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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 1,824,359 people in North Macedonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 1,805,954 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 25.1 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.57% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.48% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.44% decline).

Afghanistan vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan North Macedonia
2100 131,803,615 866,884
2099 131,145,502 877,788
2098 130,482,225 888,715
2097 129,808,066 899,716
2096 129,147,895 910,709
2095 128,473,977 921,559
2094 127,761,785 932,633
2093 127,018,448 943,984
2092 126,270,202 955,335
2091 125,508,788 966,773
2090 124,636,092 978,130
2089 123,843,293 989,666
2088 123,034,495 1,001,224
2087 122,147,758 1,012,831
2086 121,381,088 1,024,787
2085 120,486,343 1,036,668
2084 119,491,780 1,048,876
2083 118,631,246 1,061,031
2082 117,742,446 1,073,408
2081 116,842,143 1,085,823
2080 115,793,841 1,098,127
2079 114,630,140 1,110,614
2078 113,624,958 1,123,398
2077 112,523,374 1,136,448
2076 111,442,221 1,149,787
2075 110,399,328 1,163,080
2074 109,236,338 1,176,671
2073 107,960,305 1,190,351
2072 106,746,984 1,204,015
2071 105,568,382 1,217,691
2070 104,230,485 1,231,978
2069 102,964,062 1,246,408
2068 101,629,164 1,260,869
2067 100,380,826 1,275,289
2066 99,116,663 1,289,439
2065 97,714,113 1,303,917
2064 96,306,602 1,318,161
2063 94,949,108 1,332,807
2062 93,579,065 1,347,540
2061 92,316,077 1,362,299
2060 91,000,643 1,376,807
2059 89,717,353 1,390,921
2058 88,346,732 1,404,982
2057 86,917,997 1,419,185
2056 85,480,219 1,433,595
2055 84,074,268 1,447,857
2054 82,676,432 1,462,210
2053 81,285,014 1,476,351
2052 79,908,081 1,489,905
2051 78,643,202 1,503,526
2050 77,331,830 1,516,629
2049 75,864,863 1,529,608
2048 74,479,782 1,542,390
2047 73,119,204 1,555,085
2046 71,697,214 1,568,151
2045 70,353,118 1,581,115
2044 69,024,959 1,593,878
2043 67,657,423 1,606,930
2042 66,357,363 1,619,941
2041 64,976,778 1,632,704
2040 63,535,531 1,645,446
2039 62,129,737 1,658,034
2038 60,803,646 1,670,347
2037 59,454,331 1,682,850
2036 58,114,874 1,695,204
2035 56,804,011 1,707,302
2034 55,502,408 1,719,193
2033 54,135,876 1,730,723
2032 52,791,273 1,742,288
2031 51,433,991 1,753,729
2030 50,079,746 1,765,162
2029 48,768,949 1,775,815
2028 47,533,470 1,786,051
2027 46,310,865 1,795,945
2026 45,075,045 1,805,954
2025 43,870,455 1,815,368
2024 42,647,492 1,824,359
2023 41,454,761 1,827,816
2022 40,578,842 1,831,712
2021 40,000,412 1,837,114
2020 39,068,979 1,856,124
2019 37,856,121 1,876,262
2018 36,743,039 1,889,051
2017 35,688,935 1,898,657
2016 34,700,612 1,906,313
2015 33,831,764 1,912,430
2014 32,792,523 1,917,557
2013 31,622,704 1,922,716
2012 30,560,034 1,929,821
2011 29,347,708 1,937,398
2010 28,284,089 1,946,298
2009 27,466,101 1,958,782
2008 26,482,622 1,971,493
2007 25,909,852 1,982,933
2006 25,424,094 1,994,287
2005 24,404,567 2,005,330
2004 23,560,654 2,016,186
2003 22,733,049 2,022,725
2002 21,378,117 2,020,157
2001 20,284,307 2,034,882
2000 20,130,327 2,026,350
1999 19,887,785 2,017,142
1998 19,159,996 2,007,523
1997 18,452,091 1,996,869
1996 17,763,266 2,012,553
1995 17,065,836 1,998,534
1994 16,250,794 1,992,666
1993 14,943,172 2,006,854
1992 13,278,974 2,032,523
1991 12,238,879 2,055,994
1990 12,045,660 2,063,689
1989 11,874,088 2,055,649
1988 11,523,298 2,045,737
1987 11,387,818 2,035,157
1986 11,420,074 2,024,732
1985 11,426,852 2,014,331
1984 11,190,221 2,003,399
1983 10,917,982 1,991,901
1982 10,991,378 1,978,956
1981 11,937,581 1,959,065
1980 13,169,311 1,933,038
1979 13,655,567 1,906,523
1978 13,611,441 1,879,847
1977 13,340,756 1,853,138
1976 13,059,851 1,825,830
1975 12,773,954 1,797,972
1974 12,469,127 1,770,545
1973 12,157,999 1,743,816
1972 11,853,696 1,717,395
1971 11,567,667 1,691,216
1970 11,290,128 1,664,208
1969 11,017,409 1,636,345
1968 10,756,922 1,608,930
1967 10,505,959 1,582,492
1966 10,266,395 1,557,349
1965 10,036,008 1,533,466
1964 9,814,318 1,510,900
1963 9,604,487 1,488,737
1962 9,404,406 1,471,745
1961 9,214,083 1,455,171
1960 9,035,043 1,435,059

