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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 2.41 times bigger than Romania's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.78% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Afghanistan vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Romania
2100 131,803,615 10,801,385
2099 131,145,502 10,885,505
2098 130,482,225 10,969,050
2097 129,808,066 11,052,086
2096 129,147,895 11,134,776
2095 128,473,977 11,217,462
2094 127,761,785 11,299,298
2093 127,018,448 11,382,352
2092 126,270,202 11,464,817
2091 125,508,788 11,546,872
2090 124,636,092 11,630,335
2089 123,843,293 11,713,468
2088 123,034,495 11,796,733
2087 122,147,758 11,880,373
2086 121,381,088 11,966,550
2085 120,486,343 12,052,744
2084 119,491,780 12,140,454
2083 118,631,246 12,229,714
2082 117,742,446 12,319,480
2081 116,842,143 12,412,385
2080 115,793,841 12,507,333
2079 114,630,140 12,603,302
2078 113,624,958 12,700,870
2077 112,523,374 12,799,985
2076 111,442,221 12,900,610
2075 110,399,328 13,002,848
2074 109,236,338 13,107,513
2073 107,960,305 13,213,407
2072 106,746,984 13,323,211
2071 105,568,382 13,435,661
2070 104,230,485 13,550,449
2069 102,964,062 13,667,892
2068 101,629,164 13,786,771
2067 100,380,826 13,909,141
2066 99,116,663 14,034,214
2065 97,714,113 14,163,381
2064 96,306,602 14,293,294
2063 94,949,108 14,424,068
2062 93,579,065 14,557,025
2061 92,316,077 14,689,897
2060 91,000,643 14,821,441
2059 89,717,353 14,952,855
2058 88,346,732 15,082,857
2057 86,917,997 15,211,914
2056 85,480,219 15,340,213
2055 84,074,268 15,467,019
2054 82,676,432 15,590,545
2053 81,285,014 15,712,155
2052 79,908,081 15,834,374
2051 78,643,202 15,954,507
2050 77,331,830 16,073,070
2049 75,864,863 16,192,498
2048 74,479,782 16,311,535
2047 73,119,204 16,430,565
2046 71,697,214 16,547,661
2045 70,353,118 16,665,026
2044 69,024,959 16,783,383
2043 67,657,423 16,900,955
2042 66,357,363 17,018,000
2041 64,976,778 17,136,818
2040 63,535,531 17,253,674
2039 62,129,737 17,370,310
2038 60,803,646 17,488,193
2037 59,454,331 17,604,853
2036 58,114,874 17,721,511
2035 56,804,011 17,837,396
2034 55,502,408 17,950,976
2033 54,135,876 18,064,449
2032 52,791,273 18,176,399
2031 51,433,991 18,288,437
2030 50,079,746 18,399,699
2029 48,768,949 18,511,331
2028 47,533,470 18,621,197
2027 46,310,865 18,730,482
2026 45,075,045 18,839,108
2025 43,870,455 18,946,392
2024 42,647,492 19,051,804
2023 41,454,761 19,061,062
2022 40,578,842 19,048,502
2021 40,000,412 19,122,059
2020 39,068,979 19,265,250
2019 37,856,121 19,371,648
2018 36,743,039 19,473,970
2017 35,688,935 19,588,715
2016 34,700,612 19,702,267
2015 33,831,764 19,815,616
2014 32,792,523 19,908,979
2013 31,622,704 19,983,693
2012 30,560,034 20,058,035
2011 29,347,708 20,147,528
2010 28,284,089 20,246,871
2009 27,466,101 20,367,487
2008 26,482,622 20,537,875
2007 25,909,852 20,882,982
2006 25,424,094 21,193,760
2005 24,404,567 21,319,685
2004 23,560,654 21,451,748
2003 22,733,049 21,574,326
2002 21,378,117 21,730,496
2001 20,284,307 22,131,970
2000 20,130,327 22,442,971
1999 19,887,785 22,472,040
1998 19,159,996 22,507,344
1997 18,452,091 22,553,978
1996 17,763,266 22,619,004
1995 17,065,836 22,684,270
1994 16,250,794 22,730,211
1993 14,943,172 22,763,280
1992 13,278,974 22,794,284
1991 12,238,879 23,001,155
1990 12,045,660 23,201,835
