Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 5,610,870 people in Norway in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 5,660,666 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.07 times bigger than Norway's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.62% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.81% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.66M (21.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Norway
2100 131,724,468 5,426,970
2099 131,066,750 5,439,664
2098 130,403,871 5,451,717
2097 129,730,117 5,463,190
2096 129,070,342 5,474,994
2095 128,396,829 5,487,368
2094 127,685,065 5,499,514
2093 126,942,174 5,512,056
2092 126,194,378 5,524,021
2091 125,433,421 5,535,989
2090 124,561,248 5,548,825
2089 123,768,926 5,561,462
2088 122,960,614 5,574,757
2087 122,074,409 5,588,831
2086 121,308,199 5,602,569
2085 120,413,992 5,616,010
2084 119,420,025 5,629,675
2083 118,560,008 5,642,568
2082 117,671,742 5,654,975
2081 116,771,980 5,666,885
2080 115,724,307 5,678,624
2079 114,561,305 5,689,711
2078 113,556,727 5,700,349
2077 112,455,804 5,710,483
2076 111,375,301 5,720,209
2075 110,333,033 5,729,904
2074 109,170,742 5,739,940
2073 107,895,475 5,749,872
2072 106,682,883 5,759,499
2071 105,504,989 5,768,298
2070 104,167,895 5,777,747
2069 102,902,233 5,786,471
2068 101,568,136 5,795,734
2067 100,320,548 5,805,627
2066 99,057,144 5,815,585
2065 97,655,437 5,825,356
2064 96,248,770 5,835,081
2063 94,892,092 5,844,519
2062 93,522,871 5,853,646
2061 92,260,642 5,861,677
2060 90,945,998 5,869,390
2059 89,663,478 5,875,920
2058 88,293,680 5,881,790
2057 86,865,803 5,888,181
2056 85,428,888 5,894,125
2055 84,023,782 5,899,106
2054 82,626,785 5,903,121
2053 81,236,203 5,906,126
2052 79,860,096 5,907,281
2051 78,595,977 5,907,735
2050 77,285,393 5,907,355
2049 75,819,307 5,905,940
2048 74,435,057 5,903,025
2047 73,075,297 5,899,964
2046 71,654,160 5,896,254
2045 70,310,871 5,891,177
2044 68,983,509 5,886,031
2043 67,616,795 5,880,486
2042 66,317,516 5,873,632
2041 64,937,760 5,865,604
2040 63,497,378 5,857,447
2039 62,092,429 5,848,023
2038 60,767,134 5,837,628
2037 59,418,629 5,826,752
2036 58,079,976 5,815,042
2035 56,769,901 5,802,966
2034 55,469,080 5,790,086
2033 54,103,368 5,776,187
2032 52,759,572 5,761,261
2031 51,403,105 5,745,071
2030 50,049,673 5,728,104
2029 48,739,663 5,710,229
2028 47,504,926 5,691,155
2027 46,283,055 5,670,783
2026 45,047,977 5,649,981
2025 43,844,111 5,610,870
2024 42,647,492 5,572,279
2023 41,454,761 5,519,601
2022 40,578,842 5,457,127
2021 40,000,412 5,408,320
2020 39,068,979 5,379,475
2019 37,856,121 5,347,896
2018 36,743,039 5,311,916
2017 35,688,935 5,276,968
2016 34,700,612 5,234,519
2015 33,831,764 5,188,607
2014 32,792,523 5,137,232
2013 31,622,704 5,079,623
2012 30,560,034 5,018,573
2011 29,347,708 4,953,088
2010 28,284,089 4,889,252
2009 27,466,101 4,828,726
2008 26,482,622 4,768,212
2007 25,909,852 4,709,153
2006 25,424,094 4,660,677
2005 24,404,567 4,623,291
2004 23,560,654 4,591,910
2003 22,733,049 4,564,855
2002 21,378,117 4,538,159
2001 20,284,307 4,513,751
2000 20,130,327 4,490,967
1999 19,887,785 4,461,913
1998 19,159,996 4,431,464
1997 18,452,091 4,405,157
1996 17,763,266 4,381,336
1995 17,065,836 4,359,184
1994 16,250,794 4,336,613
1993 14,943,172 4,311,991
1992 13,278,974 4,286,401
1991 12,238,879 4,261,732
1990 12,045,660 4,241,473
1989 11,874,088 4,226,901
1988 11,523,298 4,209,488
1987 11,387,818 4,186,905
1986 11,420,074 4,167,354
1985 11,426,852 4,152,516
1984 11,190,221 4,140,099
1983 10,917,982 4,128,432
