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Population in Afghanistan compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.71 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Afghanistan vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan North Korea
2100 131,724,468 19,601,003
2099 131,066,750 19,729,897
2098 130,403,871 19,859,274
2097 129,730,117 19,989,589
2096 129,070,342 20,120,795
2095 128,396,829 20,252,653
2094 127,685,065 20,384,384
2093 126,942,174 20,516,457
2092 126,194,378 20,649,140
2091 125,433,421 20,781,939
2090 124,561,248 20,914,434
2089 123,768,926 21,046,685
2088 122,960,614 21,178,406
2087 122,074,409 21,310,103
2086 121,308,199 21,441,361
2085 120,413,992 21,571,843
2084 119,420,025 21,701,761
2083 118,560,008 21,830,989
2082 117,671,742 21,960,135
2081 116,771,980 22,088,774
2080 115,724,307 22,216,836
2079 114,561,305 22,344,442
2078 113,556,727 22,471,597
2077 112,455,804 22,598,635
2076 111,375,301 22,725,293
2075 110,333,033 22,852,140
2074 109,170,742 22,979,532
2073 107,895,475 23,107,165
2072 106,682,883 23,234,961
2071 105,504,989 23,363,260
2070 104,167,895 23,491,789
2069 102,902,233 23,621,167
2068 101,568,136 23,750,741
2067 100,320,548 23,880,460
2066 99,057,144 24,010,584
2065 97,655,437 24,140,518
2064 96,248,770 24,269,765
2063 94,892,092 24,397,924
2062 93,522,871 24,525,403
2061 92,260,642 24,651,788
2060 90,945,998 24,776,326
2059 89,663,478 24,898,430
2058 88,293,680 25,018,630
2057 86,865,803 25,135,871
2056 85,428,888 25,250,670
2055 84,023,782 25,361,704
2054 82,626,785 25,469,578
2053 81,236,203 25,574,137
2052 79,860,096 25,675,211
2051 78,595,977 25,772,870
2050 77,285,393 25,866,886
2049 75,819,307 25,957,363
2048 74,435,057 26,043,774
2047 73,075,297 26,126,594
2046 71,654,160 26,205,638
2045 70,310,871 26,281,344
2044 68,983,509 26,353,455
2043 67,616,795 26,422,173
2042 66,317,516 26,486,580
2041 64,937,760 26,547,651
2040 63,497,378 26,604,634
2039 62,092,429 26,656,882
2038 60,767,134 26,703,458
2037 59,418,629 26,744,185
2036 58,079,976 26,778,348
2035 56,769,901 26,805,065
2034 55,469,080 26,823,948
2033 54,103,368 26,834,263
2032 52,759,572 26,835,978
2031 51,403,105 26,827,992
2030 50,049,673 26,809,850
2029 48,739,663 26,782,161
2028 47,504,926 26,744,278
2027 46,283,055 26,696,504
2026 45,047,977 26,638,530
2025 43,844,111 26,571,036
2024 42,647,492 26,498,823
2023 41,454,761 26,418,204
2022 40,578,842 26,328,845
2021 40,000,412 26,232,534
2020 39,068,979 26,136,312
2019 37,856,121 26,037,632
2018 36,743,039 25,931,147
2017 35,688,935 25,817,709
2016 34,700,612 25,698,326
2015 33,831,764 25,575,350
2014 32,792,523 25,451,262
2013 31,622,704 25,329,451
2012 30,560,034 25,211,728
2011 29,347,708 25,097,874
2010 28,284,089 24,987,258
2009 27,466,101 24,878,332
2008 26,482,622 24,764,618
2007 25,909,852 24,646,383
2006 25,424,094 24,524,507
2005 24,404,567 24,396,433
2004 23,560,654 24,254,943
2003 22,733,049 24,090,380
2002 21,378,117 23,943,973
2001 20,284,307 23,815,358
2000 20,130,327 23,665,910
1999 19,887,785 23,497,599
1998 19,159,996 23,311,564
1997 18,452,091 23,110,830
1996 17,763,266 22,895,746
1995 17,065,836 22,669,304
1994 16,250,794 22,393,975
1993 14,943,172 22,073,352