1989 11,874,088 23,161,458
1988 11,523,298 23,057,662
1987 11,387,818 22,949,430
1986 11,420,074 22,836,841
1985 11,426,852 22,732,999
1984 11,190,221 22,640,547
1983 10,917,982 22,560,478
1982 10,991,378 22,475,741
1981 11,937,581 22,353,070
1980 13,169,311 22,207,282
1979 13,655,567 22,090,488
1978 13,611,441 21,951,464
1977 13,340,756 21,756,096
1976 13,059,851 21,551,634
1975 12,773,954 21,293,583
1974 12,469,127 21,029,429
1973 12,157,999 20,835,681
1972 11,853,696 20,657,957
1971 11,567,667 20,461,567
1970 11,290,128 20,250,398
1969 11,017,409 20,009,141
1968 10,756,922 19,799,831
1967 10,505,959 19,534,242
1966 10,266,395 19,215,450
1965 10,036,008 19,031,576
1964 9,814,318 18,919,126
1963 9,604,487 18,797,850
1962 9,404,406 18,676,550
1961 9,214,083 18,555,250
1960 9,035,043 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Romania
2100 0.5% -0.77%
2099 0.51% -0.76%
2098 0.52% -0.75%
2097 0.51% -0.74%
2096 0.52% -0.74%
2095 0.56% -0.72%
2094 0.59% -0.73%
2093 0.59% -0.72%
2092 0.61% -0.71%
2091 0.7% -0.72%
2090 0.64% -0.71%
2089 0.66% -0.71%
2088 0.73% -0.7%
2087 0.63% -0.72%
2086 0.74% -0.72%
2085 0.83% -0.72%
2084 0.73% -0.73%
2083 0.75% -0.73%
2082 0.77% -0.75%
2081 0.91% -0.76%
2080 1.02% -0.76%
2079 0.88% -0.77%
2078 0.98% -0.77%
2077 0.97% -0.78%
2076 0.94% -0.79%
2075 1.06% -0.8%
2074 1.18% -0.8%
2073 1.14% -0.82%
2072 1.12% -0.84%
2071 1.28% -0.85%
2070 1.23% -0.86%
2069 1.31% -0.86%
2068 1.24% -0.88%
2067 1.28% -0.89%
2066 1.44% -0.91%
2065 1.46% -0.91%
2064 1.43% -0.91%
2063 1.46% -0.91%
2062 1.37% -0.9%
2061 1.45% -0.89%
2060 1.43% -0.88%
2059 1.55% -0.86%
2058 1.64% -0.85%
2057 1.68% -0.84%
2056 1.67% -0.82%
2055 1.69% -0.79%
2054 1.71% -0.77%
2053 1.72% -0.77%
2052 1.61% -0.75%
2051 1.7% -0.74%
2050 1.93% -0.74%
2049 1.86% -0.73%
2048 1.86% -0.72%
2047 1.98% -0.71%
2046 1.91% -0.7%
2045 1.92% -0.71%
2044 2.02% -0.7%
2043 1.96% -0.69%
2042 2.12% -0.69%
2041 2.27% -0.68%
2040 2.26% -0.67%
2039 2.18% -0.67%
2038 2.27% -0.66%
2037 2.3% -0.66%
2036 2.31% -0.65%
2035 2.35% -0.63%
2034 2.52% -0.63%
2033 2.55% -0.62%
2032 2.64% -0.61%
2031 2.7% -0.6%
2030 2.69% -0.6%
2029 2.6% -0.59%
2028 2.64% -0.58%
2027 2.74% -0.58%
2026 2.75% -0.57%
2025 2.87% -0.55%
2024 2.88% -0.05%
2023 2.16% 0.07%
2022 1.45% -0.38%
2021 2.38% -0.74%
2020 3.2% -0.55%
2019 3.03% -0.53%
2018 2.95% -0.59%
2017 2.85% -0.58%
2016 2.57% -0.57%
2015 3.17% -0.47%
2014 3.7% -0.37%
2013 3.48% -0.37%
2012 4.13% -0.44%
2011 3.76% -0.49%
2010 2.98% -0.59%
2009 3.71% -0.83%
2008 2.21% -1.65%
2007 1.91% -1.47%
2006 4.18% -0.59%
2005 3.58% -0.62%
2004 3.64% -0.57%
2003 6.34% -0.72%
2002 5.39% -1.81%
2001 0.76% -1.39%
2000 1.22% -0.13%
1999 3.8% -0.16%
1998 3.84% -0.21%
1997 3.88% -0.29%
1996 4.09% -0.29%
1995 5.02% -0.2%
1994 8.75% -0.15%
1993 12.5% -0.14%
1992 8.5% -0.9%
1991 1.6% -0.86%
1990 1.44% 0.17%
1989 3.04% 0.45%
1988 1.19% 0.47%
1987 -0.28% 0.49%
1986 -0.06% 0.46%
1985 2.11% 0.41%
1984 2.49% 0.35%
1983 -0.67% 0.38%
1982 -7.93% 0.55%
1981 -9.35% 0.66%
1980 -3.56% 0.53%
1979 0.32% 0.63%
1978 2.03% 0.9%
1977 2.15% 0.95%
1976 2.24% 1.21%
1975 2.44% 1.26%
1974 2.56% 0.93%
1973 2.57% 0.86%
1972 2.47% 0.96%
1971 2.46% 1.04%
1970 2.48% 1.21%
1969 2.42% 1.06%
1968 2.39% 1.36%
1967 2.33% 1.66%
1966 2.3% 0.97%
1965 2.26% 0.59%
1964 2.18% 0.65%
1963 2.13% 0.65%
1962 2.07% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Romania
