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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 251,269,164 people in Pakistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 260,356,147 in Pakistan.

Population statistics:

  • Pakistan's population is 5.73 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Pakistan is the 5th.
  • The countries together account for 3.69% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 3.14% for Pakistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.6% in Pakistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Pakistan has grown from 180M to 260M (44.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs Pakistan: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Pakistan
2100 131,803,615 514,531,704
2099 131,145,502 513,655,674
2098 130,482,225 512,727,636
2097 129,808,066 511,735,790
2096 129,147,895 510,636,755
2095 128,473,977 509,437,875
2094 127,761,785 508,130,071
2093 127,018,448 506,765,644
2092 126,270,202 505,327,656
2091 125,508,788 503,824,444
2090 124,636,092 502,264,268
2089 123,843,293 500,660,501
2088 123,034,495 498,935,983
2087 122,147,758 497,190,466
2086 121,381,088 495,313,036
2085 120,486,343 493,366,305
2084 119,491,780 491,354,778
2083 118,631,246 489,225,193
2082 117,742,446 486,984,952
2081 116,842,143 484,673,501
2080 115,793,841 482,257,479
2079 114,630,140 479,813,404
2078 113,624,958 477,277,836
2077 112,523,374 474,593,860
2076 111,442,221 471,779,348
2075 110,399,328 468,855,468
2074 109,236,338 465,875,137
2073 107,960,305 462,811,079
2072 106,746,984 459,656,523
2071 105,568,382 456,423,506
2070 104,230,485 453,095,985
2069 102,964,062 449,655,599
2068 101,629,164 446,126,774
2067 100,380,826 442,540,629
2066 99,116,663 438,879,326
2065 97,714,113 435,169,856
2064 96,306,602 431,394,393
2063 94,949,108 427,575,887
2062 93,579,065 423,636,352
2061 92,316,077 419,672,017
2060 91,000,643 415,638,125
2059 89,717,353 411,576,344
2058 88,346,732 407,429,129
2057 86,917,997 403,233,874
2056 85,480,219 398,948,355
2055 84,074,268 394,645,693
2054 82,676,432 390,303,954
2053 81,285,014 385,922,748
2052 79,908,081 381,488,696
2051 78,643,202 377,018,239
2050 77,331,830 372,476,884
2049 75,864,863 367,909,407
2048 74,479,782 363,310,560
2047 73,119,204 358,659,474
2046 71,697,214 353,929,775
2045 70,353,118 349,156,085
2044 69,024,959 344,371,692
2043 67,657,423 339,561,029
2042 66,357,363 334,731,546
2041 64,976,778 329,875,686
2040 63,535,531 325,039,429
2039 62,129,737 320,137,108
2038 60,803,646 315,207,413
2037 59,454,331 310,312,684
2036 58,114,874 305,408,418
2035 56,804,011 300,541,523
2034 55,502,408 295,686,893
2033 54,135,876 290,851,174
2032 52,791,273 286,070,650
2031 51,433,991 281,351,929
2030 50,079,746 276,708,987
2029 48,768,949 272,189,955
2028 47,533,470 267,728,673
2027 46,310,865 263,390,059
2026 45,075,045 259,231,214
2025 43,870,455 255,166,301
2024 42,647,492 251,269,164
2023 41,454,761 247,504,495
2022 40,578,842 243,700,667
2021 40,000,412 239,477,801
2020 39,068,979 235,001,746
2019 37,856,121 230,800,899
2018 36,743,039 226,928,892
2017 35,688,935 223,273,967
2016 34,700,612 220,138,869
2015 33,831,764 217,290,883
2014 32,792,523 214,264,647
2013 31,622,704 211,073,978
2012 30,560,034 207,667,125
2011 29,347,708 203,746,065
2010 28,284,089 199,239,047
2009 27,466,101 194,376,534
2008 26,482,622 189,499,113
2007 25,909,852 184,493,231
2006 25,424,094 179,682,690
2005 24,404,567 175,453,212
2004 23,560,654 171,286,000
2003 22,733,049 167,110,248
2002 21,378,117 163,222,549
2001 20,284,307 159,270,907
2000 20,130,327 154,879,127
1999 19,887,785 150,565,377
1998 19,159,996 146,522,356
1997 18,452,091 142,531,804
1996 17,763,266 138,557,092
1995 17,065,836 134,582,253
1994 16,250,794 130,748,083
1993 14,943,172 127,020,117
1992 13,278,974 123,546,848
1991 12,238,879 120,060,406
1990 12,045,660 116,155,576
1989 11,874,088 112,336,629
1988 11,523,298 108,724,739
1987 11,387,818 105,130,717
1986 11,420,074 101,606,764
1985 11,426,852 98,229,285
1984 11,190,221 95,164,936
1983 10,917,982 92,227,711
1982 10,991,378 89,089,246
1981 11,937,581 85,802,049
1980 13,169,311 82,291,010
1979 13,655,567 78,997,039
1978 13,611,441 76,307,379
1977 13,340,756 73,901,827
1976 13,059,851 71,620,254
1975 12,773,954 69,461,175
1974 12,469,127 67,415,487
1973 12,157,999 65,461,912
1972 11,853,696 63,583,194
1971 11,567,667 61,847,899
1970 11,290,128 60,166,719
1969 11,017,409 58,460,939
1968 10,756,922 56,810,507
1967 10,505,959 55,214,768
1966 10,266,395 53,678,667
1965 10,036,008 52,209,010
1964 9,814,318 50,799,999
1963 9,604,487 49,447,776
1962 9,404,406 48,156,128
1961 9,214,083 46,921,277
1960 9,035,043 45,709,310

