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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 6.37 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Nicaragua
2100 131,803,615 8,688,116
2099 131,145,502 8,724,538
2098 130,482,225 8,760,232
2097 129,808,066 8,794,755
2096 129,147,895 8,828,433
2095 128,473,977 8,861,157
2094 127,761,785 8,892,755
2093 127,018,448 8,924,287
2092 126,270,202 8,954,488
2091 125,508,788 8,984,026
2090 124,636,092 9,012,075
2089 123,843,293 9,039,709
2088 123,034,495 9,065,862
2087 122,147,758 9,090,942
2086 121,381,088 9,115,336
2085 120,486,343 9,138,363
2084 119,491,780 9,160,205
2083 118,631,246 9,180,483
2082 117,742,446 9,199,639
2081 116,842,143 9,217,574
2080 115,793,841 9,233,677
2079 114,630,140 9,247,995
2078 113,624,958 9,260,269
2077 112,523,374 9,271,296
2076 111,442,221 9,280,355
2075 110,399,328 9,287,263
2074 109,236,338 9,293,340
2073 107,960,305 9,297,217
2072 106,746,984 9,298,930
2071 105,568,382 9,298,548
2070 104,230,485 9,296,541
2069 102,964,062 9,292,245
2068 101,629,164 9,285,519
2067 100,380,826 9,277,073
2066 99,116,663 9,266,063
2065 97,714,113 9,253,359
2064 96,306,602 9,238,451
2063 94,949,108 9,221,261
2062 93,579,065 9,201,687
2061 92,316,077 9,180,231
2060 91,000,643 9,156,164
2059 89,717,353 9,129,485
2058 88,346,732 9,100,437
2057 86,917,997 9,069,770
2056 85,480,219 9,037,076
2055 84,074,268 9,002,004
2054 82,676,432 8,964,646
2053 81,285,014 8,925,248
2052 79,908,081 8,883,323
2051 78,643,202 8,838,651
2050 77,331,830 8,791,647
2049 75,864,863 8,743,003
2048 74,479,782 8,691,701
2047 73,119,204 8,638,293
2046 71,697,214 8,583,244
2045 70,353,118 8,525,953
2044 69,024,959 8,466,669
2043 67,657,423 8,405,733
2042 66,357,363 8,342,871
2041 64,976,778 8,278,159
2040 63,535,531 8,211,510
2039 62,129,737 8,143,346
2038 60,803,646 8,072,943
2037 59,454,331 8,000,701
2036 58,114,874 7,926,969
2035 56,804,011 7,851,540
2034 55,502,408 7,774,327
2033 54,135,876 7,695,506
2032 52,791,273 7,615,273
2031 51,433,991 7,533,169
2030 50,079,746 7,449,842
2029 48,768,949 7,364,850
2028 47,533,470 7,278,061
2027 46,310,865 7,189,755
2026 45,075,045 7,100,090
2025 43,870,455 7,008,896
2024 42,647,492 6,916,140
2023 41,454,761 6,823,613
2022 40,578,842 6,730,654
2021 40,000,412 6,644,741
2020 39,068,979 6,565,267
2019 37,856,121 6,483,657
2018 36,743,039 6,400,080
2017 35,688,935 6,316,231
2016 34,700,612 6,232,666
2015 33,831,764 6,149,417
2014 32,792,523 6,066,492
2013 31,622,704 5,983,845
2012 30,560,034 5,901,287
2011 29,347,708 5,819,051
2010 28,284,089 5,737,450
2009 27,466,101 5,656,601
2008 26,482,622 5,576,593
2007 25,909,852 5,497,243
2006 25,424,094 5,418,855
2005 24,404,567 5,342,105
2004 23,560,654 5,272,912
2003 22,733,049 5,210,963
2002 21,378,117 5,149,909
2001 20,284,307 5,087,825
2000 20,130,327 5,022,633
1999 19,887,785 4,954,018
1998 19,159,996 4,883,655
1997 18,452,091 4,809,573
1996 17,763,266 4,729,974
1995 17,065,836 4,642,931
1994 16,250,794 4,549,316
1993 14,943,172 4,453,732
1992 13,278,974 4,357,026
1991 12,238,879 4,259,637
1990 12,045,660 4,162,559
1989 11,874,088 4,066,476
1988 11,523,298 3,972,320
1987 11,387,818 3,882,164
1986 11,420,074 3,794,157
