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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 36,559,233 people in Poland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 35,806,942 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.27 times bigger than Poland's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.98% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.36% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 35.8M (6.12% decline).

Afghanistan vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Poland
2100 131,803,615 18,350,017
2099 131,145,502 18,541,227
2098 130,482,225 18,733,999
2097 129,808,066 18,928,169
2096 129,147,895 19,125,003
2095 128,473,977 19,323,203
2094 127,761,785 19,525,085
2093 127,018,448 19,730,030
2092 126,270,202 19,938,529
2091 125,508,788 20,151,135
2090 124,636,092 20,368,308
2089 123,843,293 20,589,970
2088 123,034,495 20,817,398
2087 122,147,758 21,050,137
2086 121,381,088 21,288,179
2085 120,486,343 21,531,674
2084 119,491,780 21,780,998
2083 118,631,246 22,036,816
2082 117,742,446 22,298,479
2081 116,842,143 22,565,373
2080 115,793,841 22,836,875
2079 114,630,140 23,113,773
2078 113,624,958 23,393,434
2077 112,523,374 23,679,569
2076 111,442,221 23,968,050
2075 110,399,328 24,259,763
2074 109,236,338 24,554,480
2073 107,960,305 24,852,006
2072 106,746,984 25,149,886
2071 105,568,382 25,447,869
2070 104,230,485 25,745,140
2069 102,964,062 26,042,079
2068 101,629,164 26,337,963
2067 100,380,826 26,632,110
2066 99,116,663 26,923,643
2065 97,714,113 27,211,946
2064 96,306,602 27,497,263
2063 94,949,108 27,778,871
2062 93,579,065 28,055,433
2061 92,316,077 28,328,948
2060 91,000,643 28,597,687
2059 89,717,353 28,864,377
2058 88,346,732 29,125,961
2057 86,917,997 29,384,759
2056 85,480,219 29,641,101
2055 84,074,268 29,893,868
2054 82,676,432 30,142,942
2053 81,285,014 30,389,214
2052 79,908,081 30,630,763
2051 78,643,202 30,871,146
2050 77,331,830 31,107,894
2049 75,864,863 31,341,718
2048 74,479,782 31,572,273
2047 73,119,204 31,800,868
2046 71,697,214 32,026,873
2045 70,353,118 32,250,757
2044 69,024,959 32,471,522
2043 67,657,423 32,690,423
2042 66,357,363 32,906,811
2041 64,976,778 33,118,473
2040 63,535,531 33,328,426
2039 62,129,737 33,535,096
2038 60,803,646 33,738,091
2037 59,454,331 33,936,906
2036 58,114,874 34,133,190
2035 56,804,011 34,323,827
2034 55,502,408 34,511,159
2033 54,135,876 34,693,880
2032 52,791,273 34,872,593
2031 51,433,991 35,046,775
2030 50,079,746 35,213,577
2029 48,768,949 35,374,919
2028 47,533,470 35,527,083
2027 46,310,865 35,671,012
2026 45,075,045 35,806,942
2025 43,870,455 36,233,346
2024 42,647,492 36,559,233
2023 41,454,761 36,687,353
2022 40,578,842 36,821,749
2021 40,000,412 36,981,559
2020 39,068,979 37,515,748
2019 37,856,121 37,965,475
2018 36,743,039 37,974,750
2017 35,688,935 37,974,826
2016 34,700,612 37,970,087
2015 33,831,764 37,986,412
2014 32,792,523 38,011,735
2013 31,622,704 38,040,196
2012 30,560,034 38,063,164
2011 29,347,708 38,063,255
2010 28,284,089 38,042,794
2009 27,466,101 38,151,603
2008 26,482,622 38,125,759
2007 25,909,852 38,120,560
2006 25,424,094 38,141,267
2005 24,404,567 38,165,445
2004 23,560,654 38,182,222
2003 22,733,049 38,204,570
2002 21,378,117 38,230,364
2001 20,284,307 38,248,076
2000 20,130,327 38,258,629
1999 19,887,785 38,660,271
1998 19,159,996 38,663,481
1997 18,452,091 38,649,660
1996 17,763,266 38,624,370
1995 17,065,836 38,594,998
1994 16,250,794 38,542,652
1993 14,943,172 38,461,408
1992 13,278,974 38,363,667
1991 12,238,879 38,246,193
1990 12,045,660 38,110,782
1989 11,874,088 37,961,529