1982 10,991,378 4,114,787
1981 11,937,581 4,099,702
1980 13,169,311 4,085,620
1979 13,655,567 4,072,517
1978 13,611,441 4,058,671
1977 13,340,756 4,043,205
1976 13,059,851 4,026,152
1975 12,773,954 4,007,313
1974 12,469,127 3,985,258
1973 12,157,999 3,960,612
1972 11,853,696 3,933,004
1971 11,567,667 3,903,039
1970 11,290,128 3,875,763
1969 11,017,409 3,847,707
1968 10,756,922 3,816,486
1967 10,505,959 3,784,539
1966 10,266,395 3,753,012
1965 10,036,008 3,723,168
1964 9,814,318 3,694,339
1963 9,604,487 3,666,537
1962 9,404,406 3,638,918
1961 9,214,083 3,609,800
1960 9,035,043 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Norway's population increased by 426,147 people (a 8.14% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.36% to 5,907,355 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 5.91M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Norway
2100 0.5% -0.23%
2099 0.51% -0.22%
2098 0.52% -0.21%
2097 0.51% -0.22%
2096 0.52% -0.23%
2095 0.56% -0.22%
2094 0.59% -0.23%
2093 0.59% -0.22%
2092 0.61% -0.22%
2091 0.7% -0.23%
2090 0.64% -0.23%
2089 0.66% -0.24%
2088 0.73% -0.25%
2087 0.63% -0.25%
2086 0.74% -0.24%
2085 0.83% -0.24%
2084 0.73% -0.23%
2083 0.75% -0.22%
2082 0.77% -0.21%
2081 0.91% -0.21%
2080 1.02% -0.19%
2079 0.88% -0.19%
2078 0.98% -0.18%
2077 0.97% -0.17%
2076 0.94% -0.17%
2075 1.06% -0.17%
2074 1.18% -0.17%
2073 1.14% -0.17%
2072 1.12% -0.15%
2071 1.28% -0.16%
2070 1.23% -0.15%
2069 1.31% -0.16%
2068 1.24% -0.17%
2067 1.28% -0.17%
2066 1.44% -0.17%
2065 1.46% -0.17%
2064 1.43% -0.16%
2063 1.46% -0.16%
2062 1.37% -0.14%
2061 1.45% -0.13%
2060 1.43% -0.11%
2059 1.55% -0.1%
2058 1.64% -0.11%
2057 1.68% -0.1%
2056 1.67% -0.08%
2055 1.69% -0.07%
2054 1.71% -0.05%
2053 1.72% -0.02%
2052 1.61% -0.008%
2051 1.7% 0.006%
2050 1.93% 0.02%
2049 1.86% 0.05%
2048 1.86% 0.05%
2047 1.98% 0.06%
2046 1.91% 0.09%
2045 1.92% 0.09%
2044 2.02% 0.09%
2043 1.96% 0.12%
2042 2.12% 0.14%
2041 2.27% 0.14%
2040 2.26% 0.16%
2039 2.18% 0.18%
2038 2.27% 0.19%
2037 2.3% 0.2%
2036 2.31% 0.21%
2035 2.35% 0.22%
2034 2.52% 0.24%
2033 2.55% 0.26%
2032 2.64% 0.28%
2031 2.7% 0.3%
2030 2.69% 0.31%
2029 2.6% 0.34%
2028 2.64% 0.36%
2027 2.74% 0.37%
2026 2.75% 0.7%
2025 2.81% 0.69%
2024 2.88% 0.95%
2023 2.16% 1.14%
2022 1.45% 0.9%
2021 2.38% 0.54%
2020 3.2% 0.59%
2019 3.03% 0.68%
2018 2.95% 0.66%
2017 2.85% 0.81%
2016 2.57% 0.88%
2015 3.17% 1%
2014 3.7% 1.13%
2013 3.48% 1.22%
2012 4.13% 1.32%
2011 3.76% 1.31%
2010 2.98% 1.25%
2009 3.71% 1.27%
2008 2.21% 1.25%
2007 1.91% 1.04%
2006 4.18% 0.81%
2005 3.58% 0.68%
2004 3.64% 0.59%
2003 6.34% 0.59%
2002 5.39% 0.54%
2001 0.76% 0.51%
2000 1.22% 0.65%
1999 3.8% 0.69%
1998 3.84% 0.6%
1997 3.88% 0.54%
1996 4.09% 0.51%
1995 5.02% 0.52%
1994 8.75% 0.57%
1993 12.5% 0.6%
1992 8.5% 0.58%
1991 1.6% 0.48%
1990 1.44% 0.34%
1989 3.04% 0.41%
1988 1.19% 0.54%
1987 -0.28% 0.47%
1986 -0.06% 0.36%
1985 2.11% 0.3%
1984 2.49% 0.28%
1983 -0.67% 0.33%
1982 -7.93% 0.37%
1981 -9.35% 0.34%
1980 -3.56% 0.32%
1979 0.32% 0.34%
1978 2.03% 0.38%
1977 2.15% 0.42%
1976 2.24% 0.47%
1975 2.44% 0.55%
1974 2.56% 0.62%
1973 2.57% 0.7%
1972 2.47% 0.77%
1971 2.46% 0.7%
1970 2.48% 0.73%
1969 2.42% 0.82%
1968 2.39% 0.84%
1967 2.33% 0.84%
1966 2.3% 0.8%
1965 2.26% 0.78%
1964 2.18% 0.76%
1963 2.13% 0.76%
1962 2.07% 0.81%
1961 1.98% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Norway's population grew by 0.69%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Norway
Current population
45682388
5660666
Population rank 36/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.07%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