1985 11,426,852 3,706,479
1984 11,190,221 3,619,104
1983 10,917,982 3,530,282
1982 10,991,378 3,438,745
1981 11,937,581 3,345,674
1980 13,169,311 3,252,403
1979 13,655,567 3,164,525
1978 13,611,441 3,080,314
1977 13,340,756 2,992,534
1976 13,059,851 2,903,851
1975 12,773,954 2,816,943
1974 12,469,127 2,732,075
1973 12,157,999 2,649,278
1972 11,853,696 2,573,578
1971 11,567,667 2,499,825
1970 11,290,128 2,423,065
1969 11,017,409 2,348,398
1968 10,756,922 2,275,836
1967 10,505,959 2,205,567
1966 10,266,395 2,137,820
1965 10,036,008 2,072,681
1964 9,814,318 2,010,176
1963 9,604,487 1,950,159
1962 9,404,406 1,892,320
1961 9,214,083 1,836,451
1960 9,035,043 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Nicaragua
2100 0.5% -0.42%
2099 0.51% -0.41%
2098 0.52% -0.39%
2097 0.51% -0.38%
2096 0.52% -0.37%
2095 0.56% -0.36%
2094 0.59% -0.35%
2093 0.59% -0.34%
2092 0.61% -0.33%
2091 0.7% -0.31%
2090 0.64% -0.31%
2089 0.66% -0.29%
2088 0.73% -0.28%
2087 0.63% -0.27%
2086 0.74% -0.25%
2085 0.83% -0.24%
2084 0.73% -0.22%
2083 0.75% -0.21%
2082 0.77% -0.19%
2081 0.91% -0.17%
2080 1.02% -0.15%
2079 0.88% -0.13%
2078 0.98% -0.12%
2077 0.97% -0.1%
2076 0.94% -0.07%
2075 1.06% -0.07%
2074 1.18% -0.04%
2073 1.14% -0.02%
2072 1.12% 0.004%
2071 1.28% 0.02%
2070 1.23% 0.05%
2069 1.31% 0.07%
2068 1.24% 0.09%
2067 1.28% 0.12%
2066 1.44% 0.14%
2065 1.46% 0.16%
2064 1.43% 0.19%
2063 1.46% 0.21%
2062 1.37% 0.23%
2061 1.45% 0.26%
2060 1.43% 0.29%
2059 1.55% 0.32%
2058 1.64% 0.34%
2057 1.68% 0.36%
2056 1.67% 0.39%
2055 1.69% 0.42%
2054 1.71% 0.44%
2053 1.72% 0.47%
2052 1.61% 0.51%
2051 1.7% 0.53%
2050 1.93% 0.56%
2049 1.86% 0.59%
2048 1.86% 0.62%
2047 1.98% 0.64%
2046 1.91% 0.67%
2045 1.92% 0.7%
2044 2.02% 0.72%
2043 1.96% 0.75%
2042 2.12% 0.78%
2041 2.27% 0.81%
2040 2.26% 0.84%
2039 2.18% 0.87%
2038 2.27% 0.9%
2037 2.3% 0.93%
2036 2.31% 0.96%
2035 2.35% 0.99%
2034 2.52% 1.02%
2033 2.55% 1.05%
2032 2.64% 1.09%
2031 2.7% 1.12%
2030 2.69% 1.15%
2029 2.6% 1.19%
2028 2.64% 1.23%
2027 2.74% 1.26%
2026 2.75% 1.3%
2025 2.87% 1.34%
2024 2.88% 1.36%
2023 2.16% 1.38%
2022 1.45% 1.29%
2021 2.38% 1.21%
2020 3.2% 1.26%
2019 3.03% 1.31%
2018 2.95% 1.33%
2017 2.85% 1.34%
2016 2.57% 1.35%
2015 3.17% 1.37%
2014 3.7% 1.38%
2013 3.48% 1.4%
2012 4.13% 1.41%
2011 3.76% 1.42%
2010 2.98% 1.43%
2009 3.71% 1.43%
2008 2.21% 1.44%
2007 1.91% 1.45%
2006 4.18% 1.44%
2005 3.58% 1.31%
2004 3.64% 1.19%
2003 6.34% 1.19%
2002 5.39% 1.22%
2001 0.76% 1.3%
2000 1.22% 1.39%
1999 3.8% 1.44%
1998 3.84% 1.54%
1997 3.88% 1.68%
1996 4.09% 1.87%
1995 5.02% 2.06%
1994 8.75% 2.15%
1993 12.5% 2.22%
1992 8.5% 2.29%
1991 1.6% 2.33%
1990 1.44% 2.36%
1989 3.04% 2.37%
1988 1.19% 2.32%
1987 -0.28% 2.32%
1986 -0.06% 2.37%
1985 2.11% 2.41%
1984 2.49% 2.52%
1983 -0.67% 2.66%
1982 -7.93% 2.78%
1981 -9.35% 2.87%
1980 -3.56% 2.78%
1979 0.32% 2.73%
1978 2.03% 2.93%
1977 2.15% 3.05%
1976 2.24% 3.09%
1975 2.44% 3.11%
1974 2.56% 3.13%
1973 2.57% 2.94%
1972 2.47% 2.95%
1971 2.46% 3.17%
1970 2.48% 3.18%
1969 2.42% 3.19%
1968 2.39% 3.19%
1967 2.33% 3.17%
1966 2.3% 3.14%
1965 2.26% 3.11%
1964 2.18% 3.08%
1963 2.13% 3.06%
1962 2.07% 3.04%
1961 1.98% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Nicaragua
Current population
45409324
7124343