1988 11,523,298 37,824,487
1987 11,387,818 37,668,045
1986 11,420,074 37,456,119
1985 11,426,852 37,201,885
1984 11,190,221 36,904,134
1983 10,917,982 36,571,808
1982 10,991,378 36,230,481
1981 11,937,581 35,898,587
1980 13,169,311 35,574,150
1979 13,655,567 35,247,217
1978 13,611,441 34,965,600
1977 13,340,756 34,689,050
1976 13,059,851 34,356,300
1975 12,773,954 34,015,199
1974 12,469,127 33,678,899
1973 12,157,999 33,357,200
1972 11,853,696 33,055,650
1971 11,567,667 32,783,500
1970 11,290,128 32,664,300
1969 11,017,409 32,548,300
1968 10,756,922 32,294,655
1967 10,505,959 31,987,155
1966 10,266,395 31,681,000
1965 10,036,008 31,444,950
1964 9,814,318 31,139,450
1963 9,604,487 30,712,000
1962 9,404,406 30,308,500
1961 9,214,083 29,964,000
1960 9,035,043 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people and rank change from 47th to 62nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.4M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Poland
2100 0.5% -1.03%
2099 0.51% -1.03%
2098 0.52% -1.03%
2097 0.51% -1.03%
2096 0.52% -1.03%
2095 0.56% -1.03%
2094 0.59% -1.04%
2093 0.59% -1.05%
2092 0.61% -1.06%
2091 0.7% -1.07%
2090 0.64% -1.08%
2089 0.66% -1.09%
2088 0.73% -1.11%
2087 0.63% -1.12%
2086 0.74% -1.13%
2085 0.83% -1.14%
2084 0.73% -1.16%
2083 0.75% -1.17%
2082 0.77% -1.18%
2081 0.91% -1.19%
2080 1.02% -1.2%
2079 0.88% -1.2%
2078 0.98% -1.21%
2077 0.97% -1.2%
2076 0.94% -1.2%
2075 1.06% -1.2%
2074 1.18% -1.2%
2073 1.14% -1.18%
2072 1.12% -1.17%
2071 1.28% -1.15%
2070 1.23% -1.14%
2069 1.31% -1.12%
2068 1.24% -1.1%
2067 1.28% -1.08%
2066 1.44% -1.06%
2065 1.46% -1.04%
2064 1.43% -1.01%
2063 1.46% -0.99%
2062 1.37% -0.97%
2061 1.45% -0.94%
2060 1.43% -0.92%
2059 1.55% -0.9%
2058 1.64% -0.88%
2057 1.68% -0.86%
2056 1.67% -0.85%
2055 1.69% -0.83%
2054 1.71% -0.81%
2053 1.72% -0.79%
2052 1.61% -0.78%
2051 1.7% -0.76%
2050 1.93% -0.75%
2049 1.86% -0.73%
2048 1.86% -0.72%
2047 1.98% -0.71%
2046 1.91% -0.69%
2045 1.92% -0.68%
2044 2.02% -0.67%
2043 1.96% -0.66%
2042 2.12% -0.64%
2041 2.27% -0.63%
2040 2.26% -0.62%
2039 2.18% -0.6%
2038 2.27% -0.59%
2037 2.3% -0.58%
2036 2.31% -0.56%
2035 2.35% -0.54%
2034 2.52% -0.53%
2033 2.55% -0.51%
2032 2.64% -0.5%
2031 2.7% -0.47%
2030 2.69% -0.46%
2029 2.6% -0.43%
2028 2.64% -0.4%
2027 2.74% -0.38%
2026 2.75% -1.18%
2025 2.87% -0.89%
2024 2.88% -0.35%
2023 2.16% -0.36%
2022 1.45% -0.43%
2021 2.38% -1.42%
2020 3.2% -1.18%
2019 3.03% -0.02%
2018 2.95% -0%
2017 2.85% 0.01%
2016 2.57% -0.04%
2015 3.17% -0.07%
2014 3.7% -0.07%
2013 3.48% -0.06%
2012 4.13% -0%
2011 3.76% 0.05%
2010 2.98% -0.29%
2009 3.71% 0.07%
2008 2.21% 0.01%
2007 1.91% -0.05%
2006 4.18% -0.06%
2005 3.58% -0.04%
2004 3.64% -0.06%
2003 6.34% -0.07%
2002 5.39% -0.05%
2001 0.76% -0.03%
2000 1.22% -1.04%
1999 3.8% -0.008%
1998 3.84% 0.04%
1997 3.88% 0.07%
1996 4.09% 0.08%
1995 5.02% 0.14%
1994 8.75% 0.21%
1993 12.5% 0.25%
1992 8.5% 0.31%
1991 1.6% 0.36%
1990 1.44% 0.39%
1989 3.04% 0.36%
1988 1.19% 0.42%
1987 -0.28% 0.57%
1986 -0.06% 0.68%
1985 2.11% 0.81%
1984 2.49% 0.91%
1983 -0.67% 0.94%
1982 -7.93% 0.92%
1981 -9.35% 0.91%
1980 -3.56% 0.93%
1979 0.32% 0.81%
1978 2.03% 0.8%
1977 2.15% 0.97%
1976 2.24% 1%
1975 2.44% 1%
1974 2.56% 0.96%
1973 2.57% 0.91%
1972 2.47% 0.83%
1971 2.46% 0.36%
1970 2.48% 0.36%
1969 2.42% 0.79%
1968 2.39% 0.96%
1967 2.33% 0.97%
1966 2.3% 0.75%
1965 2.26% 0.98%
1964 2.18% 1.39%
1963 2.13% 1.33%
1962 2.07% 1.15%
1961 1.98% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Poland's population declined by 0.35%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Poland
Current population
45409324