Current population
45409324
18839108
Population rank 36/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.23%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
56.8 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
3.45 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -25
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 169/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -29,041
Net migration rank 179/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -29,041
2024 - -44,089 - -28,466
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -89,587 -27,780
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -93,338 89,076
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -141,504 -17,731
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -100,179 -13,202
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -60,053 -27,909
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -62,316 -33,018
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -50,930 -33,081
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 -53,196 -33,073
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -59,447 -35,751
2014 1,053,788 233,913 -55,745 -35,448
2013 1,033,778 18,119 -59,951 -34,910
2012 1,004,814 68,628 -54,157 -37,589
2011 966,743 384,486 -56,413 -102,769
2010 943,473 -167,460 -46,567 -122,364
2009 920,581 -60,602 -34,625 -137,953
2008 891,246 215,753 -30,806 -144,368
2007 889,848 -851,298 -37,590 -133,089
2006 875,301 57,673 -38,148 -132,777
2005 855,112 250,971 -40,508 -131,176
2004 850,940 -269,194 -42,904 -117,432
2003 826,165 247,317 -56,093 -107,139
2002 776,048 860,349 -58,673 -106,585
2001 764,090 -212,872 -37,625 -91,154
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -22,443 -92,451
1999 760,727 -32,400 -31,461 -82,590
1998 719,860 7,380 -33,761 -81,366
1997 709,778 -21,215 -42,853 -88,734
1996 685,005 4,072 -56,548 -70,799
1995 653,280 52,505 -36,295 -73,779
1994 609,096 315,206 -18,184 -76,246
1993 541,257 1,149,684 -13,658 -73,475
1992 440,132 1,197,329 -4,559 -63,200
1991 409,954 32,782 25,301 -36,824
1990 402,433 -458,737 69,605 -38,157
1989 381,158 18,296 122,756 -33,866
1988 358,397 -56,263 126,817 -48,911
1987 314,361 -345,535 128,517 -42,868
1986 310,066 -343,397 134,737 -50,450
1985 228,469 -208,685 111,392 -28,108
1984 205,262 248,224 117,731 -24,629
1983 263,778 -172,797 87,986 3,093
1982 263,210 -500,998 119,121 -4,725
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 156,472 -20,870
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 168,776 -16,668
1979 361,750 -525,413 194,397 -29,600
1978 369,101 -117,186 204,148 -31,427
1977 372,567 -83,115 215,385 -28,135
1976 357,775 -85,430 213,361 18,748
1975 343,850 -44,418 219,324 9,125
1974 330,232 -20,009 235,530 6,725
1973 315,062 -3,030 175,020 58,651
1972 300,633 -4,050 198,316 61,920
1971 288,267 -12,801 206,662 74,473
1970 275,129 4,458 234,905 71,919
1969 263,823 2,029 264,120 74,851
1968 251,798 3,333 338,577 33,601
1967 239,967 6,824 347,709 37,282
1966 228,786 3,563 115,293 -25,458
1965 217,741 10,695 114,190 -60,430
1964 207,867 7,079 134,326 -59,500
1963 198,035 6,681 139,104 -58,076
1962 188,427 7,016 130,736 -56,152
1961 179,094 6,109 163,286 -54,642
1960 170,257 2,606 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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