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/pakistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Pakistan gained 40,456,179 people (a 22.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Pakistan's population increased by 40,217,278 people (a 18.3% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Pakistan was ranked 6th in 2006 and ranked 5th 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 Pakistan will increase by 43.1% to 372,476,884 people and rank change from 5th to 4th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 515M people in 2100 for Pakistan.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Pakistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Pakistan
2100 0.5% 0.17%
2099 0.51% 0.18%
2098 0.52% 0.19%
2097 0.51% 0.22%
2096 0.52% 0.24%
2095 0.56% 0.26%
2094 0.59% 0.27%
2093 0.59% 0.28%
2092 0.61% 0.3%
2091 0.7% 0.31%
2090 0.64% 0.32%
2089 0.66% 0.35%
2088 0.73% 0.35%
2087 0.63% 0.38%
2086 0.74% 0.39%
2085 0.83% 0.41%
2084 0.73% 0.44%
2083 0.75% 0.46%
2082 0.77% 0.48%
2081 0.91% 0.5%
2080 1.02% 0.51%
2079 0.88% 0.53%
2078 0.98% 0.57%
2077 0.97% 0.6%
2076 0.94% 0.62%
2075 1.06% 0.64%
2074 1.18% 0.66%
2073 1.14% 0.69%
2072 1.12% 0.71%
2071 1.28% 0.73%
2070 1.23% 0.77%
2069 1.31% 0.79%
2068 1.24% 0.81%
2067 1.28% 0.83%
2066 1.44% 0.85%
2065 1.46% 0.88%
2064 1.43% 0.89%
2063 1.46% 0.93%
2062 1.37% 0.94%
2061 1.45% 0.97%
2060 1.43% 0.99%
2059 1.55% 1.02%
2058 1.64% 1.04%
2057 1.68% 1.07%
2056 1.67% 1.09%
2055 1.69% 1.11%
2054 1.71% 1.14%
2053 1.72% 1.16%
2052 1.61% 1.19%
2051 1.7% 1.22%
2050 1.93% 1.24%
2049 1.86% 1.27%
2048 1.86% 1.3%
2047 1.98% 1.34%
2046 1.91% 1.37%
2045 1.92% 1.39%
2044 2.02% 1.42%
2043 1.96% 1.44%
2042 2.12% 1.47%
2041 2.27% 1.49%
2040 2.26% 1.53%
2039 2.18% 1.56%
2038 2.27% 1.58%
2037 2.3% 1.61%
2036 2.31% 1.62%
2035 2.35% 1.64%
2034 2.52% 1.66%
2033 2.55% 1.67%
2032 2.64% 1.68%
2031 2.7% 1.68%
2030 2.69% 1.66%
2029 2.6% 1.67%
2028 2.64% 1.65%
2027 2.74% 1.6%
2026 2.75% 1.59%
2025 2.87% 1.55%
2024 2.88% 1.52%
2023 2.16% 1.56%
2022 1.45% 1.76%
2021 2.38% 1.9%
2020 3.2% 1.82%
2019 3.03% 1.71%
2018 2.95% 1.64%
2017 2.85% 1.42%
2016 2.57% 1.31%
2015 3.17% 1.41%
2014 3.7% 1.51%
2013 3.48% 1.64%
2012 4.13% 1.92%
2011 3.76% 2.26%
2010 2.98% 2.5%
2009 3.71% 2.57%
2008 2.21% 2.71%
2007 1.91% 2.68%
2006 4.18% 2.41%
2005 3.58% 2.43%
2004 3.64% 2.5%
2003 6.34% 2.38%
2002 5.39% 2.48%
2001 0.76% 2.84%
2000 1.22% 2.87%
1999 3.8% 2.76%
1998 3.84% 2.8%
1997 3.88% 2.87%
1996 4.09% 2.95%
1995 5.02% 2.93%
1994 8.75% 2.93%
1993 12.5% 2.81%
1992 8.5% 2.9%
1991 1.6% 3.36%
1990 1.44% 3.4%
1989 3.04% 3.32%
1988 1.19% 3.42%
1987 -0.28% 3.47%
1986 -0.06% 3.44%
1985 2.11% 3.22%
1984 2.49% 3.18%
1983 -0.67% 3.52%
1982 -7.93% 3.83%
1981 -9.35% 4.27%
1980 -3.56% 4.17%
1979 0.32% 3.52%
1978 2.03% 3.26%
1977 2.15% 3.19%
1976 2.24% 3.11%
1975 2.44% 3.03%
1974 2.56% 2.98%
1973 2.57% 2.95%
1972 2.47% 2.81%
1971 2.46% 2.79%
1970 2.48% 2.92%
1969 2.42% 2.91%
1968 2.39% 2.89%
1967 2.33% 2.86%
1966 2.3% 2.81%
1965 2.26% 2.77%
1964 2.18% 2.73%
1963 2.13% 2.68%
1962 2.07% 2.63%
1961 1.98% 2.65%