35806942
Population rank 36/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.43%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
4.1 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.94 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -351
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -128,120
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.35%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 181/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -330,820
Net migration rank 179/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -330,820
2024 - -44,089 - -238,062
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -135,743 -7,824
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -143,605 967,744
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -184,907 2,251
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -120,050 3,920
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -34,169 7,696
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -26,582 -223
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 0 -21,535
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -3,797 -5,675
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -26,590 3,887
2014 1,053,788 233,913 0 5,525
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -19,020 12,402
2012 1,004,814 68,628 0 4,635
2011 966,743 384,486 11,419 45,951
2010 943,473 -167,460 38,043 119,623
2009 920,581 -60,602 30,521 -8,283
2008 891,246 215,753 34,313 -42,288
2007 889,848 -851,298 11,436 -51,235
2006 875,301 57,673 3,814 -68,882
2005 855,112 250,971 -3,817 -41,942
2004 850,940 -269,194 -7,637 -38,216
2003 826,165 247,317 -15,281 -19,039
2002 776,048 860,349 -3,823 -16,462
2001 764,090 -212,872 3,825 -16,648
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 11,478 -15,921
1999 760,727 -32,400 0 -53,035
1998 719,860 7,380 19,332 -39,509
1997 709,778 -21,215 34,785 -44,230
1996 685,005 4,072 42,487 -45,349
1995 653,280 52,505 46,314 -52,989
1994 609,096 315,206 96,357 -41,845
1993 541,257 1,149,684 103,846 -48,805
1992 440,132 1,197,329 118,928 -46,893
1991 409,954 32,782 141,511 -55,342
1990 402,433 -458,737 160,066 -50,339
1989 381,158 18,296 182,215 -49,192
1988 358,397 -56,263 215,599 -101,671
1987 314,361 -345,535 226,008 -32,310
1986 310,066 -343,397 258,448 -22,520
1985 228,469 -208,685 297,615 -27,277
1984 205,262 248,224 332,137 -18,402
1983 263,778 -172,797 373,032 -26,724
1982 263,210 -500,998 369,551 -34,980
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 351,806 -16,155
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 348,627 -42,420
1979 361,750 -525,413 366,571 -22,162
1978 369,101 -117,186 339,166 -62,936
1977 372,567 -83,115 353,828 -33,496
1976 357,775 -85,430 367,612 -25,716
1975 343,850 -44,418 350,356 -31,346
1974 330,232 -20,009 346,893 -18,273
1973 315,062 -3,030 320,229 -29,335
1972 300,633 -4,050 314,028 -15,004
1971 288,267 -12,801 278,660 -31,767
1970 275,129 4,458 280,913 -66,859
1969 263,823 2,029 270,151 -26,744
1968 251,798 3,333 280,963 -11,905
1967 239,967 6,824 275,089 -25,479
1966 228,786 3,563 297,801 -17,158
1965 217,741 10,695 314,450 -21,658
1964 207,867 7,079 326,965 -23,273
1963 198,035 6,681 359,330 -13,770
1962 188,427 7,016 360,671 -31,021
1961 179,094 6,109 398,521 -20,044
1960 170,257 2,606 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/poland | 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 Poland 41.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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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