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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 141,906,741 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 3.13 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 2.26% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Afghanistan vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Russia
2100 131,803,615 124,983,377
2099 131,145,502 125,086,144
2098 130,482,225 125,186,329
2097 129,808,066 125,264,415
2096 129,147,895 125,354,177
2095 128,473,977 125,422,006
2094 127,761,785 125,474,373
2093 127,018,448 125,529,632
2092 126,270,202 125,604,261
2091 125,508,788 125,652,742
2090 124,636,092 125,707,894
2089 123,843,293 125,760,026
2088 123,034,495 125,810,124
2087 122,147,758 125,858,116
2086 121,381,088 125,926,035
2085 120,486,343 126,001,913
2084 119,491,780 126,076,414
2083 118,631,246 126,151,046
2082 117,742,446 126,234,371
2081 116,842,143 126,317,768
2080 115,793,841 126,414,511
2079 114,630,140 126,534,688
2078 113,624,958 126,674,591
2077 112,523,374 126,830,956
2076 111,442,221 126,982,766
2075 110,399,328 127,165,304
2074 109,236,338 127,362,143
2073 107,960,305 127,576,856
2072 106,746,984 127,802,632
2071 105,568,382 128,080,998
2070 104,230,485 128,353,977
2069 102,964,062 128,642,208
2068 101,629,164 128,920,237
2067 100,380,826 129,203,483
2066 99,116,663 129,511,983
2065 97,714,113 129,842,007
2064 96,306,602 130,177,089
2063 94,949,108 130,522,107
2062 93,579,065 130,851,664
2061 92,316,077 131,200,160
2060 91,000,643 131,526,812
2059 89,717,353 131,884,461
2058 88,346,732 132,247,211
2057 86,917,997 132,584,941
2056 85,480,219 132,925,501
2055 84,074,268 133,271,436
2054 82,676,432 133,595,068
2053 81,285,014 133,914,243
2052 79,908,081 134,180,223
2051 78,643,202 134,443,510
2050 77,331,830 134,687,487
2049 75,864,863 134,909,323
2048 74,479,782 135,117,641
2047 73,119,204 135,311,492
2046 71,697,214 135,482,008
2045 70,353,118 135,664,379
2044 69,024,959 135,863,165
2043 67,657,423 136,085,277
2042 66,357,363 136,307,658
2041 64,976,778 136,557,818
2040 63,535,531 136,821,807
2039 62,129,737 137,122,219
2038 60,803,646 137,433,644
2037 59,454,331 137,770,811
2036 58,114,874 138,118,955
2035 56,804,011 138,478,809
2034 55,502,408 138,852,689
2033 54,135,876 139,237,595
2032 52,791,273 139,635,142
2031 51,433,991 140,058,187
2030 50,079,746 140,453,528
2029 48,768,949 140,840,370
2028 47,533,470 141,214,141
2027 46,310,865 141,580,416
2026 45,075,045 141,906,741
2025 43,870,455 142,772,403
2024 42,647,492 143,533,851
2023 41,454,761 143,826,130
2022 40,578,842 144,236,933
2021 40,000,412 144,746,762
2020 39,068,979 145,245,148
2019 37,856,121 145,453,291
2018 36,743,039 145,398,106
2017 35,688,935 145,293,260
2016 34,700,612 145,015,460
2015 33,831,764 144,640,716
2014 32,792,523 144,237,223
2013 31,622,704 143,805,638
2012 30,560,034 143,378,447
2011 29,347,708 143,018,195
2010 28,284,089 142,849,468
2009 27,466,101 142,785,348
2008 26,482,622 142,742,366
2007 25,909,852 142,805,114
2006 25,424,094 143,049,637
2005 24,404,567 143,518,814
2004 23,560,654 144,067,316
2003 22,733,049 144,648,618
2002 21,378,117 145,306,497
2001 20,284,307 145,976,482
2000 20,130,327 146,596,869
1999 19,887,785 147,214,776
1998 19,159,996 147,670,784
1997 18,452,091 147,915,361
1996 17,763,266 148,160,129
1995 17,065,836 148,375,787
1994 16,250,794 148,407,912
1993 14,943,172 148,458,777
1992 13,278,974 148,538,197
1991 12,238,879 148,394,216
1990 12,045,660 147,969,406
1989 11,874,088 147,721,000
1988 11,523,298 146,857,000
