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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 4.26 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Afghanistan vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Portugal
2100 131,803,615 8,977,781
2099 131,145,502 8,983,042
2098 130,482,225 8,987,129
2097 129,808,066 8,992,549
2096 129,147,895 8,998,689
2095 128,473,977 9,006,394
2094 127,761,785 9,011,158
2093 127,018,448 9,016,023
2092 126,270,202 9,021,257
2091 125,508,788 9,025,345
2090 124,636,092 9,029,722
2089 123,843,293 9,034,399
2088 123,034,495 9,039,122
2087 122,147,758 9,045,400
2086 121,381,088 9,050,153
2085 120,486,343 9,055,552
2084 119,491,780 9,062,369
2083 118,631,246 9,068,714
2082 117,742,446 9,077,003
2081 116,842,143 9,087,394
2080 115,793,841 9,098,423
2079 114,630,140 9,111,057
2078 113,624,958 9,125,056
2077 112,523,374 9,140,039
2076 111,442,221 9,158,661
2075 110,399,328 9,178,289
2074 109,236,338 9,201,245
2073 107,960,305 9,225,478
2072 106,746,984 9,248,867
2071 105,568,382 9,275,782
2070 104,230,485 9,304,137
2069 102,964,062 9,334,425
2068 101,629,164 9,367,211
2067 100,380,826 9,399,389
2066 99,116,663 9,432,609
2065 97,714,113 9,466,860
2064 96,306,602 9,503,941
2063 94,949,108 9,540,829
2062 93,579,065 9,578,098
2061 92,316,077 9,614,549
2060 91,000,643 9,652,893
2059 89,717,353 9,691,151
2058 88,346,732 9,731,557
2057 86,917,997 9,769,285
2056 85,480,219 9,807,403
2055 84,074,268 9,847,280
2054 82,676,432 9,885,446
2053 81,285,014 9,924,814
2052 79,908,081 9,963,090
2051 78,643,202 9,999,372
2050 77,331,830 10,035,796
2049 75,864,863 10,072,922
2048 74,479,782 10,106,403
2047 73,119,204 10,140,325
2046 71,697,214 10,173,871
2045 70,353,118 10,206,046
2044 69,024,959 10,237,224
2043 67,657,423 10,268,090
2042 66,357,363 10,296,167
2041 64,976,778 10,322,968
2040 63,535,531 10,351,965
2039 62,129,737 10,379,824
2038 60,803,646 10,405,843
2037 59,454,331 10,430,143
2036 58,114,874 10,454,779
2035 56,804,011 10,478,501
2034 55,502,408 10,502,828
2033 54,135,876 10,525,638
2032 52,791,273 10,548,736
2031 51,433,991 10,569,489
2030 50,079,746 10,588,717
2029 48,768,949 10,609,556
2028 47,533,470 10,631,437
2027 46,310,865 10,649,916
2026 45,075,045 10,667,081
2025 43,870,455 10,683,692
2024 42,647,492 10,694,681
2023 41,454,761 10,578,174
2022 40,578,842 10,434,332
2021 40,000,412 10,361,831
2020 39,068,979 10,297,081
2019 37,856,121 10,286,263
2018 36,743,039 10,283,822
2017 35,688,935 10,300,300
2016 34,700,612 10,325,452
2015 33,831,764 10,358,076
2014 32,792,523 10,401,062
2013 31,622,704 10,457,295
2012 30,560,034 10,514,844
2011 29,347,708 10,557,560
2010 28,284,089 10,573,100
2009 27,466,101 10,568,247
2008 26,482,622 10,558,177
2007 25,909,852 10,542,964
2006 25,424,094 10,522,288
2005 24,404,567 10,503,330
2004 23,560,654 10,483,861
2003 22,733,049 10,458,821
2002 21,378,117 10,419,631
2001 20,284,307 10,362,722
2000 20,130,327 10,289,898
1999 19,887,785 10,217,828
1998 19,159,996 10,160,196
1997 18,452,091 10,108,977
1996 17,763,266 10,063,945
1995 17,065,836 10,026,176
1994 16,250,794 9,991,525
1993 14,943,172 9,964,675
1992 13,278,974 9,952,494
1991 12,238,879 9,960,235
1990 12,045,660 9,983,218
1989 11,874,088 10,005,000
1988 11,523,298 10,019,610
1987 11,387,818 10,030,031
