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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 5.37 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.49% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Afghanistan vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Nigeria
2100 131,803,615 481,678,166
2099 131,145,502 481,494,914
2098 130,482,225 481,219,866
2097 129,808,066 480,876,108
2096 129,147,895 480,460,381
2095 128,473,977 479,976,454
2094 127,761,785 479,432,855
2093 127,018,448 478,807,152
2092 126,270,202 478,097,591
2091 125,508,788 477,274,569
2090 124,636,092 476,367,086
2089 123,843,293 475,363,859
2088 123,034,495 474,268,867
2087 122,147,758 473,072,894
2086 121,381,088 471,769,229
2085 120,486,343 470,365,292
2084 119,491,780 468,843,169
2083 118,631,246 467,224,322
2082 117,742,446 465,509,151
2081 116,842,143 463,679,779
2080 115,793,841 461,741,930
2079 114,630,140 459,680,797
2078 113,624,958 457,513,367
2077 112,523,374 455,254,796
2076 111,442,221 452,885,729
2075 110,399,328 450,402,898
2074 109,236,338 447,825,224
2073 107,960,305 445,152,156
2072 106,746,984 442,375,349
2071 105,568,382 439,499,004
2070 104,230,485 436,539,777
2069 102,964,062 433,472,204
2068 101,629,164 430,320,190
2067 100,380,826 427,066,199
2066 99,116,663 423,736,078
2065 97,714,113 420,318,527
2064 96,306,602 416,811,285
2063 94,949,108 413,231,409
2062 93,579,065 409,583,480
2061 92,316,077 405,859,509
2060 91,000,643 402,073,494
2059 89,717,353 398,228,736
2058 88,346,732 394,315,883
2057 86,917,997 390,341,867
2056 85,480,219 386,298,064
2055 84,074,268 382,193,151
2054 82,676,432 378,030,342
2053 81,285,014 373,799,276
2052 79,908,081 369,501,634
2051 78,643,202 365,149,555
2050 77,331,830 360,734,783
2049 75,864,863 356,271,401
2048 74,479,782 351,752,501
2047 73,119,204 347,169,674
2046 71,697,214 342,532,578
2045 70,353,118 337,834,528
2044 69,024,959 333,076,416
2043 67,657,423 328,256,555
2042 66,357,363 323,388,886
2041 64,976,778 318,469,120
2040 63,535,531 313,492,800
2039 62,129,737 308,474,350
2038 60,803,646 303,423,786
2037 59,454,331 298,351,344
2036 58,114,874 293,250,795
2035 56,804,011 288,138,368
2034 55,502,408 283,018,151
2033 54,135,876 277,897,810
2032 52,791,273 272,769,123
2031 51,433,991 267,666,779
2030 50,079,746 262,583,487
2029 48,768,949 257,504,936
2028 47,533,470 252,465,743
2027 46,310,865 247,457,208
2026 45,075,045 242,477,499
2025 43,870,455 237,546,527
2024 42,647,492 232,679,478
2023 41,454,761 227,882,945
2022 40,578,842 223,150,896
2021 40,000,412 218,529,286
2020 39,068,979 213,996,181
2019 37,856,121 209,485,641
2018 36,743,039 204,938,755
2017 35,688,935 200,254,579
2016 34,700,612 195,443,700
2015 33,831,764 190,671,878
2014 32,792,523 185,896,915
2013 31,622,704 181,049,443
2012 30,560,034 176,200,625
2011 29,347,708 171,379,598
2010 28,284,089 166,642,886
2009 27,466,101 162,049,464
2008 26,482,622 157,595,014
2007 25,909,852 153,267,261
2006 25,424,094 149,077,334
2005 24,404,567 145,017,253
2004 23,560,654 141,057,045
2003 22,733,049 137,202,644
2002 21,378,117 133,471,989
2001 20,284,307 129,862,595
2000 20,130,327 126,382,494
1999 19,887,785 123,047,320
1998 19,159,996 119,846,254
1997 18,452,091 116,754,792
1996 17,763,266 113,754,779
1995 17,065,836 110,819,428