1987 11,387,818 145,908,000
1986 11,420,074 144,894,000
1985 11,426,852 143,858,000
1984 11,190,221 142,745,000
1983 10,917,982 141,668,000
1982 10,991,378 140,823,000
1981 11,937,581 139,941,000
1980 13,169,311 139,010,000
1979 13,655,567 138,027,000
1978 13,611,441 137,060,000
1977 13,340,756 136,100,000
1976 13,059,851 135,147,000
1975 12,773,954 134,200,000
1974 12,469,127 133,432,000
1973 12,157,999 132,669,000
1972 11,853,696 131,909,000
1971 11,567,667 131,155,000
1970 11,290,128 130,404,000
1969 11,017,409 129,664,000
1968 10,756,922 128,928,000
1967 10,505,959 128,196,000
1966 10,266,395 127,468,000
1965 10,036,008 126,745,000
1964 9,814,318 125,345,000
1963 9,604,487 123,960,000
1962 9,404,406 122,591,000
1961 9,214,083 121,236,000
1960 9,035,043 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% decline).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Russia's population already peaked in 1992 at 149M people and is projected to decrease to 125M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Russia
2100 0.5% -0.08%
2099 0.51% -0.08%
2098 0.52% -0.06%
2097 0.51% -0.07%
2096 0.52% -0.05%
2095 0.56% -0.04%
2094 0.59% -0.04%
2093 0.59% -0.06%
2092 0.61% -0.04%
2091 0.7% -0.04%
2090 0.64% -0.04%
2089 0.66% -0.04%
2088 0.73% -0.04%
2087 0.63% -0.05%
2086 0.74% -0.06%
2085 0.83% -0.06%
2084 0.73% -0.06%
2083 0.75% -0.07%
2082 0.77% -0.07%
2081 0.91% -0.08%
2080 1.02% -0.09%
2079 0.88% -0.11%
2078 0.98% -0.12%
2077 0.97% -0.12%
2076 0.94% -0.14%
2075 1.06% -0.15%
2074 1.18% -0.17%
2073 1.14% -0.18%
2072 1.12% -0.22%
2071 1.28% -0.21%
2070 1.23% -0.22%
2069 1.31% -0.22%
2068 1.24% -0.22%
2067 1.28% -0.24%
2066 1.44% -0.25%
2065 1.46% -0.26%
2064 1.43% -0.26%
2063 1.46% -0.25%
2062 1.37% -0.27%
2061 1.45% -0.25%
2060 1.43% -0.27%
2059 1.55% -0.27%
2058 1.64% -0.25%
2057 1.68% -0.26%
2056 1.67% -0.26%
2055 1.69% -0.24%
2054 1.71% -0.24%
2053 1.72% -0.2%
2052 1.61% -0.2%
2051 1.7% -0.18%
2050 1.93% -0.16%
2049 1.86% -0.15%
2048 1.86% -0.14%
2047 1.98% -0.13%
2046 1.91% -0.13%
2045 1.92% -0.15%
2044 2.02% -0.16%
2043 1.96% -0.16%
2042 2.12% -0.18%
2041 2.27% -0.19%
2040 2.26% -0.22%
2039 2.18% -0.23%
2038 2.27% -0.24%
2037 2.3% -0.25%
2036 2.31% -0.26%
2035 2.35% -0.27%
2034 2.52% -0.28%
2033 2.55% -0.28%
2032 2.64% -0.3%
2031 2.7% -0.28%
2030 2.69% -0.27%
2029 2.6% -0.26%
2028 2.64% -0.26%
2027 2.74% -0.23%
2026 2.75% -0.61%
2025 2.87% -0.53%
2024 2.88% -0.2%
2023 2.16% -0.28%
2022 1.45% -0.35%
2021 2.38% -0.34%
2020 3.2% -0.14%
2019 3.03% 0.04%
2018 2.95% 0.07%
2017 2.85% 0.19%
2016 2.57% 0.26%
2015 3.17% 0.28%
2014 3.7% 0.3%
2013 3.48% 0.3%
2012 4.13% 0.25%
2011 3.76% 0.12%
2010 2.98% 0.04%
2009 3.71% 0.03%
2008 2.21% -0.04%
2007 1.91% -0.17%
2006 4.18% -0.33%
2005 3.58% -0.38%
2004 3.64% -0.4%
2003 6.34% -0.45%
2002 5.39% -0.46%
2001 0.76% -0.42%
2000 1.22% -0.42%
1999 3.8% -0.31%
1998 3.84% -0.17%
1997 3.88% -0.17%
1996 4.09% -0.15%
1995 5.02% -0.02%
1994 8.75% -0.03%
1993 12.5% -0.05%
1992 8.5% 0.1%
1991 1.6% 0.29%
1990 1.44% 0.17%
1989 3.04% 0.59%
1988 1.19% 0.65%
1987 -0.28% 0.7%
1986 -0.06% 0.72%
1985 2.11% 0.78%
1984 2.49% 0.76%
1983 -0.67% 0.6%
1982 -7.93% 0.63%
1981 -9.35% 0.67%
1980 -3.56% 0.71%
1979 0.32% 0.71%
1978 2.03% 0.71%
1977 2.15% 0.71%
1976 2.24% 0.71%
1975 2.44% 0.58%
1974 2.56% 0.58%
1973 2.57% 0.58%
1972 2.47% 0.57%
1971 2.46% 0.58%
1970 2.48% 0.57%
1969 2.42% 0.57%
1968 2.39% 0.57%
1967 2.33% 0.57%
1966 2.3% 0.57%
1965 2.26% 1.12%
1964 2.18% 1.12%
1963 2.13% 1.12%
1962 2.07% 1.12%
1961 1.98% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Russia
Current population
45409324
141906741