Population rank 36/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.09%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
5.68 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
3.98 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +253
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 78/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -8,371
Net migration rank 179/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -8,371
2024 - -44,089 - -8,189
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 100,921 -7,996
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 100,987 -7,996
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 89,213 -10,383
2020 1,134,407 143,634 90,515 -10,383
2019 1,138,485 9,159 102,817 -19,730
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 104,814 -20,742
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 105,468 -21,849
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 106,585 -23,076
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 107,344 -24,353
2014 1,053,788 233,913 108,420 -25,570
2013 1,033,778 18,119 109,032 -26,587
2012 1,004,814 68,628 110,065 -27,389
2011 966,743 384,486 110,026 -28,221
2010 943,473 -167,460 110,475 -29,081
2009 920,581 -60,602 110,213 -29,913
2008 891,246 215,753 110,395 -30,675
2007 889,848 -851,298 110,341 -31,357
2006 875,301 57,673 110,073 -32,274
2005 855,112 250,971 108,984 -33,280
2004 850,940 -269,194 106,904 -44,222
2003 826,165 247,317 106,142 -44,931
2002 776,048 860,349 105,805 -44,906
2001 764,090 -212,872 107,109 -43,837
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 109,192 -42,087
1999 760,727 -32,400 110,217 -40,095
1998 719,860 7,380 108,862 -38,260
1997 709,778 -21,215 114,415 -36,851
1996 685,005 4,072 116,849 -35,208
1995 653,280 52,505 118,325 -25,889
1994 609,096 315,206 119,565 -24,773
1993 541,257 1,149,684 120,469 -24,091
1992 440,132 1,197,329 121,204 -24,171
1991 409,954 32,782 121,787 -24,028
1990 402,433 -458,737 120,677 -24,280
1989 381,158 18,296 120,128 -24,364
1988 358,397 -56,263 117,299 -24,753
1987 314,361 -345,535 112,885 -25,127
1986 310,066 -343,397 113,054 -24,805
1985 228,469 -208,685 110,949 -23,840
1984 205,262 248,224 110,133 -22,493
1983 263,778 -172,797 110,618 -20,620
1982 263,210 -500,998 112,468 -19,395
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 110,421 -17,353
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 108,604 -15,130
1979 361,750 -525,413 96,429 -14,152
1978 369,101 -117,186 98,419 -12,273
1977 372,567 -83,115 100,498 -11,082
1976 357,775 -85,430 98,100 -10,155
1975 343,850 -44,418 95,230 -9,349
1974 330,232 -20,009 92,505 -8,639
1973 315,062 -3,030 89,662 -7,947
1972 300,633 -4,050 76,906 -7,219
1971 288,267 -12,801 84,139 -6,328
1970 275,129 4,458 81,127 -5,423
1969 263,823 2,029 78,237 -4,592
1968 251,798 3,333 75,458 -3,979
1967 239,967 6,824 72,722 -3,666
1966 228,786 3,563 69,883 -3,443
1965 217,741 10,695 67,056 -3,231
1964 207,867 7,079 64,227 -3,043
1963 198,035 6,681 61,738 -2,881
1962 188,427 7,016 59,547 -2,727
1961 179,094 6,109 57,499 -2,579
1960 170,257 2,606 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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