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Population in Afghanistan compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 4.14 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Papua New Guinea
2100 131,724,468 18,798,240
2099 131,066,750 18,786,145
2098 130,403,871 18,772,372
2097 129,730,117 18,755,008
2096 129,070,342 18,733,822
2095 128,396,829 18,710,340
2094 127,685,065 18,683,383
2093 126,942,174 18,654,365
2092 126,194,378 18,621,911
2091 125,433,421 18,586,147
2090 124,561,248 18,545,656
2089 123,768,926 18,506,626
2088 122,960,614 18,464,999
2087 122,074,409 18,420,558
2086 121,308,199 18,372,233
2085 120,413,992 18,321,842
2084 119,420,025 18,270,605
2083 118,560,008 18,214,932
2082 117,671,742 18,159,412
2081 116,771,980 18,100,531
2080 115,724,307 18,035,268
2079 114,561,305 17,972,052
2078 113,556,727 17,904,957
2077 112,455,804 17,837,082
2076 111,375,301 17,768,107
2075 110,333,033 17,695,759
2074 109,170,742 17,621,390
2073 107,895,475 17,544,490
2072 106,682,883 17,463,028
2071 105,504,989 17,377,995
2070 104,167,895 17,291,519
2069 102,902,233 17,201,936
2068 101,568,136 17,108,606
2067 100,320,548 17,011,562
2066 99,057,144 16,911,929
2065 97,655,437 16,809,460
2064 96,248,770 16,705,205
2063 94,892,092 16,600,853
2062 93,522,871 16,493,872
2061 92,260,642 16,383,508
2060 90,945,998 16,267,162
2059 89,663,478 16,149,265
2058 88,293,680 16,029,360
2057 86,865,803 15,906,350
2056 85,428,888 15,781,247
2055 84,023,782 15,653,296
2054 82,626,785 15,519,925
2053 81,236,203 15,386,054
2052 79,860,096 15,247,553
2051 78,595,977 15,107,257
2050 77,285,393 14,965,427
2049 75,819,307 14,818,793
2048 74,435,057 14,670,417
2047 73,075,297 14,519,915
2046 71,654,160 14,367,141
2045 70,310,871 14,210,639
2044 68,983,509 14,053,122
2043 67,616,795 13,894,884
2042 66,317,516 13,735,841
2041 64,937,760 13,574,567
2040 63,497,378 13,410,615
2039 62,092,429 13,244,740
2038 60,767,134 13,076,640
2037 59,418,629 12,907,059
2036 58,079,976 12,735,582
2035 56,769,901 12,563,938
2034 55,469,080 12,389,907
2033 54,103,368 12,215,713
2032 52,759,572 12,039,848
2031 51,403,105 11,862,856
2030 50,049,673 11,683,177
2029 48,739,663 11,502,504
2028 47,504,926 11,320,226
2027 46,283,055 11,136,100
2026 45,047,977 10,950,183
2025 43,844,111 10,762,817
2024 42,647,492 10,576,502
2023 41,454,761 10,389,635
2022 40,578,842 10,203,169
2021 40,000,412 10,012,896
2020 39,068,979 9,815,746
2019 37,856,121 9,609,010
2018 36,743,039 9,394,513
2017 35,688,935 9,178,714
2016 34,700,612 8,961,718
2015 33,831,764 8,743,246
2014 32,792,523 8,523,441
2013 31,622,704 8,302,698
2012 30,560,034 8,081,390
2011 29,347,708 7,859,346
2010 28,284,089 7,633,523
2009 27,466,101 7,406,438
2008 26,482,622 7,183,002
2007 25,909,852 6,963,345
2006 25,424,094 6,747,720
2005 24,404,567 6,535,905
2004 23,560,654 6,328,041
2003 22,733,049 6,123,997
2002 21,378,117 5,924,003
2001 20,284,307 5,728,435
2000 20,130,327 5,537,064
1999 19,887,785 5,349,333
1998 19,159,996 5,166,390
1997 18,452,091 4,987,883
1996 17,763,266 4,813,361
1995 17,065,836 4,644,278
1994 16,250,794 4,480,208
1993 14,943,172 4,320,872
1992 13,278,974 4,166,699
1991 12,238,879 4,021,837
1990 12,045,660 3,896,481
1989 11,874,088 3,796,078
