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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 5,289,152 people in Palestine in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 5,500,288 in Palestine.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 8.26 times bigger than Palestine's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Palestine is the 123rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.07% for Palestine.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.4% in Palestine.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Palestine has grown from 3.41M to 5.5M (61.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Palestine: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Palestine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Palestine
2100 131,803,615 11,139,010
2099 131,145,502 11,129,016
2098 130,482,225 11,115,634
2097 129,808,066 11,098,586
2096 129,147,895 11,082,327
2095 128,473,977 11,062,471
2094 127,761,785 11,043,660
2093 127,018,448 11,021,075
2092 126,270,202 10,997,198
2091 125,508,788 10,971,910
2090 124,636,092 10,945,522
2089 123,843,293 10,919,566
2088 123,034,495 10,888,804
2087 122,147,758 10,859,463
2086 121,381,088 10,826,475
2085 120,486,343 10,792,233
2084 119,491,780 10,754,076
2083 118,631,246 10,714,778
2082 117,742,446 10,670,980
2081 116,842,143 10,620,947
2080 115,793,841 10,570,849
2079 114,630,140 10,522,979
2078 113,624,958 10,470,607
2077 112,523,374 10,414,129
2076 111,442,221 10,353,616
2075 110,399,328 10,289,455
2074 109,236,338 10,226,287
2073 107,960,305 10,161,032
2072 106,746,984 10,092,947
2071 105,568,382 10,017,951
2070 104,230,485 9,943,046
2069 102,964,062 9,866,885
2068 101,629,164 9,791,535
2067 100,380,826 9,709,928
2066 99,116,663 9,631,509
2065 97,714,113 9,548,264
2064 96,306,602 9,463,483
2063 94,949,108 9,376,741
2062 93,579,065 9,291,255
2061 92,316,077 9,199,970
2060 91,000,643 9,107,804
2059 89,717,353 9,017,564
2058 88,346,732 8,928,703
2057 86,917,997 8,835,816
2056 85,480,219 8,741,740
2055 84,074,268 8,649,798
2054 82,676,432 8,556,281
2053 81,285,014 8,458,243
2052 79,908,081 8,357,325
2051 78,643,202 8,254,626
2050 77,331,830 8,148,985
2049 75,864,863 8,043,520
2048 74,479,782 7,937,607
2047 73,119,204 7,829,116
2046 71,697,214 7,718,770
2045 70,353,118 7,604,199
2044 69,024,959 7,488,707
2043 67,657,423 7,372,333
2042 66,357,363 7,254,143
2041 64,976,778 7,135,388
2040 63,535,531 7,016,744
2039 62,129,737 6,896,956
2038 60,803,646 6,781,970
2037 59,454,331 6,666,634
2036 58,114,874 6,552,620
2035 56,804,011 6,436,783
2034 55,502,408 6,323,647
2033 54,135,876 6,210,874
2032 52,791,273 6,102,090
2031 51,433,991 5,994,279
2030 50,079,746 5,888,039
2029 48,768,949 5,783,463
2028 47,533,470 5,680,155
2027 46,310,865 5,576,750
2026 45,075,045 5,471,938
2025 43,870,455 5,376,521
2024 42,647,492 5,289,152
2023 41,454,761 5,165,775
2022 40,578,842 5,043,612
2021 40,000,412 4,922,749
2020 39,068,979 4,803,269
2019 37,856,121 4,685,306
2018 36,743,039 4,569,087
2017 35,688,935 4,454,805
2016 34,700,612 4,367,088
2015 33,831,764 4,270,092
2014 32,792,523 4,173,398
2013 31,622,704 4,076,708
2012 30,560,034 3,979,998
2011 29,347,708 3,882,986
2010 28,284,089 3,786,161
2009 27,466,101 3,689,099
2008 26,482,622 3,591,977
2007 25,909,852 3,494,496
2006 25,424,094 3,406,334
2005 24,404,567 3,320,396
2004 23,560,654 3,236,626
2003 22,733,049 3,154,969
2002 21,378,117 3,075,373
2001 20,284,307 2,997,784
2000 20,130,327 2,922,153
1999 19,887,785 2,848,431
1998 19,159,996 2,776,568
1997 18,452,091 2,706,518
1996 17,763,266 2,587,997
1995 17,065,836 2,474,666
1994 16,250,794 2,366,298
1993 14,943,172 2,262,676
1992 13,278,974 2,163,591
1991 12,238,879 2,068,845
1990 12,045,660 1,978,248
1989 11,874,088 -
1988 11,523,298 -
1987 11,387,818 -
1986 11,420,074 -
1985 11,426,852 -
1984 11,190,221 -
1983 10,917,982 -
1982 10,991,378 -
1981 11,937,581 -
1980 13,169,311 -
1979 13,655,567 -
1978 13,611,441 -
1977 13,340,756 -
1976 13,059,851 -
1975 12,773,954 -
1974 12,469,127 -
1973 12,157,999 -
1972 11,853,696 -
1971 11,567,667 -
1970 11,290,128 -
1969 11,017,409 -
1968 10,756,922 -
1967 10,505,959 -
1966 10,266,395 -
1965 10,036,008 -
1964 9,814,318 -
1963 9,604,487 -
1962 9,404,406 -
1961 9,214,083 -
1960 9,035,043 -