1992 13,278,974 21,750,911
1991 12,238,879 21,428,638
1990 12,045,660 21,112,137
1989 11,874,088 20,804,367
1988 11,523,298 20,503,161
1987 11,387,818 20,205,483
1986 11,420,074 19,910,855
1985 11,426,852 19,620,388
1984 11,190,221 19,335,043
1983 10,917,982 19,054,034
1982 10,991,378 18,776,357
1981 11,937,581 18,501,295
1980 13,169,311 18,236,786
1979 13,655,567 17,983,470
1978 13,611,441 17,735,995
1977 13,340,756 17,492,798
1976 13,059,851 17,243,450
1975 12,773,954 16,971,055
1974 12,469,127 16,673,121
1973 12,157,999 16,350,367
1972 11,853,696 15,975,069
1971 11,567,667 15,572,457
1970 11,290,128 15,172,775
1969 11,017,409 14,767,615
1968 10,756,922 14,365,596
1967 10,505,959 13,958,350
1966 10,266,395 13,569,094
1965 10,036,008 13,219,369
1964 9,814,318 12,889,770
1963 9,604,487 12,567,057
1962 9,404,406 12,262,882
1961 9,214,083 11,990,713
1960 9,035,043 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan North Korea
2100 0.5% -0.65%
2099 0.51% -0.65%
2098 0.52% -0.65%
2097 0.51% -0.65%
2096 0.52% -0.65%
2095 0.56% -0.65%
2094 0.59% -0.64%
2093 0.59% -0.64%
2092 0.61% -0.64%
2091 0.7% -0.63%
2090 0.64% -0.63%
2089 0.66% -0.62%
2088 0.73% -0.62%
2087 0.63% -0.61%
2086 0.74% -0.6%
2085 0.83% -0.6%
2084 0.73% -0.59%
2083 0.75% -0.59%
2082 0.77% -0.58%
2081 0.91% -0.58%
2080 1.02% -0.57%
2079 0.88% -0.57%
2078 0.98% -0.56%
2077 0.97% -0.56%
2076 0.94% -0.56%
2075 1.06% -0.55%
2074 1.18% -0.55%
2073 1.14% -0.55%
2072 1.12% -0.55%
2071 1.28% -0.55%
2070 1.23% -0.55%
2069 1.31% -0.55%
2068 1.24% -0.54%
2067 1.28% -0.54%
2066 1.44% -0.54%
2065 1.46% -0.53%
2064 1.43% -0.53%
2063 1.46% -0.52%
2062 1.37% -0.51%
2061 1.45% -0.5%
2060 1.43% -0.49%
2059 1.55% -0.48%
2058 1.64% -0.47%
2057 1.68% -0.45%
2056 1.67% -0.44%
2055 1.69% -0.42%
2054 1.71% -0.41%
2053 1.72% -0.39%
2052 1.61% -0.38%
2051 1.7% -0.36%
2050 1.93% -0.35%
2049 1.86% -0.33%
2048 1.86% -0.32%
2047 1.98% -0.3%
2046 1.91% -0.29%
2045 1.92% -0.27%
2044 2.02% -0.26%
2043 1.96% -0.24%
2042 2.12% -0.23%
2041 2.27% -0.21%
2040 2.26% -0.2%
2039 2.18% -0.17%
2038 2.27% -0.15%
2037 2.3% -0.13%
2036 2.31% -0.1%
2035 2.35% -0.07%
2034 2.52% -0.04%
2033 2.55% -0.006%
2032 2.64% 0.03%
2031 2.7% 0.07%
2030 2.69% 0.1%
2029 2.6% 0.14%
2028 2.64% 0.18%
2027 2.74% 0.22%
2026 2.75% 0.25%
2025 2.81% 0.27%
2024 2.88% 0.31%
2023 2.16% 0.34%
2022 1.45% 0.37%
2021 2.38% 0.37%
2020 3.2% 0.38%
2019 3.03% 0.41%
2018 2.95% 0.44%
2017 2.85% 0.46%
2016 2.57% 0.48%
2015 3.17% 0.49%
2014 3.7% 0.48%
2013 3.48% 0.47%
2012 4.13% 0.45%
2011 3.76% 0.44%
2010 2.98% 0.44%
2009 3.71% 0.46%
2008 2.21% 0.48%
2007 1.91% 0.5%
2006 4.18% 0.52%
2005 3.58% 0.58%
2004 3.64% 0.68%
2003 6.34% 0.61%
2002 5.39% 0.54%
2001 0.76% 0.63%
2000 1.22% 0.72%
1999 3.8% 0.8%
1998 3.84% 0.87%
1997 3.88% 0.94%
1996 4.09% 1%
1995 5.02% 1.23%
1994 8.75% 1.45%
1993 12.5% 1.48%
1992 8.5% 1.5%
1991 1.6% 1.5%
1990 1.44% 1.48%
1989 3.04% 1.47%
1988 1.19% 1.47%
1987 -0.28% 1.48%
1986 -0.06% 1.48%
1985 2.11% 1.48%
1984 2.49% 1.47%
1983 -0.67% 1.48%
1982 -7.93% 1.49%
1981 -9.35% 1.45%
1980 -3.56% 1.41%
1979 0.32% 1.4%
1978 2.03% 1.39%
1977 2.15% 1.45%
1976 2.24% 1.61%
1975 2.44% 1.79%
1974 2.56% 1.97%
1973 2.57% 2.35%
1972 2.47% 2.59%
1971 2.46% 2.63%
1970 2.48% 2.74%
1969 2.42% 2.8%
1968 2.39% 2.92%
