263,823 2,029 38,098 -5,212
1968 251,798 3,333 37,594 -11,853
1967 239,967 6,824 37,974 -2,289
1966 228,786 3,563 36,151 9,161
1965 217,741 10,695 36,982 9,245
1964 207,867 7,079 39,375 9,806
1963 198,035 6,681 42,027 10,226
1962 188,427 7,016 42,865 12,697
1961 179,094 6,109 43,482 10,689
1960 170,257 2,606 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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