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/pakistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Pakistan's population grew by 1.52%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Pakistan
Current population
45409324
260356147
Population rank 36/197 5/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 3.14%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
8.38 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
4.58 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
19.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +10,314
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +3,764,669
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.52%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 70/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
25.6 seconds
Annual migration change -74,404 -1,235,336
Net migration rank 179/196 196/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 4,175,958
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 16/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.7%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 141/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Pakistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Pakistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -1,235,336
2024 - -44,089 - -1,401,173
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 5,281,745 -1,619,557
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 5,268,077 -1,322,625
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 5,065,913 -565,673
2020 1,134,407 143,634 5,011,177 -559,291
2019 1,138,485 9,159 5,127,011 -1,177,220
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 5,103,858 -1,309,611
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 5,090,200 -1,574,585
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 5,044,922 -2,290,411
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 5,113,507 -2,172,162
2014 1,053,788 233,913 5,148,994 -2,037,920
2013 1,033,778 18,119 5,176,590 -1,906,319
2012 1,004,814 68,628 5,191,263 -1,647,989
2011 966,743 384,486 5,189,412 -890,633
2010 943,473 -167,460 5,147,142 -431,902
2009 920,581 -60,602 5,028,132 -18,298
2008 891,246 215,753 4,885,855 -140,746
2007 889,848 -851,298 4,690,187 576,349
2006 875,301 57,673 4,538,426 -183,933
2005 855,112 250,971 4,294,393 -189,899
2004 850,940 -269,194 4,294,654 -64,669
2003 826,165 247,317 4,340,688 -219,118
2002 776,048 860,349 4,307,607 -653,758
2001 764,090 -212,872 4,304,297 -54,727
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 4,281,169 252,869
1999 760,727 -32,400 4,228,026 -134,510
1998 719,860 7,380 4,104,824 -112,191
1997 709,778 -21,215 4,043,912 -55,539
1996 685,005 4,072 4,021,758 -60,855
1995 653,280 52,505 3,977,175 11,534
1994 609,096 315,206 3,956,699 -277,100
1993 541,257 1,149,684 3,915,776 -139,493
1992 440,132 1,197,329 3,888,637 -718,387
1991 409,954 32,782 3,822,363 -19,668
1990 402,433 -458,737 3,731,730 275,242
1989 381,158 18,296 3,648,132 -17,164
1988 358,397 -56,263 3,554,755 38,139
1987 314,361 -345,535 3,448,813 146,364
1986 310,066 -343,397 3,341,643 111,045
1985 228,469 -208,685 3,233,315 68,860
1984 205,262 248,224 3,145,772 -319,242
1983 263,778 -172,797 3,052,738 -4,753
1982 263,210 -500,998 2,934,689 294,252
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 2,790,454 555,032
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 2,598,421 1,078,229
1979 361,750 -525,413 2,461,311 450,003
1978 369,101 -117,186 2,356,601 111,386
1977 372,567 -83,115 2,257,849 85,250
1976 357,775 -85,430 2,171,812 48,238
1975 343,850 -44,418 2,099,811 -1,710
1974 330,232 -20,009 2,028,061 -34,785
1973 315,062 -3,030 1,971,909 -58,012
1972 300,633 -4,050 1,912,774 -69,209
1971 288,267 -12,801 1,695,374 -68,357
1970 275,129 4,458 1,793,570 -58,281
1969 263,823 2,029 1,733,601 -57,406
1968 251,798 3,333 1,683,296 -58,721
1967 239,967 6,824 1,626,737 -59,932
1966 228,786 3,563 1,566,343 -61,025
1965 217,741 10,695 1,496,050 -62,070
1964 207,867 7,079 1,447,394 -63,298
1963 198,035 6,681 1,384,934 -64,552
1962 188,427 7,016 1,328,675 -65,780
1961 179,094 6,109 1,273,772 -66,991
1960 170,257 2,606 1,217,147 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/pakistan | 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 Pakistan 77.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,255,404 people) and 22.2% is from migration (a loss of 14,629,055 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 4,175,958 people or 1.7% in Pakistan.

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
Pakistan
City Population
Karachi 14.9M
Lahore 11.1M
Faisalabad 3.2M
Rawalpindi 2.1M
Gujranwala 2.03M
Peshawar 1.97M
Multan 1.87M
Hyderabad 1.73M
Islamabad 1.01M
Quetta 1M

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/pakistan | 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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