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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 5.36 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 3.5% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Nigeria
2100 131,724,468 481,640,156
2099 131,066,750 481,456,918
2098 130,403,871 481,181,892
2097 129,730,117 480,838,161
2096 129,070,342 480,422,467
2095 128,396,829 479,938,579
2094 127,685,065 479,395,022
2093 126,942,174 478,769,369
2092 126,194,378 478,059,864
2091 125,433,421 477,236,907
2090 124,561,248 476,329,495
2089 123,768,926 475,326,347
2088 122,960,614 474,231,442
2087 122,074,409 473,035,563
2086 121,308,199 471,732,001
2085 120,413,992 470,328,175
2084 119,420,025 468,806,172
2083 118,560,008 467,187,453
2082 117,671,742 465,472,417
2081 116,771,980 463,643,190
2080 115,724,307 461,705,493
2079 114,561,305 459,644,523
2078 113,556,727 457,477,264
2077 112,455,804 455,218,871
2076 111,375,301 452,849,991
2075 110,333,033 450,367,356
2074 109,170,742 447,789,885
2073 107,895,475 445,117,028
2072 106,682,883 442,340,440
2071 105,504,989 439,464,323
2070 104,167,895 436,505,329
2069 102,902,233 433,437,998
2068 101,568,136 430,286,232
2067 100,320,548 427,032,499
2066 99,057,144 423,702,640
2065 97,655,437 420,285,359
2064 96,248,770 416,778,394
2063 94,892,092 413,198,800
2062 93,522,871 409,551,159
2061 92,260,642 405,827,482
2060 90,945,998 402,041,765
2059 89,663,478 398,197,311
2058 88,293,680 394,284,767
2057 86,865,803 390,311,065
2056 85,428,888 386,267,580
2055 84,023,782 382,162,992
2054 82,626,785 378,000,511
2053 81,236,203 373,769,779
2052 79,860,096 369,472,476
2051 78,595,977 365,120,741
2050 77,285,393 360,706,317
2049 75,819,307 356,243,287
2048 74,435,057 351,724,743
2047 73,075,297 347,142,279
2046 71,654,160 342,505,549
2045 70,310,871 337,807,869
2044 68,983,509 333,050,132
2043 67,616,795 328,230,652
2042 66,317,516 323,363,366
2041 64,937,760 318,443,989
2040 63,497,378 313,468,061
2039 62,092,429 308,450,008
2038 60,767,134 303,399,842
2037 59,418,629 298,327,800
2036 58,079,976 293,227,654
2035 56,769,901 288,115,630
2034 55,469,080 282,995,818
2033 54,103,368 277,875,880
2032 52,759,572 272,747,599
2031 51,403,105 267,645,657
2030 50,049,673 262,562,767
2029 48,739,663 257,484,616
2028 47,504,926 252,445,821
2027 46,283,055 247,437,680
2026 45,047,977 242,458,365
2025 43,844,111 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 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 2.81% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Nigeria
Current population
45682388
245016045
Population rank 36/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 2.95%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
21.1 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 45/197
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 1,249,785 -44,089 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 87.3% of the population change in Afghanistan is from natural causes (a gain of 11,488,046 people) and 12.7% is from migration (a loss of 1,674,047 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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