1986 11,420,074 10,032,734
1985 11,426,852 10,023,613
1984 11,190,221 9,996,232
1983 10,917,982 9,957,865
1982 10,991,378 9,911,771
1981 11,937,581 9,851,362
1980 13,169,311 9,766,312
1979 13,655,567 9,661,265
1978 13,611,441 9,558,250
1977 13,340,756 9,455,675
1976 13,059,851 9,355,810
1975 12,773,954 9,093,470
1974 12,469,127 8,754,365
1973 12,157,999 8,633,100
1972 11,853,696 8,630,430
1971 11,567,667 8,643,756
1970 11,290,128 8,680,431
1969 11,017,409 8,757,705
1968 10,756,922 8,836,650
1967 10,505,959 8,874,520
1966 10,266,395 8,930,990
1965 10,036,008 8,998,595
1964 9,814,318 9,035,365
1963 9,604,487 9,030,355
1962 9,404,406 8,993,985
1961 9,214,083 8,929,316
1960 9,035,043 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Portugal
2100 0.5% -0.06%
2099 0.51% -0.05%
2098 0.52% -0.06%
2097 0.51% -0.07%
2096 0.52% -0.09%
2095 0.56% -0.05%
2094 0.59% -0.05%
2093 0.59% -0.06%
2092 0.61% -0.05%
2091 0.7% -0.05%
2090 0.64% -0.05%
2089 0.66% -0.05%
2088 0.73% -0.07%
2087 0.63% -0.05%
2086 0.74% -0.06%
2085 0.83% -0.08%
2084 0.73% -0.07%
2083 0.75% -0.09%
2082 0.77% -0.11%
2081 0.91% -0.12%
2080 1.02% -0.14%
2079 0.88% -0.15%
2078 0.98% -0.16%
2077 0.97% -0.2%
2076 0.94% -0.21%
2075 1.06% -0.25%
2074 1.18% -0.26%
2073 1.14% -0.25%
2072 1.12% -0.29%
2071 1.28% -0.3%
2070 1.23% -0.32%
2069 1.31% -0.35%
2068 1.24% -0.34%
2067 1.28% -0.35%
2066 1.44% -0.36%
2065 1.46% -0.39%
2064 1.43% -0.39%
2063 1.46% -0.39%
2062 1.37% -0.38%
2061 1.45% -0.4%
2060 1.43% -0.39%
2059 1.55% -0.42%
2058 1.64% -0.39%
2057 1.68% -0.39%
2056 1.67% -0.4%
2055 1.69% -0.39%
2054 1.71% -0.4%
2053 1.72% -0.38%
2052 1.61% -0.36%
2051 1.7% -0.36%
2050 1.93% -0.37%
2049 1.86% -0.33%
2048 1.86% -0.33%
2047 1.98% -0.33%
2046 1.91% -0.32%
2045 1.92% -0.3%
2044 2.02% -0.3%
2043 1.96% -0.27%
2042 2.12% -0.26%
2041 2.27% -0.28%
2040 2.26% -0.27%
2039 2.18% -0.25%
2038 2.27% -0.23%
2037 2.3% -0.24%
2036 2.31% -0.23%
2035 2.35% -0.23%
2034 2.52% -0.22%
2033 2.55% -0.22%
2032 2.64% -0.2%
2031 2.7% -0.18%
2030 2.69% -0.2%
2029 2.6% -0.21%
2028 2.64% -0.17%
2027 2.74% -0.16%
2026 2.75% -0.16%
2025 2.87% -0.1%
2024 2.88% 1.1%
2023 2.16% 1.38%
2022 1.45% 0.7%
2021 2.38% 0.63%
2020 3.2% 0.11%
2019 3.03% 0.02%
2018 2.95% -0.16%
2017 2.85% -0.24%
2016 2.57% -0.31%
2015 3.17% -0.41%
2014 3.7% -0.54%
2013 3.48% -0.55%
2012 4.13% -0.4%
2011 3.76% -0.15%
2010 2.98% 0.05%
2009 3.71% 0.1%
2008 2.21% 0.14%
2007 1.91% 0.2%
2006 4.18% 0.18%
2005 3.58% 0.19%
2004 3.64% 0.24%
2003 6.34% 0.38%
2002 5.39% 0.55%
2001 0.76% 0.71%
2000 1.22% 0.71%
1999 3.8% 0.57%
1998 3.84% 0.51%
1997 3.88% 0.45%
1996 4.09% 0.38%
1995 5.02% 0.35%
1994 8.75% 0.27%
1993 12.5% 0.12%
1992 8.5% -0.08%
1991 1.6% -0.23%
1990 1.44% -0.22%
1989 3.04% -0.15%
1988 1.19% -0.1%
1987 -0.28% -0.03%
1986 -0.06% 0.09%
1985 2.11% 0.27%
1984 2.49% 0.39%
1983 -0.67% 0.47%
1982 -7.93% 0.61%
1981 -9.35% 0.87%
1980 -3.56% 1.09%
1979 0.32% 1.08%
1978 2.03% 1.08%
1977 2.15% 1.07%
1976 2.24% 2.88%
1975 2.44% 3.87%
1974 2.56% 1.4%
1973 2.57% 0.03%
1972 2.47% -0.15%
1971 2.46% -0.42%
1970 2.48% -0.88%
1969 2.42% -0.89%
1968 2.39% -0.43%
1967 2.33% -0.63%
1966 2.3% -0.75%
1965 2.26% -0.41%
1964 2.18% 0.06%
1963 2.13% 0.4%
1962 2.07% 0.72%
1961 1.98% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Portugal
Current population
45409324
10667081