1994 16,250,794 107,935,714
1993 14,943,172 105,122,069
1992 13,278,974 102,372,770
1991 12,238,879 99,720,162
1990 12,045,660 97,120,925
1989 11,874,088 94,531,014
1988 11,523,298 92,020,090
1987 11,387,818 89,591,716
1986 11,420,074 87,235,953
1985 11,426,852 84,897,973
1984 11,190,221 82,526,443
1983 10,917,982 80,438,260
1982 10,991,378 78,378,701
1981 11,937,581 76,068,103
1980 13,169,311 73,764,641
1979 13,655,567 71,498,242
1978 13,611,441 69,326,532
1977 13,340,756 67,234,590
1976 13,059,851 65,258,009
1975 12,773,954 63,410,815
1974 12,469,127 61,679,144
1973 12,157,999 60,082,139
1972 11,853,696 58,601,748
1971 11,567,667 57,214,684
1970 11,290,128 55,893,838
1969 11,017,409 54,631,914
1968 10,756,922 53,432,783
1967 10,505,959 52,293,065
1966 10,266,395 51,188,234
1965 10,036,008 50,086,764
1964 9,814,318 49,012,016
1963 9,604,487 47,973,575
1962 9,404,406 46,965,292
1961 9,214,083 45,989,310
1960 9,035,043 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Nigeria
2100 0.5% 0.04%
2099 0.51% 0.06%
2098 0.52% 0.07%
2097 0.51% 0.09%
2096 0.52% 0.1%
2095 0.56% 0.11%
2094 0.59% 0.13%
2093 0.59% 0.15%
2092 0.61% 0.17%
2091 0.7% 0.19%
2090 0.64% 0.21%
2089 0.66% 0.23%
2088 0.73% 0.25%
2087 0.63% 0.28%
2086 0.74% 0.3%
2085 0.83% 0.32%
2084 0.73% 0.35%
2083 0.75% 0.37%
2082 0.77% 0.39%
2081 0.91% 0.42%
2080 1.02% 0.45%
2079 0.88% 0.47%
2078 0.98% 0.5%
2077 0.97% 0.52%
2076 0.94% 0.55%
2075 1.06% 0.58%
2074 1.18% 0.6%
2073 1.14% 0.63%
2072 1.12% 0.65%
2071 1.28% 0.68%
2070 1.23% 0.71%
2069 1.31% 0.73%
2068 1.24% 0.76%
2067 1.28% 0.79%
2066 1.44% 0.81%
2065 1.46% 0.84%
2064 1.43% 0.87%
2063 1.46% 0.89%
2062 1.37% 0.92%
2061 1.45% 0.94%
2060 1.43% 0.97%
2059 1.55% 0.99%
2058 1.64% 1.02%
2057 1.68% 1.05%
2056 1.67% 1.07%
2055 1.69% 1.1%
2054 1.71% 1.13%
2053 1.72% 1.16%
2052 1.61% 1.19%
2051 1.7% 1.22%
2050 1.93% 1.25%
2049 1.86% 1.28%
2048 1.86% 1.32%
2047 1.98% 1.35%
2046 1.91% 1.39%
2045 1.92% 1.43%
2044 2.02% 1.47%
2043 1.96% 1.51%
2042 2.12% 1.54%
2041 2.27% 1.59%
2040 2.26% 1.63%
2039 2.18% 1.66%
2038 2.27% 1.7%
2037 2.3% 1.74%
2036 2.31% 1.77%
2035 2.35% 1.81%
2034 2.52% 1.84%
2033 2.55% 1.88%
2032 2.64% 1.91%
2031 2.7% 1.94%
2030 2.69% 1.97%
2029 2.6% 2%
2028 2.64% 2.02%
2027 2.74% 2.05%
2026 2.75% 2.08%
2025 2.87% 2.09%
2024 2.88% 2.1%
2023 2.16% 2.12%
2022 1.45% 2.11%
2021 2.38% 2.12%
2020 3.2% 2.15%
2019 3.03% 2.22%
2018 2.95% 2.34%
2017 2.85% 2.46%
2016 2.57% 2.5%
2015 3.17% 2.57%
2014 3.7% 2.68%
2013 3.48% 2.75%
2012 4.13% 2.81%
2011 3.76% 2.84%
2010 2.98% 2.83%
2009 3.71% 2.83%
2008 2.21% 2.82%
2007 1.91% 2.81%
2006 4.18% 2.8%
2005 3.58% 2.81%
2004 3.64% 2.81%
2003 6.34% 2.8%
2002 5.39% 2.78%
2001 0.76% 2.75%
2000 1.22% 2.71%
1999 3.8% 2.67%
1998 3.84% 2.65%
1997 3.88% 2.64%
1996 4.09% 2.65%
1995 5.02% 2.67%
1994 8.75% 2.68%
1993 12.5% 2.69%
1992 8.5% 2.66%
1991 1.6% 2.68%
1990 1.44% 2.74%
1989 3.04% 2.73%
1988 1.19% 2.71%
1987 -0.28% 2.7%
1986 -0.06% 2.75%
1985 2.11% 2.87%
1984 2.49% 2.6%
1983 -0.67% 2.63%
1982 -7.93% 3.04%
1981 -9.35% 3.12%
1980 -3.56% 3.17%
1979 0.32% 3.13%
1978 2.03% 3.11%
1977 2.15% 3.03%
1976 2.24% 2.91%
1975 2.44% 2.81%
1974 2.56% 2.66%
1973 2.57% 2.53%
1972 2.47% 2.42%
1971 2.46% 2.36%
1970 2.48% 2.31%
1969 2.42% 2.24%
1968 2.39% 2.18%
1967 2.33% 2.16%
1966 2.3% 2.2%
1965 2.26% 2.19%
1964 2.18% 2.16%
1963 2.13% 2.15%