9.72 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
11.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +106
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +38,591
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +0.69%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 117/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +29,798
Net migration rank 179/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 29,798
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 10,030 44,356
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 8,280 53,806
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 5,457 58,040
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 14,062 19,804
2020 1,134,407 143,634 12,372 11,277
2019 1,138,485 9,159 13,904 25,707
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 14,342 18,473
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 15,831 21,657
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 17,797 26,417
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 18,160 30,242
2014 1,053,788 233,913 18,494 38,522
2013 1,033,778 18,119 17,779 40,690
2012 1,004,814 68,628 18,066 47,883
2011 966,743 384,486 18,822 47,454
2010 943,473 -167,460 20,046 42,865
2009 920,581 -60,602 20,280 39,316
2008 891,246 215,753 19,073 44,002
2007 889,848 -851,298 16,482 40,111
2006 875,301 57,673 17,244 24,054
2005 855,112 250,971 15,719 18,588
2004 850,940 -269,194 15,612 13,412
2003 826,165 247,317 14,151 11,389
2002 776,048 860,349 10,892 17,279
2001 764,090 -212,872 13,090 7,906
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 15,269 9,805
1999 760,727 -32,400 14,278 19,147
1998 719,860 7,380 14,181 13,519
1997 709,778 -21,215 15,418 9,744
1996 685,005 4,072 17,087 5,671
1995 653,280 52,505 14,821 6,343
1994 609,096 315,206 16,045 7,580
1993 541,257 1,149,684 12,936 12,567
1992 440,132 1,197,329 15,431 10,218
1991 409,954 32,782 16,194 7,949
1990 402,433 -458,737 14,845 1,818
1989 381,158 18,296 13,949 -1,730
1988 358,397 -56,263 12,207 10,380
1987 314,361 -345,535 9,212 13,907
1986 310,066 -343,397 8,751 7,616
1985 228,469 -208,685 6,644 6,725
1984 205,262 248,224 7,452 3,856
1983 263,778 -172,797 7,844 4,120
1982 263,210 -500,998 9,875 5,749
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 9,020 6,010
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 9,806 3,763
1979 361,750 -525,413 10,181 2,839
1978 369,101 -117,186 11,364 3,823
1977 372,567 -83,115 11,321 4,845
1976 357,775 -85,430 13,286 4,779
1975 343,850 -44,418 16,430 3,312
1974 330,232 -20,009 20,324 4,425
1973 315,062 -3,030 21,387 3,414
1972 300,633 -4,050 24,777 5,603
1971 288,267 -12,801 26,541 3,031
1970 275,129 4,458 25,968 -1,034
1969 263,823 2,029 28,858 2,230
1968 251,798 3,333 29,387 1,761
1967 239,967 6,824 30,276 2,460
1966 228,786 3,563 31,150 -888
1965 217,741 10,695 31,275 -1,525
1964 207,867 7,079 30,293 -1,571
1963 198,035 6,681 26,766 1,061
1962 188,427 7,016 28,020 655
1961 179,094 6,109 29,239 1,437
1960 170,257 2,606 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/norway | 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 Norway 29.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 130,235 people) and 70.4% is from migration (a gain of 309,779 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 152K
Baerum 133K
Drammen 106K
Asker 102K
Lillestrom 96.8K
Fredrikstad 86.2K
Sandnes 85.8K

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/norway | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.