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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.01 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 +2.76% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Norway
2100 131,803,615 5,441,855
2099 131,145,502 5,454,583
2098 130,482,225 5,466,669
2097 129,808,066 5,478,174
2096 129,147,895 5,490,010
2095 128,473,977 5,502,418
2094 127,761,785 5,514,598
2093 127,018,448 5,527,174
2092 126,270,202 5,539,172
2091 125,508,788 5,551,172
2090 124,636,092 5,564,044
2089 123,843,293 5,576,715
2088 123,034,495 5,590,047
2087 122,147,758 5,604,159
2086 121,381,088 5,617,935
2085 120,486,343 5,631,413
2084 119,491,780 5,645,116
2083 118,631,246 5,658,044
2082 117,742,446 5,670,485
2081 116,842,143 5,682,427
2080 115,793,841 5,694,199
2079 114,630,140 5,705,317
2078 113,624,958 5,715,984
2077 112,523,374 5,726,145
2076 111,442,221 5,735,898
2075 110,399,328 5,745,619
2074 109,236,338 5,755,683
2073 107,960,305 5,765,642
2072 106,746,984 5,775,295
2071 105,568,382 5,784,119
2070 104,230,485 5,793,594
2069 102,964,062 5,802,341
2068 101,629,164 5,811,630
2067 100,380,826 5,821,550
2066 99,116,663 5,831,535
2065 97,714,113 5,841,333
2064 96,306,602 5,851,085
2063 94,949,108 5,860,548
2062 93,579,065 5,869,700
2061 92,316,077 5,877,754
2060 91,000,643 5,885,488
2059 89,717,353 5,892,036
2058 88,346,732 5,897,922
2057 86,917,997 5,904,330
2056 85,480,219 5,910,291
2055 84,074,268 5,915,286
2054 82,676,432 5,919,312
2053 81,285,014 5,922,325
2052 79,908,081 5,923,483
2051 78,643,202 5,923,938
2050 77,331,830 5,923,557
2049 75,864,863 5,922,138
2048 74,479,782 5,919,215
2047 73,119,204 5,916,146
2046 71,697,214 5,912,426
2045 70,353,118 5,907,334
2044 69,024,959 5,902,175
2043 67,657,423 5,896,614
2042 66,357,363 5,889,741
2041 64,976,778 5,881,692
2040 63,535,531 5,873,512
2039 62,129,737 5,864,063
2038 60,803,646 5,853,639
2037 59,454,331 5,842,734
2036 58,114,874 5,830,991
2035 56,804,011 5,818,882
2034 55,502,408 5,805,966
2033 54,135,876 5,792,030
2032 52,791,273 5,777,062
2031 51,433,991 5,760,828
2030 50,079,746 5,743,814
2029 48,768,949 5,725,891
2028 47,533,470 5,706,765
2027 46,310,865 5,686,336
2026 45,075,045 5,665,477
2025 43,870,455 5,626,258
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 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 5.92M 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 2.87% 0.97%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Norway
Current population
45409324
5671119
Population rank 36/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.07%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
9.98 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
10.1 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +144
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 105/197
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 - -44,089 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 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 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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