1967 2.33% 2.87%
1966 2.3% 2.65%
1965 2.26% 2.56%
1964 2.18% 2.57%
1963 2.13% 2.48%
1962 2.07% 2.27%
1961 1.98% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan North Korea
Current population
45682388
26668308
Population rank 36/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.32%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
7.3 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +198
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 146/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -2,787
Net migration rank 179/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -2,787
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 79,496 -2,473
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 86,203 -1,997
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 96,495 -1,997
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 99,710 -1,585
2020 1,134,407 143,634 95,920 -1,585
2019 1,138,485 9,159 106,208 -3,142
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 113,164 -3,225
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 120,181 -3,224
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 125,048 -3,222
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 127,365 -3,208
2014 1,053,788 233,913 127,078 -3,042
2013 1,033,778 18,119 122,519 -2,933
2012 1,004,814 68,628 118,773 -2,919
2011 966,743 384,486 114,798 -2,957
2010 943,473 -167,460 112,443 -3,053
2009 920,581 -60,602 111,530 -3,058
2008 891,246 215,753 122,015 -3,051
2007 889,848 -851,298 120,521 -3,021
2006 875,301 57,673 129,171 -2,948
2005 855,112 250,971 132,765 -2,861
2004 850,940 -269,194 155,838 -2,758
2003 826,165 247,317 178,775 -2,717
2002 776,048 860,349 119,504 -2,763
2001 764,090 -212,872 143,321 -2,884
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 161,591 -3,142
1999 760,727 -32,400 181,613 -3,443
1998 719,860 7,380 197,589 -3,706
1997 709,778 -21,215 211,325 -3,745
1996 685,005 4,072 226,095 -3,512
1995 653,280 52,505 233,381 -3,094
1994 609,096 315,206 320,861 -517
1993 541,257 1,149,684 320,880 0
1992 440,132 1,197,329 324,002 0
1991 409,954 32,782 320,551 0
1990 402,433 -458,737 312,460 0
1989 381,158 18,296 303,078 0
1988 358,397 -56,263 299,305 0
1987 314,361 -345,535 296,030 0
1986 310,066 -343,397 293,227 0
1985 228,469 -208,685 287,714 0
1984 205,262 248,224 282,987 0
1983 263,778 -172,797 279,046 0
1982 263,210 -500,998 276,332 0
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 273,800 0
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 255,206 0
1979 361,750 -525,413 251,409 0
1978 369,101 -117,186 243,533 0
1977 372,567 -83,115 242,870 0
1976 357,775 -85,430 255,841 0
1975 343,850 -44,418 288,966 0
1974 330,232 -20,009 306,902 0
1973 315,062 -3,030 338,600 0
1972 300,633 -4,050 411,997 0
1971 288,267 -12,801 393,220 0
1970 275,129 4,458 406,129 0
1969 263,823 2,029 404,189 0
1968 251,798 3,333 399,837 0
1967 239,967 6,824 414,632 0
1966 228,786 3,563 363,882 0
1965 217,741 10,695 335,587 0
1964 207,867 7,079 323,623 0
1963 198,035 6,681 321,805 0
1962 188,427 7,016 286,534 0
1961 179,094 6,109 257,788 0
1960 170,257 2,606 277,717 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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