1962 2.07% 2.12%
1961 1.98% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Nigeria
Current population
45409324
243824469
Population rank 36/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 2.94%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 48/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -15,258
Net migration rank 179/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -15,258
2024 - -44,089 - -35,202
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 1,134,407 143,634 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 1,138,485 9,159 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 4,706,183 78,685
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 4,761,594 75,265
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 1,053,788 233,913 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 1,033,778 18,119 4,811,751 40,201
2012 1,004,814 68,628 4,774,508 71,138
2011 966,743 384,486 4,728,363 67,808
2010 943,473 -167,460 4,629,173 47,966
2009 920,581 -60,602 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 891,246 215,753 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 889,848 -851,298 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 875,301 57,673 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 855,112 250,971 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 850,940 -269,194 3,877,376 46,370
2003 826,165 247,317 3,751,120 33,857
2002 776,048 860,349 3,606,814 69,594
2001 764,090 -212,872 3,478,370 64,163
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 3,343,196 74,535
1999 760,727 -32,400 3,155,425 97,195
1998 719,860 7,380 3,003,946 145,575
1997 709,778 -21,215 2,936,500 96,885
1996 685,005 4,072 2,882,205 84,448
1995 653,280 52,505 2,830,771 73,243
1994 609,096 315,206 2,735,198 128,134
1993 541,257 1,149,684 2,673,675 90,200
1992 440,132 1,197,329 2,596,173 138,412
1991 409,954 32,782 2,527,807 42,760
1990 402,433 -458,737 2,491,928 135,959
1989 381,158 18,296 2,452,324 99,588
1988 358,397 -56,263 2,376,419 93,510
1987 314,361 -345,535 2,322,397 64,418
1986 310,066 -343,397 2,295,003 29,682
1985 228,469 -208,685 2,289,784 61,514
1984 205,262 248,224 2,278,060 113,758
1983 263,778 -172,797 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 263,210 -500,998 2,233,401 101,116
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 2,179,884 106,723
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 2,121,618 198,672
1979 361,750 -525,413 2,074,807 137,721
1978 369,101 -117,186 2,019,621 111,258
1977 372,567 -83,115 1,923,917 129,075
1976 357,775 -85,430 1,827,289 72,889
1975 343,850 -44,418 1,718,623 75,603
1974 330,232 -20,009 1,624,813 44,281
1973 315,062 -3,030 1,525,485 -618
1972 300,633 -4,050 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 288,267 -12,801 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 275,129 4,458 1,295,507 7,953
1969 263,823 2,029 1,213,484 6,912
1968 251,798 3,333 1,168,254 9,615
1967 239,967 6,824 1,082,884 18,683
1966 228,786 3,563 1,095,582 12,513
1965 217,741 10,695 1,061,840 32,988
1964 207,867 7,079 1,028,272 26,411
1963 198,035 6,681 995,116 27,115
1962 188,427 7,016 966,452 27,906
1961 179,094 6,109 932,111 25,515
1960 170,257 2,606 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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