1988 11,523,298 3,711,880
1987 11,387,818 3,632,543
1986 11,420,074 3,554,793
1985 11,426,852 3,478,936
1984 11,190,221 3,405,198
1983 10,917,982 3,333,633
1982 10,991,378 3,264,291
1981 11,937,581 3,197,019
1980 13,169,311 3,131,512
1979 13,655,567 3,067,341
1978 13,611,441 3,003,714
1977 13,340,756 2,940,327
1976 13,059,851 2,877,327
1975 12,773,954 2,814,820
1974 12,469,127 2,752,671
1973 12,157,999 2,690,629
1972 11,853,696 2,628,432
1971 11,567,667 2,566,421
1970 11,290,128 2,505,628
1969 11,017,409 2,446,927
1968 10,756,922 2,390,803
1967 10,505,959 2,337,532
1966 10,266,395 2,285,774
1965 10,036,008 2,235,820
1964 9,814,318 2,188,325
1963 9,604,487 2,141,376
1962 9,404,406 2,093,919
1961 9,214,083 2,046,127
1960 9,035,043 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Papua New Guinea
2100 0.5% 0.06%
2099 0.51% 0.07%
2098 0.52% 0.09%
2097 0.51% 0.11%
2096 0.52% 0.13%
2095 0.56% 0.14%
2094 0.59% 0.16%
2093 0.59% 0.17%
2092 0.61% 0.19%
2091 0.7% 0.22%
2090 0.64% 0.21%
2089 0.66% 0.23%
2088 0.73% 0.24%
2087 0.63% 0.26%
2086 0.74% 0.28%
2085 0.83% 0.28%
2084 0.73% 0.31%
2083 0.75% 0.31%
2082 0.77% 0.33%
2081 0.91% 0.36%
2080 1.02% 0.35%
2079 0.88% 0.37%
2078 0.98% 0.38%
2077 0.97% 0.39%
2076 0.94% 0.41%
2075 1.06% 0.42%
2074 1.18% 0.44%
2073 1.14% 0.47%
2072 1.12% 0.49%
2071 1.28% 0.5%
2070 1.23% 0.52%
2069 1.31% 0.55%
2068 1.24% 0.57%
2067 1.28% 0.59%
2066 1.44% 0.61%
2065 1.46% 0.62%
2064 1.43% 0.63%
2063 1.46% 0.65%
2062 1.37% 0.67%
2061 1.45% 0.72%
2060 1.43% 0.73%
2059 1.55% 0.75%
2058 1.64% 0.77%
2057 1.68% 0.79%
2056 1.67% 0.82%
2055 1.69% 0.86%
2054 1.71% 0.87%
2053 1.72% 0.91%
2052 1.61% 0.93%
2051 1.7% 0.95%
2050 1.93% 0.99%
2049 1.86% 1.01%
2048 1.86% 1.04%
2047 1.98% 1.06%
2046 1.91% 1.1%
2045 1.92% 1.12%
2044 2.02% 1.14%
2043 1.96% 1.16%
2042 2.12% 1.19%
2041 2.27% 1.22%
2040 2.26% 1.25%
2039 2.18% 1.29%
2038 2.27% 1.31%
2037 2.3% 1.35%
2036 2.31% 1.37%
2035 2.35% 1.4%
2034 2.52% 1.43%
2033 2.55% 1.46%
2032 2.64% 1.49%
2031 2.7% 1.54%
2030 2.69% 1.57%
2029 2.6% 1.61%
2028 2.64% 1.65%
2027 2.74% 1.7%
2026 2.75% 1.74%
2025 2.81% 1.76%
2024 2.88% 1.8%
2023 2.16% 1.83%
2022 1.45% 1.9%
2021 2.38% 2.01%
2020 3.2% 2.15%
2019 3.03% 2.28%
2018 2.95% 2.35%
2017 2.85% 2.42%
2016 2.57% 2.5%
2015 3.17% 2.58%
2014 3.7% 2.66%
2013 3.48% 2.74%
2012 4.13% 2.83%
2011 3.76% 2.96%
2010 2.98% 3.07%
2009 3.71% 3.11%
2008 2.21% 3.15%
2007 1.91% 3.2%
2006 4.18% 3.24%
2005 3.58% 3.28%
2004 3.64% 3.33%
2003 6.34% 3.38%
2002 5.39% 3.41%
2001 0.76% 3.46%
2000 1.22% 3.51%
1999 3.8% 3.54%
1998 3.84% 3.58%
1997 3.88% 3.63%
1996 4.09% 3.64%
1995 5.02% 3.66%
1994 8.75% 3.69%
1993 12.5% 3.7%
1992 8.5% 3.6%
1991 1.6% 3.22%
1990 1.44% 2.64%
1989 3.04% 2.27%
1988 1.19% 2.18%
1987 -0.28% 2.19%
1986 -0.06% 2.18%
1985 2.11% 2.17%
1984 2.49% 2.15%
1983 -0.67% 2.12%
1982 -7.93% 2.1%
1981 -9.35% 2.09%
1980 -3.56% 2.09%
1979 0.32% 2.12%
1978 2.03% 2.16%
1977 2.15% 2.19%
1976 2.24% 2.22%
1975 2.44% 2.26%
1974 2.56% 2.31%
1973 2.57% 2.37%
1972 2.47% 2.42%
1971 2.46% 2.43%
1970 2.48% 2.4%
1969 2.42% 2.35%
1968 2.39% 2.28%
1967 2.33% 2.26%
1966 2.3% 2.23%
1965 2.26% 2.17%
1964 2.18% 2.19%
1963 2.13% 2.27%
1962 2.07% 2.34%
1961 1.98% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Papua New Guinea