Population rank 36/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.71%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.8 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
25.5 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -801
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 177/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -251,822
Net migration rank 179/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -251,822
2024 - -44,089 - -178,042
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -503,392 27,807
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -576,948 765,629
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -697,177 334,094
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -319,997 336,494
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -232,637 339,972
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -130,764 396,619
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 0 447,645
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 43,392 384,756
2014 1,053,788 233,913 28,848 264,698
2013 1,033,778 18,119 28,761 289,872
2012 1,004,814 68,628 0 285,977
2011 966,743 384,486 -128,716 309,377
2010 943,473 -167,460 -242,844 307,555
2009 920,581 -60,602 -257,014 350,206
2008 891,246 215,753 -356,856 360,840
2007 889,848 -851,298 -471,257 365,717
2006 875,301 57,673 -686,638 308,370
2005 855,112 250,971 -846,761 263,541
2004 850,940 -269,194 -792,370 261,519
2003 826,165 247,317 -896,822 256,804
2002 776,048 860,349 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 764,090 -212,872 -963,445 259,614
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -967,540 550,401
1999 760,727 -32,400 -927,453 375,468
1998 719,860 7,380 -694,053 528,135
1997 709,778 -21,215 -769,159 541,387
1996 685,005 4,072 -785,248 587,171
1995 653,280 52,505 -845,742 723,875
1994 609,096 315,206 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 541,257 1,149,684 -757,140 507,229
1992 440,132 1,197,329 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 409,954 32,782 103,876 125,505
1990 402,433 -458,737 325,533 299,863
1989 381,158 18,296 576,112 89,400
1988 358,397 -56,263 778,343 269,862
1987 314,361 -345,535 977,583 275,611
1986 310,066 -343,397 985,279 283,553
1985 228,469 -208,685 762,447 280,614
1984 205,262 248,224 756,548 247,026
1983 263,778 -172,797 906,676 200,159
1982 263,210 -500,998 830,855 107,520
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 713,700 36,686
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 681,149 10,440
1979 361,750 -525,413 690,135 -5,791
1978 369,101 -117,186 812,766 108,882
1977 372,567 -83,115 832,932 122,316
1976 357,775 -85,430 852,237 113,851
1975 343,850 -44,418 843,850 80,069
1974 330,232 -20,009 883,186 -51,759
1973 315,062 -3,030 846,561 -107,568
1972 300,633 -4,050 872,050 -111,168
1971 288,267 -12,801 854,999 -134,968
1970 275,129 4,458 785,554 -264,464
1969 263,823 2,029 753,088 -64,643
1968 251,798 3,333 787,621 -83,221
1967 239,967 6,824 854,554 -116,029
1966 228,786 3,563 989,279 -111,360
1965 217,741 10,695 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 207,867 7,079 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 198,035 6,681 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 188,427 7,016 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 179,094 6,109 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 170,257 2,606 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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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