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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 3.03 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Afghanistan vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Rwanda
2100 131,803,615 33,092,520
2099 131,145,502 32,987,847
2098 130,482,225 32,907,335
2097 129,808,066 32,832,706
2096 129,147,895 32,747,490
2095 128,473,977 32,615,044
2094 127,761,785 32,529,590
2093 127,018,448 32,396,544
2092 126,270,202 32,274,083
2091 125,508,788 32,171,077
2090 124,636,092 32,068,626
2089 123,843,293 31,872,593
2088 123,034,495 31,726,882
2087 122,147,758 31,533,364
2086 121,381,088 31,379,315
2085 120,486,343 31,235,000
2084 119,491,780 31,092,940
2083 118,631,246 30,917,707
2082 117,742,446 30,733,578
2081 116,842,143 30,557,819
2080 115,793,841 30,367,298
2079 114,630,140 30,176,627
2078 113,624,958 29,997,866
2077 112,523,374 29,800,561
2076 111,442,221 29,627,021
2075 110,399,328 29,423,503
2074 109,236,338 29,225,643
2073 107,960,305 29,007,777
2072 106,746,984 28,780,763
2071 105,568,382 28,560,382
2070 104,230,485 28,316,533
2069 102,964,062 28,103,541
2068 101,629,164 27,854,906
2067 100,380,826 27,591,747
2066 99,116,663 27,355,659
2065 97,714,113 27,084,704
2064 96,306,602 26,821,315
2063 94,949,108 26,543,184
2062 93,579,065 26,296,132
2061 92,316,077 25,985,356
2060 91,000,643 25,712,904
2059 89,717,353 25,437,446
2058 88,346,732 25,106,242
2057 86,917,997 24,837,928
2056 85,480,219 24,566,784
2055 84,074,268 24,266,669
2054 82,676,432 23,976,914
2053 81,285,014 23,690,426
2052 79,908,081 23,406,346
2051 78,643,202 23,099,207
2050 77,331,830 22,800,250
2049 75,864,863 22,484,698
2048 74,479,782 22,157,938
2047 73,119,204 21,834,786
2046 71,697,214 21,540,566
2045 70,353,118 21,215,262
2044 69,024,959 20,902,695
2043 67,657,423 20,535,605
2042 66,357,363 20,201,608
2041 64,976,778 19,832,577
2040 63,535,531 19,463,015
2039 62,129,737 19,096,860
2038 60,803,646 18,761,626
2037 59,454,331 18,421,864
2036 58,114,874 18,116,691
2035 56,804,011 17,753,910
2034 55,502,408 17,421,234
2033 54,135,876 17,089,349
2032 52,791,273 16,811,505
2031 51,433,991 16,485,559
2030 50,079,746 16,167,916
2029 48,768,949 15,858,862
2028 47,533,470 15,544,959
2027 46,310,865 15,207,733
2026 45,075,045 14,888,776
2025 43,870,455 14,560,205
2024 42,647,492 14,256,567
2023 41,454,761 13,954,471
2022 40,578,842 13,651,030
2021 40,000,412 13,355,260
2020 39,068,979 13,065,837
2019 37,856,121 12,776,103
2018 36,743,039 12,487,996
2017 35,688,935 12,202,060
2016 34,700,612 11,919,183
2015 33,831,764 11,640,022
2014 32,792,523 11,364,757
2013 31,622,704 11,093,340
2012 30,560,034 10,829,901
2011 29,347,708 10,573,733
2010 28,284,089 10,317,553
2009 27,466,101 10,060,432
2008 26,482,622 9,804,269
2007 25,909,852 9,549,933
2006 25,424,094 9,299,246
2005 24,404,567 9,054,528
2004 23,560,654 8,816,844
2003 22,733,049 8,586,875
2002 21,378,117 8,400,180
2001 20,284,307 8,287,094
2000 20,130,327 8,213,931
1999 19,887,785 8,147,912
1998 19,159,996 8,081,681
1997 18,452,091 7,755,238
1996 17,763,266 6,708,764
1995 17,065,836 5,674,118
1994 16,250,794 6,792,352
1993 14,943,172 7,981,132