Current population
45682388
11045681
Population rank 36/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.13%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.83 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +510
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 59/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -74,404 -284
Net migration rank 179/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -284
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 187,595 -707
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 187,637 -787
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 186,861 -787
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 183,766 10,703
2020 1,134,407 143,634 189,130 10,703
2019 1,138,485 9,159 190,662 22,978
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 190,662 24,684
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 189,715 26,513
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 189,281 28,473
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 188,600 30,580
2014 1,053,788 233,913 187,592 32,840
2013 1,033,778 18,119 185,790 35,280
2012 1,004,814 68,628 183,658 37,893
2011 966,743 384,486 181,842 40,690
2010 943,473 -167,460 178,998 50,106
2009 920,581 -60,602 175,421 49,647
2008 891,246 215,753 172,823 48,985
2007 889,848 -851,298 169,306 48,203
2006 875,301 57,673 166,540 47,191
2005 855,112 250,971 163,888 46,014
2004 850,940 -269,194 161,023 44,811
2003 826,165 247,317 158,611 43,639
2002 776,048 860,349 155,091 42,657
2001 764,090 -212,872 151,431 41,962
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 147,496 41,855
1999 760,727 -32,400 143,592 42,519
1998 719,860 7,380 136,677 43,091
1997 709,778 -21,215 134,458 42,787
1996 685,005 4,072 129,802 41,994
1995 653,280 52,505 125,410 40,962
1994 609,096 315,206 122,113 39,669
1993 541,257 1,149,684 118,668 38,220
1992 440,132 1,197,329 114,818 36,622
1991 409,954 32,782 111,453 26,830
1990 402,433 -458,737 110,033 2,398
1989 381,158 18,296 108,199 -19,824
1988 358,397 -56,263 106,256 -26,232
1987 314,361 -345,535 104,367 -25,720
1986 310,066 -343,397 102,346 -25,495
1985 228,469 -208,685 100,333 -25,470
1984 205,262 248,224 98,103 -25,487
1983 263,778 -172,797 95,982 -25,465
1982 263,210 -500,998 93,522 -25,355
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 91,767 -25,383
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 90,266 -25,638
1979 361,750 -525,413 89,330 -25,618
1978 369,101 -117,186 88,747 -25,208
1977 372,567 -83,115 87,954 -24,722
1976 357,775 -85,430 86,965 -24,198
1975 343,850 -44,418 85,809 -23,562
1974 330,232 -20,009 84,829 -22,771
1973 315,062 -3,030 83,821 -21,803
1972 300,633 -4,050 82,672 -20,303
1971 288,267 -12,801 80,599 -18,945
1970 275,129 4,458 78,712 -18,773
1969 263,823 2,029 76,454 -18,994
1968 251,798 3,333 73,983 -19,188
1967 239,967 6,824 71,519 -19,767
1966 228,786 3,563 69,206 -17,454
1965 217,741 10,695 66,693 -18,532
1964 207,867 7,079 64,558 -17,730
1963 198,035 6,681 62,260 -15,189
1962 188,427 7,016 59,974 -12,141
1961 179,094 6,109 58,151 -10,409
1960 170,257 2,606 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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