Population rank 36/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.13%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
4.51 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
6.13 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +319
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 94/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +16,472
Net migration rank 179/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 16,472
2024 - -44,089 - 20,648
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -32,792 29,102
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -40,694 68,696
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -45,592 69,606
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -39,129 54,076
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -24,687 63,031
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -25,709 22,495
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -23,691 13,979
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -23,749 -775
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -23,823 -3,209
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -22,882 -26,447
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -24,052 -36,342
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -17,875 -37,083
2011 966,743 384,486 -5,279 -31,513
2010 943,473 -167,460 -4,230 -5,627
2009 920,581 -60,602 -5,284 14,532
2008 891,246 215,753 0 9,478
2007 889,848 -851,298 -1,055 21,064
2006 875,301 57,673 3,156 16,754
2005 855,112 250,971 2,101 15,537
2004 850,940 -269,194 7,339 13,928
2003 826,165 247,317 4,184 24,740
2002 776,048 860,349 8,335 42,169
2001 764,090 -212,872 8,290 55,565
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 15,435 60,586
1999 760,727 -32,400 8,175 49,572
1998 719,860 7,380 7,112 40,931
1997 709,778 -21,215 8,087 36,922
1996 685,005 4,072 4,026 32,640
1995 653,280 52,505 4,011 26,971
1994 609,096 315,206 9,991 20,761
1993 541,257 1,149,684 7,972 8,561
1992 440,132 1,197,329 13,933 -11,847
1991 409,954 32,782 12,948 -37,914
1990 402,433 -458,737 13,976 -34,855
1989 381,158 18,296 22,011 -30,615
1988 358,397 -56,263 24,047 -26,595
1987 314,361 -345,535 28,084 -23,142
1986 310,066 -343,397 31,102 -20,000
1985 228,469 -208,685 33,077 -19,183
1984 205,262 248,224 45,983 -16,658
1983 263,778 -172,797 47,798 -16,568
1982 263,210 -500,998 58,479 -15,006
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 56,152 -7,938
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 63,481 29,881
1979 361,750 -525,413 67,628 32,434
1978 369,101 -117,186 70,731 34,345
1977 372,567 -83,115 84,156 37,779
1976 357,775 -85,430 85,138 40,490
1975 343,850 -44,418 81,841 42,262
1974 330,232 -20,009 74,412 41,254
1973 315,062 -3,030 76,835 39,748
1972 300,633 -4,050 83,715 39,058
1971 288,267 -12,801 82,980 48,944
1970 275,129 4,458 87,672 -191,862
1969 263,823 2,029 89,329 -161,114
1968 251,798 3,333 100,737 -145,200
1967 239,967 6,824 106,495 -136,232
1966 228,786 3,563 107,171 -129,233
1965 217,741 10,695 115,182 -123,855
1964 207,867 7,079 120,170 -118,763
1963 198,035 6,681 113,783 -116,874
1962 188,427 7,016 123,217 -113,947
1961 179,094 6,109 117,867 -112,768
1960 170,257 2,606 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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