1992 13,278,974 7,683,266
1991 12,238,879 7,526,966
1990 12,045,660 7,375,307
1989 11,874,088 7,184,706
1988 11,523,298 6,968,071
1987 11,387,818 6,749,493
1986 11,420,074 6,531,881
1985 11,426,852 6,317,228
1984 11,190,221 6,107,627
1983 10,917,982 5,905,311
1982 10,991,378 5,711,549
1981 11,937,581 5,527,230
1980 13,169,311 5,353,259
1979 13,655,567 5,189,541
1978 13,611,441 5,035,171
1977 13,340,756 4,888,240
1976 13,059,851 4,745,954
1975 12,773,954 4,607,728
1974 12,469,127 4,474,228
1973 12,157,999 4,345,047
1972 11,853,696 4,220,335
1971 11,567,667 4,100,044
1970 11,290,128 3,980,669
1969 11,017,409 3,861,271
1968 10,756,922 3,744,010
1967 10,505,959 3,629,577
1966 10,266,395 3,521,626
1965 10,036,008 3,423,210
1964 9,814,318 3,334,834
1963 9,604,487 3,258,890
1962 9,404,406 3,186,025
1961 9,214,083 3,106,779
1960 9,035,043 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Rwanda
2100 0.5% 0.32%
2099 0.51% 0.24%
2098 0.52% 0.23%
2097 0.51% 0.26%
2096 0.52% 0.41%
2095 0.56% 0.26%
2094 0.59% 0.41%
2093 0.59% 0.38%
2092 0.61% 0.32%
2091 0.7% 0.32%
2090 0.64% 0.62%
2089 0.66% 0.46%
2088 0.73% 0.61%
2087 0.63% 0.49%
2086 0.74% 0.46%
2085 0.83% 0.46%
2084 0.73% 0.57%
2083 0.75% 0.6%
2082 0.77% 0.58%
2081 0.91% 0.63%
2080 1.02% 0.63%
2079 0.88% 0.6%
2078 0.98% 0.66%
2077 0.97% 0.59%
2076 0.94% 0.69%
2075 1.06% 0.68%
2074 1.18% 0.75%
2073 1.14% 0.79%
2072 1.12% 0.77%
2071 1.28% 0.86%
2070 1.23% 0.76%
2069 1.31% 0.89%
2068 1.24% 0.95%
2067 1.28% 0.86%
2066 1.44% 1%
2065 1.46% 0.98%
2064 1.43% 1.05%
2063 1.46% 0.94%
2062 1.37% 1.2%
2061 1.45% 1.06%
2060 1.43% 1.08%
2059 1.55% 1.32%
2058 1.64% 1.08%
2057 1.68% 1.1%
2056 1.67% 1.24%
2055 1.69% 1.21%
2054 1.71% 1.21%
2053 1.72% 1.21%
2052 1.61% 1.33%
2051 1.7% 1.31%
2050 1.93% 1.4%
2049 1.86% 1.47%
2048 1.86% 1.48%
2047 1.98% 1.37%
2046 1.91% 1.53%
2045 1.92% 1.5%
2044 2.02% 1.79%
2043 1.96% 1.65%
2042 2.12% 1.86%
2041 2.27% 1.9%
2040 2.26% 1.92%
2039 2.18% 1.79%
2038 2.27% 1.84%
2037 2.3% 1.68%
2036 2.31% 2.04%
2035 2.35% 1.91%
2034 2.52% 1.94%
2033 2.55% 1.65%
2032 2.64% 1.98%
2031 2.7% 1.96%
2030 2.69% 1.95%
2029 2.6% 2.02%
2028 2.64% 2.22%
2027 2.74% 2.14%
2026 2.75% 2.26%
2025 2.87% 2.13%
2024 2.88% 2.16%
2023 2.16% 2.22%
2022 1.45% 2.21%
2021 2.38% 2.22%
2020 3.2% 2.27%
2019 3.03% 2.31%
2018 2.95% 2.34%
2017 2.85% 2.37%
2016 2.57% 2.4%
2015 3.17% 2.42%
2014 3.7% 2.45%
2013 3.48% 2.43%
2012 4.13% 2.42%
2011 3.76% 2.48%
2010 2.98% 2.56%
2009 3.71% 2.61%
2008 2.21% 2.66%
2007 1.91% 2.7%
2006 4.18% 2.7%
2005 3.58% 2.7%
2004 3.64% 2.68%
2003 6.34% 2.22%
2002 5.39% 1.36%
2001 0.76% 0.89%
2000 1.22% 0.81%
1999 3.8% 0.82%
1998 3.84% 4.21%
1997 3.88% 15.6%
1996 4.09% 18.2%
1995 5.02% -16.5%
1994 8.75% -14.9%
1993 12.5% 3.88%
1992 8.5% 2.08%
1991 1.6% 2.06%
1990 1.44% 2.65%
1989 3.04% 3.11%
1988 1.19% 3.24%
1987 -0.28% 3.33%
1986 -0.06% 3.4%
1985 2.11% 3.43%
1984 2.49% 3.43%
1983 -0.67% 3.39%
1982 -7.93% 3.33%
1981 -9.35% 3.25%
1980 -3.56% 3.15%
1979 0.32% 3.07%
1978 2.03% 3.01%
1977 2.15% 3%
1976 2.24% 3%
1975 2.44% 2.98%
1974 2.56% 2.97%
1973 2.57% 2.96%
1972 2.47% 2.93%
1971 2.46% 3%
1970 2.48% 3.09%
1969 2.42% 3.13%
1968 2.39% 3.15%
1967 2.33% 3.07%
