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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 143,513,328 people in Russia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 142,643,173 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 3.12 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 2.27% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.72% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs -0.05% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Russia has declined from 143M to 143M (0.28% decline).

Afghanistan vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Russia
2100 131,724,468 125,631,984
2099 131,066,750 125,735,285
2098 130,403,871 125,835,990
2097 129,730,117 125,914,480
2096 129,070,342 126,004,709
2095 128,396,829 126,072,890
2094 127,685,065 126,125,529
2093 126,942,174 126,181,074
2092 126,194,378 126,256,091
2091 125,433,421 126,304,823
2090 124,561,248 126,360,262
2089 123,768,926 126,412,664
2088 122,960,614 126,463,022
2087 122,074,409 126,511,263
2086 121,308,199 126,579,534
2085 120,413,992 126,655,806
2084 119,420,025 126,730,694
2083 118,560,008 126,805,713
2082 117,671,742 126,889,471
2081 116,771,980 126,973,300
2080 115,724,307 127,070,546
2079 114,561,305 127,191,346
2078 113,556,727 127,331,975
2077 112,455,804 127,489,152
2076 111,375,301 127,641,749
2075 110,333,033 127,825,235
2074 109,170,742 128,023,096
2073 107,895,475 128,238,922
2072 106,682,883 128,465,870
2071 105,504,989 128,745,681
2070 104,167,895 129,020,076
2069 102,902,233 129,309,803
2068 101,568,136 129,589,275
2067 100,320,548 129,873,991
2066 99,057,144 130,184,092
2065 97,655,437 130,515,828
2064 96,248,770 130,852,649
2063 94,892,092 131,199,458
2062 93,522,871 131,530,725
2061 92,260,642 131,881,030
2060 90,945,998 132,209,377
2059 89,663,478 132,568,882
2058 88,293,680 132,933,515
2057 86,865,803 133,272,997
2056 85,428,888 133,615,325
2055 84,023,782 133,963,055
2054 82,626,785 134,288,366
2053 81,236,203 134,609,198
2052 79,860,096 134,876,558
2051 78,595,977 135,141,211
2050 77,285,393 135,386,454
2049 75,819,307 135,609,441
2048 74,435,057 135,818,840
2047 73,075,297 136,013,698
2046 71,654,160 136,185,098
2045 70,310,871 136,368,416
2044 68,983,509 136,568,234
2043 67,616,795 136,791,498
2042 66,317,516 137,015,033
2041 64,937,760 137,266,491
2040 63,497,378 137,531,851
2039 62,092,429 137,833,822
2038 60,767,134 138,146,863
2037 59,418,629 138,485,780
2036 58,079,976 138,835,731
2035 56,769,901 139,197,452
2034 55,469,080 139,573,272
2033 54,103,368 139,960,175
2032 52,759,572 140,359,785
2031 51,403,105 140,785,026
2030 50,049,673 141,182,418
2029 48,739,663 141,571,268
2028 47,504,926 141,946,979
2027 46,283,055 142,315,155
2026 45,047,977 142,643,173
2025 43,844,111 143,513,328
2024 42,647,492 143,669,648
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Russia's population decreased by 2,372,287 people (a 1.64% 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 135,386,454 people and rank change from 9th to 13th.

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 126M 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 2.81% -0.11%
2024 2.88% -0.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/russia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Russia's population declined by 0.11%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Russia
Current population
45682388
142643173
Population rank 36/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.72%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
3.37 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
26.1 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
17.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,278 -428
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 -156,320
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% -0.11%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 166/197
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 1,249,785 -44,089 -574,678 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/russia | 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 Russia 55.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 4,019,903 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,169,086 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 (1960–2025, 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/russia | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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