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/north-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th 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 North Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,516,629 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan North Macedonia
2100 0.5% -1.24%
2099 0.51% -1.23%
2098 0.52% -1.22%
2097 0.51% -1.21%
2096 0.52% -1.18%
2095 0.56% -1.19%
2094 0.59% -1.2%
2093 0.59% -1.19%
2092 0.61% -1.18%
2091 0.7% -1.16%
2090 0.64% -1.17%
2089 0.66% -1.15%
2088 0.73% -1.15%
2087 0.63% -1.17%
2086 0.74% -1.15%
2085 0.83% -1.16%
2084 0.73% -1.15%
2083 0.75% -1.15%
2082 0.77% -1.14%
2081 0.91% -1.12%
2080 1.02% -1.12%
2079 0.88% -1.14%
2078 0.98% -1.15%
2077 0.97% -1.16%
2076 0.94% -1.14%
2075 1.06% -1.15%
2074 1.18% -1.15%
2073 1.14% -1.13%
2072 1.12% -1.12%
2071 1.28% -1.16%
2070 1.23% -1.16%
2069 1.31% -1.15%
2068 1.24% -1.13%
2067 1.28% -1.1%
2066 1.44% -1.11%
2065 1.46% -1.08%
2064 1.43% -1.1%
2063 1.46% -1.09%
2062 1.37% -1.08%
2061 1.45% -1.05%
2060 1.43% -1.01%
2059 1.55% -1%
2058 1.64% -1%
2057 1.68% -1.01%
2056 1.67% -0.99%
2055 1.69% -0.98%
2054 1.71% -0.96%
2053 1.72% -0.91%
2052 1.61% -0.91%
2051 1.7% -0.86%
2050 1.93% -0.85%
2049 1.86% -0.83%
2048 1.86% -0.82%
2047 1.98% -0.83%
2046 1.91% -0.82%
2045 1.92% -0.8%
2044 2.02% -0.81%
2043 1.96% -0.8%
2042 2.12% -0.78%
2041 2.27% -0.77%
2040 2.26% -0.76%
2039 2.18% -0.74%
2038 2.27% -0.74%
2037 2.3% -0.73%
2036 2.31% -0.71%
2035 2.35% -0.69%
2034 2.52% -0.67%
2033 2.55% -0.66%
2032 2.64% -0.65%
2031 2.7% -0.65%
2030 2.69% -0.6%
2029 2.6% -0.57%
2028 2.64% -0.55%
2027 2.74% -0.55%
2026 2.75% -0.52%
2025 2.87% -0.49%
2024 2.88% -0.19%
2023 2.16% -0.21%
2022 1.45% -0.29%
2021 2.38% -1.02%
2020 3.2% -1.07%
2019 3.03% -0.68%
2018 2.95% -0.51%
2017 2.85% -0.4%
2016 2.57% -0.32%
2015 3.17% -0.27%
2014 3.7% -0.27%
2013 3.48% -0.37%
2012 4.13% -0.39%
2011 3.76% -0.46%
2010 2.98% -0.64%
2009 3.71% -0.64%
2008 2.21% -0.58%
2007 1.91% -0.57%
2006 4.18% -0.55%
2005 3.58% -0.54%
2004 3.64% -0.32%
2003 6.34% 0.13%
2002 5.39% -0.72%
2001 0.76% 0.42%
2000 1.22% 0.46%
1999 3.8% 0.48%
1998 3.84% 0.53%
1997 3.88% -0.78%
1996 4.09% 0.7%
1995 5.02% 0.29%
1994 8.75% -0.71%
1993 12.5% -1.26%
1992 8.5% -1.14%
1991 1.6% -0.37%
1990 1.44% 0.39%
1989 3.04% 0.48%
1988 1.19% 0.52%
1987 -0.28% 0.51%
1986 -0.06% 0.52%
1985 2.11% 0.55%
1984 2.49% 0.58%
1983 -0.67% 0.65%
1982 -7.93% 1.02%
1981 -9.35% 1.35%
1980 -3.56% 1.39%
1979 0.32% 1.42%
1978 2.03% 1.44%
1977 2.15% 1.5%
1976 2.24% 1.55%
1975 2.44% 1.55%
1974 2.56% 1.53%
1973 2.57% 1.54%
1972 2.47% 1.55%
1971 2.46% 1.62%
1970 2.48% 1.7%
1969 2.42% 1.7%
1968 2.39% 1.67%
1967 2.33% 1.61%
1966 2.3% 1.56%
1965 2.26% 1.49%
1964 2.18% 1.49%
1963 2.13% 1.15%
1962 2.07% 1.14%
1961 1.98% 1.4%