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/palestine | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Palestine gained 960,754 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Palestine's population increased by 1,133,200 people (a 25.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Palestine was ranked 127th in 2006 and ranked 123rd 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 Palestine will increase by 48.2% to 8,148,985 people and rank change from 123rd to 112th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 11.1M people in 2100 for Palestine.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Palestine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Palestine
2100 0.5% 0.09%
2099 0.51% 0.12%
2098 0.52% 0.15%
2097 0.51% 0.15%
2096 0.52% 0.18%
2095 0.56% 0.17%
2094 0.59% 0.2%
2093 0.59% 0.22%
2092 0.61% 0.23%
2091 0.7% 0.24%
2090 0.64% 0.24%
2089 0.66% 0.28%
2088 0.73% 0.27%
2087 0.63% 0.3%
2086 0.74% 0.32%
2085 0.83% 0.35%
2084 0.73% 0.37%
2083 0.75% 0.41%
2082 0.77% 0.47%
2081 0.91% 0.47%
2080 1.02% 0.45%
2079 0.88% 0.5%
2078 0.98% 0.54%
2077 0.97% 0.58%
2076 0.94% 0.62%
2075 1.06% 0.62%
2074 1.18% 0.64%
2073 1.14% 0.67%
2072 1.12% 0.75%
2071 1.28% 0.75%
2070 1.23% 0.77%
2069 1.31% 0.77%
2068 1.24% 0.84%
2067 1.28% 0.81%
2066 1.44% 0.87%
2065 1.46% 0.9%
2064 1.43% 0.93%
2063 1.46% 0.92%
2062 1.37% 0.99%
2061 1.45% 1.01%
2060 1.43% 1%
2059 1.55% 1%
2058 1.64% 1.05%
2057 1.68% 1.08%
2056 1.67% 1.06%
2055 1.69% 1.09%
2054 1.71% 1.16%
2053 1.72% 1.21%
2052 1.61% 1.24%
2051 1.7% 1.3%
2050 1.93% 1.31%
2049 1.86% 1.33%
2048 1.86% 1.39%
2047 1.98% 1.43%
2046 1.91% 1.51%
2045 1.92% 1.54%
2044 2.02% 1.58%
2043 1.96% 1.63%
2042 2.12% 1.66%
2041 2.27% 1.69%
2040 2.26% 1.74%
2039 2.18% 1.7%
2038 2.27% 1.73%
2037 2.3% 1.74%
2036 2.31% 1.8%
2035 2.35% 1.79%
2034 2.52% 1.82%
2033 2.55% 1.78%
2032 2.64% 1.8%
2031 2.7% 1.8%
2030 2.69% 1.81%
2029 2.6% 1.82%
2028 2.64% 1.85%
2027 2.74% 1.92%
2026 2.75% 1.77%
2025 2.87% 1.65%
2024 2.88% 2.39%
2023 2.16% 2.42%
2022 1.45% 2.46%
2021 2.38% 2.49%
2020 3.2% 2.52%
2019 3.03% 2.54%
2018 2.95% 2.57%
2017 2.85% 2.01%
2016 2.57% 2.27%
2015 3.17% 2.32%
2014 3.7% 2.37%
2013 3.48% 2.43%
2012 4.13% 2.5%
2011 3.76% 2.56%
2010 2.98% 2.63%
2009 3.71% 2.7%
2008 2.21% 2.79%
2007 1.91% 2.59%
2006 4.18% 2.59%
2005 3.58% 2.59%
2004 3.64% 2.59%
2003 6.34% 2.59%
2002 5.39% 2.59%
2001 0.76% 2.59%
2000 1.22% 2.59%
1999 3.8% 2.59%
1998 3.84% 2.59%
1997 3.88% 4.58%
1996 4.09% 4.58%
1995 5.02% 4.58%
1994 8.75% 4.58%
1993 12.5% 4.58%
1992 8.5% 4.58%
1991 1.6% 4.58%
1990 1.44% -
1989 3.04% -
1988 1.19% -
1987 -0.28% -
1986 -0.06% -
1985 2.11% -
1984 2.49% -
1983 -0.67% -
1982 -7.93% -
1981 -9.35% -
1980 -3.56% -
1979 0.32% -
1978 2.03% -
1977 2.15% -
1976 2.24% -
1975 2.44% -
1974 2.56% -
1973 2.57% -
1972 2.47% -
1971 2.46% -
1970 2.48% -
1969 2.42% -
1968 2.39% -
1967 2.33% -
1966 2.3% -
1965 2.26% -
1964 2.18% -
1963 2.13% -
1962 2.07% -
1961 1.98% -

