The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- Afghanistan's population is 2,576 times bigger than Palau's.
- Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).
Afghanistan vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Afghanistan
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 131,803,615 | 11,152 |
| 2099 | 131,145,502 | 11,216 |
| 2098 | 130,482,225 | 11,281 |
| 2097 | 129,808,066 | 11,352 |
| 2096 | 129,147,895 | 11,417 |
| 2095 | 128,473,977 | 11,485 |
| 2094 | 127,761,785 | 11,549 |
| 2093 | 127,018,448 | 11,616 |
| 2092 | 126,270,202 | 11,682 |
| 2091 | 125,508,788 | 11,753 |
| 2090 | 124,636,092 | 11,829 |
| 2089 | 123,843,293 | 11,907 |
| 2088 | 123,034,495 | 11,968 |
| 2087 | 122,147,758 | 12,040 |
| 2086 | 121,381,088 | 12,109 |
| 2085 | 120,486,343 | 12,171 |
| 2084 | 119,491,780 | 12,251 |
| 2083 | 118,631,246 | 12,316 |
| 2082 | 117,742,446 | 12,382 |
| 2081 | 116,842,143 | 12,457 |
| 2080 | 115,793,841 | 12,537 |
| 2079 | 114,630,140 | 12,608 |
| 2078 | 113,624,958 | 12,681 |
| 2077 | 112,523,374 | 12,758 |
| 2076 | 111,442,221 | 12,838 |
| 2075 | 110,399,328 | 12,914 |
| 2074 | 109,236,338 | 13,007 |
| 2073 | 107,960,305 | 13,091 |
| 2072 | 106,746,984 | 13,161 |
| 2071 | 105,568,382 | 13,252 |
| 2070 | 104,230,485 | 13,338 |
| 2069 | 102,964,062 | 13,430 |
| 2068 | 101,629,164 | 13,525 |
| 2067 | 100,380,826 | 13,621 |
| 2066 | 99,116,663 | 13,723 |
| 2065 | 97,714,113 | 13,818 |
| 2064 | 96,306,602 | 13,920 |
| 2063 | 94,949,108 | 14,025 |
| 2062 | 93,579,065 | 14,136 |
| 2061 | 92,316,077 | 14,251 |
| 2060 | 91,000,643 | 14,358 |
| 2059 | 89,717,353 | 14,479 |
| 2058 | 88,346,732 | 14,589 |
| 2057 | 86,917,997 | 14,718 |
| 2056 | 85,480,219 | 14,837 |
| 2055 | 84,074,268 | 14,961 |
| 2054 | 82,676,432 | 15,084 |
| 2053 | 81,285,014 | 15,206 |
| 2052 | 79,908,081 | 15,332 |
| 2051 | 78,643,202 | 15,453 |
| 2050 | 77,331,830 | 15,562 |
| 2049 | 75,864,863 | 15,682 |
| 2048 | 74,479,782 | 15,797 |
| 2047 | 73,119,204 | 15,912 |
| 2046 | 71,697,214 | 16,024 |
| 2045 | 70,353,118 | 16,132 |
| 2044 | 69,024,959 | 16,245 |
| 2043 | 67,657,423 | 16,339 |
| 2042 | 66,357,363 | 16,445 |
| 2041 | 64,976,778 | 16,549 |
| 2040 | 63,535,531 | 16,631 |
| 2039 | 62,129,737 | 16,727 |
| 2038 | 60,803,646 | 16,805 |
| 2037 | 59,454,331 | 16,895 |
| 2036 | 58,114,874 | 16,964 |
| 2035 | 56,804,011 | 17,042 |
| 2034 | 55,502,408 | 17,118 |
| 2033 | 54,135,876 | 17,190 |
| 2032 | 52,791,273 | 17,250 |
| 2031 | 51,433,991 | 17,330 |
| 2030 | 50,079,746 | 17,398 |
| 2029 | 48,768,949 | 17,457 |
| 2028 | 47,533,470 | 17,527 |
| 2027 | 46,310,865 | 17,576 |
| 2026 | 45,075,045 | 17,629 |
| 2025 | 43,870,455 | 17,672 |
| 2024 | 42,647,492 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 41,454,761 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 40,578,842 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 40,000,412 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 39,068,979 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 37,856,121 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 36,743,039 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 35,688,935 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 34,700,612 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 33,831,764 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 32,792,523 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 31,622,704 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 30,560,034 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 29,347,708 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 28,284,089 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 27,466,101 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 26,482,622 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 25,909,852 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 25,424,094 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 24,404,567 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 23,560,654 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 22,733,049 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 21,378,117 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 20,284,307 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 20,130,327 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 19,887,785 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 19,159,996 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 18,452,091 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 17,763,266 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 17,065,836 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 16,250,794 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 14,943,172 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 13,278,974 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 12,238,879 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 12,045,660 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 11,874,088 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 11,523,298 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 11,387,818 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 11,420,074 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 11,426,852 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 11,190,221 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 10,917,982 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 10,991,378 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 11,937,581 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 13,169,311 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 13,655,567 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 13,611,441 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 13,340,756 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 13,059,851 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 12,773,954 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 12,469,127 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 12,157,999 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 11,853,696 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 11,567,667 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 11,290,128 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 11,017,409 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 10,756,922 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 10,505,959 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 10,266,395 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 10,036,008 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 9,814,318 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 9,604,487 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 9,404,406 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 9,214,083 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 9,035,043 | 9,328 |
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/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).
Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 0.5% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | 0.51% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | 0.52% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | 0.51% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | 0.52% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | 0.56% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | 0.59% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | 0.59% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | 0.61% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | 0.7% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | 0.64% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | 0.66% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | 0.73% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | 0.63% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | 0.74% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | 0.83% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | 0.73% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | 0.75% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | 0.77% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | 0.91% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | 1.02% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | 0.88% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 0.98% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | 0.97% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | 0.94% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | 1.06% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 1.18% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | 1.14% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | 1.12% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | 1.28% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | 1.23% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | 1.31% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | 1.24% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | 1.28% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | 1.44% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | 1.46% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | 1.43% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | 1.46% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | 1.37% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | 1.45% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | 1.43% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 1.55% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | 1.64% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 1.68% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | 1.67% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | 1.69% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 1.71% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | 1.72% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 1.61% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | 1.7% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 1.93% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | 1.86% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 1.86% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | 1.98% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | 1.91% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 1.92% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 2.02% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 1.96% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 2.12% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 2.27% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 2.26% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 2.18% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 2.27% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 2.3% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 2.31% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 2.35% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 2.52% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 2.55% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 2.64% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 2.7% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 2.69% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 2.6% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 2.64% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 2.74% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 2.75% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 2.87% | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 2.88% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 2.16% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | 1.45% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 2.38% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 3.03% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 2.95% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 2.85% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 2.57% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 3.17% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 3.48% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 4.13% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 3.76% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 2.98% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 3.71% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 2.21% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 1.91% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 4.18% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 3.58% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 3.64% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 6.34% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 5.39% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 0.76% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 1.22% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 3.8% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 3.84% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.88% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 4.09% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 5.02% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 8.75% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 12.5% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 1.6% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 1.44% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 3.04% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 1.19% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | -0.28% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | -0.06% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 2.11% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 2.49% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | -0.67% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | -7.93% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | -9.35% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | -3.56% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | 0.32% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 2.03% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 2.15% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 2.24% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 2.44% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 2.56% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 2.57% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 2.47% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 2.46% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 2.48% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 2.42% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 2.39% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 2.33% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 2.3% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 2.26% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 2.18% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 2.13% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 2.07% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 1.98% | 2.43% |
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/palau | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
Afghanistan
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
45409324
|
17629
|
| Population rank | 36/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.55% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
26.4 seconds
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
21.5 seconds
|
1.89 days
|
| One death every |
2.19 minutes
|
1.8 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +3,268 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,192,731 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.88% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 20/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
7.08 minutes
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | -74,404 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 179/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,110 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 131/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 186/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -74,404 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | - | -44,089 | - | -14 |
| 2023 | 1,228,719 | -48,958 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | 1,219,475 | -647,402 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | 1,133,611 | -548,784 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 1,134,407 | 143,634 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1,138,485 | 9,159 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 1,115,262 | -36,753 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 1,101,218 | -71,491 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 1,090,016 | -143,049 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 1,077,068 | -286,314 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 1,053,788 | 233,913 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 1,033,778 | 18,119 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 1,004,814 | 68,628 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 966,743 | 384,486 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 943,473 | -167,460 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 920,581 | -60,602 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 891,246 | 215,753 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 889,848 | -851,298 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 875,301 | 57,673 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 855,112 | 250,971 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 850,940 | -269,194 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 826,165 | 247,317 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 776,048 | 860,349 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 764,090 | -212,872 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 782,727 | -1,025,973 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 760,727 | -32,400 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 719,860 | 7,380 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 709,778 | -21,215 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 685,005 | 4,072 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 653,280 | 52,505 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 609,096 | 315,206 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 541,257 | 1,149,684 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 440,132 | 1,197,329 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 409,954 | 32,782 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 402,433 | -458,737 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 381,158 | 18,296 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 358,397 | -56,263 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 314,361 | -345,535 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 310,066 | -343,397 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 228,469 | -208,685 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 205,262 | 248,224 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 263,778 | -172,797 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 263,210 | -500,998 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 343,468 | -1,998,086 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 365,396 | -1,174,239 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 361,750 | -525,413 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 369,101 | -117,186 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 372,567 | -83,115 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 357,775 | -85,430 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 343,850 | -44,418 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 330,232 | -20,009 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 315,062 | -3,030 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 300,633 | -4,050 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 288,267 | -12,801 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 275,129 | 4,458 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 263,823 | 2,029 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 251,798 | 3,333 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 239,967 | 6,824 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 228,786 | 3,563 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 217,741 | 10,695 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 207,867 | 7,079 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 198,035 | 6,681 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 188,427 | 7,016 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 179,094 | 6,109 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 170,257 | 2,606 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).
As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
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 |
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Afghanistan and Palau
|
Afghanistan
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.8 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 22.1 years | 38.4 years |
| Median age | 18.2 years | 39.2 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.5:49.5 | 53.9:46.1 |
| Fertility rate | 4.84 births per woman | 1.91 births per woman |
| Population density | 179 ppl/mi² | 99.3 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/palau | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.