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/north-macedonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan North Macedonia
Current population
45409324
1805954
Population rank 36/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.02%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.53 hours
One birth every
21.5 seconds
31.3 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
26.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -9
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -3,457
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 176/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -5,645
Net migration rank 179/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -5,645
2024 - -44,089 - -5,728
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -3,290 -5,597
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -4,397 -5,296
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -9,737 -5,483
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -5,939 -23,458
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -375 -24,204
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 1,512 -24,878
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 1,329 -24,227
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 2,374 -24,144
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 2,294 -23,010
2014 1,053,788 233,913 3,644 -22,132
2013 1,033,778 18,119 3,653 -20,297
2012 1,004,814 68,628 3,087 -19,083
2011 966,743 384,486 3,100 -17,871
2010 943,473 -167,460 4,866 -16,668
2009 920,581 -60,602 4,309 -15,455
2008 891,246 215,753 3,746 -17,645
2007 889,848 -851,298 2,974 -15,705
2006 875,301 57,673 3,988 -9,632
2005 855,112 250,971 4,011 -2,244
2004 850,940 -269,194 5,444 -2,640
2003 826,165 247,317 8,900 -2,880
2002 776,048 860,349 9,697 -2,858
2001 764,090 -212,872 10,174 -922
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 12,159 -2,824
1999 760,727 -32,400 10,489 -1,261
1998 719,860 7,380 12,446 -589
1997 709,778 -21,215 12,979 -477
1996 685,005 4,072 14,806 -397
1995 653,280 52,505 17,239 -3,603
1994 609,096 315,206 19,103 -21,006
1993 541,257 1,149,684 20,797 -47,273
1992 440,132 1,197,329 21,659 -46,509
1991 409,954 32,782 23,387 -45,484
1990 402,433 -458,737 22,868 -16,174
1989 381,158 18,296 22,912 -13,528
1988 358,397 -56,263 24,064 -13,621
1987 314,361 -345,535 24,359 -13,635
1986 310,066 -343,397 23,720 -13,589
1985 228,469 -208,685 24,167 -13,492
1984 205,262 248,224 24,436 -13,251
1983 263,778 -172,797 24,690 -12,884
1982 263,210 -500,998 25,810 -11,716
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 25,689 0
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 26,547 -189
1979 361,750 -525,413 27,096 -426
1978 369,101 -117,186 27,150 -462
1977 372,567 -83,115 27,410 -683
1976 357,775 -85,430 28,799 -911
1975 343,850 -44,418 28,983 -1,147
1974 330,232 -20,009 28,400 -1,376
1973 315,062 -3,030 28,032 -1,600
1972 300,633 -4,050 28,236 -1,834
1971 288,267 -12,801 28,010 -2,064
1970 275,129 4,458 28,022 60
1969 263,823 2,029 27,464 181
1968 251,798 3,333 28,378 -1,201
1967 239,967 6,824 28,401 -2,696
1966 228,786 3,563 28,766 -4,176
1965 217,741 10,695 28,564 -5,385
1964 207,867 7,079 27,889 -5,938
1963 198,035 6,681 28,124 -5,759
1962 188,427 7,016 25,317 -13,702
1961 179,094 6,109 27,846 -6,309
1960 170,257 2,606 28,816 -10,126

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/north-macedonia | 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 North Macedonia 6.45% is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

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 Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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/north-macedonia | 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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