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/palestine | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Palestine's population grew by 2.39%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Palestine
Current population
45409324
5500288
Population rank 36/197 123/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.07%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
4.26 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
3.76 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
14.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +338
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +123,377
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.39%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 34/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
22.8 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -23,156
Net migration rank 179/196 154/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 272,481
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 103/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 5%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 92/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Palestine
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Palestine
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -23,156
2024 - -44,089 - -23,145
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 102,613 -24,996
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 123,987 -5,006
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 120,396 -12,369
2020 1,134,407 143,634 122,416 -12,369
2019 1,138,485 9,159 124,508 -24,733
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 124,791 -25,141
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 125,688 -25,452
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 126,698 -22,774
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 126,189 -22,903
2014 1,053,788 233,913 120,724 -27,077
2013 1,033,778 18,119 120,503 -26,979
2012 1,004,814 68,628 119,185 -26,916
2011 966,743 384,486 119,021 -26,662
2010 943,473 -167,460 117,674 -26,351
2009 920,581 -60,602 111,724 -25,906
2008 891,246 215,753 108,395 -23,985
2007 889,848 -851,298 112,453 -20,337
2006 875,301 57,673 111,728 -23,445
2005 855,112 250,971 110,569 -28,161
2004 850,940 -269,194 110,045 -32,853
2003 826,165 247,317 109,162 -35,968
2002 776,048 860,349 108,560 -35,038
2001 764,090 -212,872 107,320 -25,652
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 106,367 -11,496
1999 760,727 -32,400 104,823 -13,860
1998 719,860 7,380 103,566 -13,146
1997 709,778 -21,215 102,307 10,417
1996 685,005 4,072 98,085 9,810
1995 653,280 52,505 94,037 8,763
1994 609,096 315,206 90,156 7,434
1993 541,257 1,149,684 86,434 5,975
1992 440,132 1,197,329 82,865 4,411
1991 409,954 32,782 79,444 2,116
1990 402,433 -458,737 76,163 -476
1989 381,158 18,296 - -3,026
1988 358,397 -56,263 - -3,008
1987 314,361 -345,535 - 50,702
1986 310,066 -343,397 - -21,071
1985 228,469 -208,685 - -31,640
1984 205,262 248,224 - 9,108
1983 263,778 -172,797 - 684
1982 263,210 -500,998 - -9,799
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 - -13,892
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 - -15,067
1979 361,750 -525,413 - -16,058
1978 369,101 -117,186 - -16,654
1977 372,567 -83,115 - -16,444
1976 357,775 -85,430 - -14,515
1975 343,850 -44,418 - -11,596
1974 330,232 -20,009 - -8,670
1973 315,062 -3,030 - -6,736
1972 300,633 -4,050 - -7,848
1971 288,267 -12,801 - -17,235
1970 275,129 4,458 - -31,405
1969 263,823 2,029 - -45,586
1968 251,798 3,333 - -54,963
1967 239,967 6,824 - -55,265
1966 228,786 3,563 - -47,780
1965 217,741 10,695 - -36,419
1964 207,867 7,079 - -31,125
1963 198,035 6,681 - -21,220
1962 188,427 7,016 - -18,971
1961 179,094 6,109 - -18,224
1960 170,257 2,606 - -17,662

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/palestine | 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 Palestine 85.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,218,010 people) and 14.3% is from migration (a loss of 202,820 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 272,481 people or 5% in Palestine.

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
Palestine
City Population
Gaza 590K
Ashdod 220K
Hebron 215K
Nablus 178K
Ramallah 43.9K
Qalqilya 41.7K
Bethlehem 36K
Dura 6K

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/palestine | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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