1966 2.3% 2.87%
1965 2.26% 2.65%
1964 2.18% 2.33%
1963 2.13% 2.29%
1962 2.07% 2.55%
1961 1.98% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Rwanda
Current population
45409324
14975051
Population rank 36/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.18%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.74 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.33 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +828
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 45/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 +6,282
Net migration rank 179/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 6,282
2024 - -44,089 - -15,582
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 312,762 -9,001
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 312,145 -9,001
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 309,895 -21,492
2020 1,134,407 143,634 312,692 -22,251
2019 1,138,485 9,159 313,525 -24,492
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 312,512 -25,323
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 310,323 -25,634
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 305,549 -24,474
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 299,114 -21,862
2014 1,053,788 233,913 292,779 -19,505
2013 1,033,778 18,119 286,331 -16,779
2012 1,004,814 68,628 282,584 -25,260
2011 966,743 384,486 282,922 -27,915
2010 943,473 -167,460 286,848 -29,501
2009 920,581 -60,602 287,034 -30,128
2008 891,246 215,753 287,334 -31,913
2007 889,848 -851,298 285,791 -32,537
2006 875,301 57,673 282,149 -34,008
2005 855,112 250,971 275,121 -33,830
2004 850,940 -269,194 265,273 -31,214
2003 826,165 247,317 251,243 -25,355
2002 776,048 860,349 239,036 -91,518
2001 764,090 -212,872 230,845 -152,197
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 221,276 -153,588
1999 760,727 -32,400 210,518 -146,162
1998 719,860 7,380 197,185 -129,089
1997 709,778 -21,215 174,687 410,106
1996 685,005 4,072 140,455 1,367,700
1995 653,280 52,505 121,137 439,995
1994 609,096 315,206 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 541,257 1,149,684 183,926 236,110
1992 440,132 1,197,329 188,025 -12,334
1991 409,954 32,782 196,431 -59,519
1990 402,433 -458,737 207,895 -41,483
1989 381,158 18,296 217,632 -2,826
1988 358,397 -56,263 223,759 -5,285
1987 314,361 -345,535 225,744 -7,062
1986 310,066 -343,397 225,526 -8,982
1985 228,469 -208,685 223,794 -11,031
1984 205,262 248,224 219,337 -12,899
1983 263,778 -172,797 212,750 -14,560
1982 263,210 -500,998 205,147 -15,818
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 195,769 -16,453
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 184,988 -16,359
1979 361,750 -525,413 174,477 -15,669
1978 369,101 -117,186 163,779 -13,838
1977 372,567 -83,115 155,011 -11,084
1976 357,775 -85,430 147,665 -7,027
1975 343,850 -44,418 140,596 -4,791
1974 330,232 -20,009 135,743 -4,535
1973 315,062 -3,030 131,021 -3,862
1972 300,633 -4,050 126,403 -4,156
1971 288,267 -12,801 122,567 -4,230
1970 275,129 4,458 119,273 1,149
1969 263,823 2,029 115,394 2,983
1968 251,798 3,333 111,422 4,728
1967 239,967 6,824 108,053 4,655
1966 228,786 3,563 105,128 -1,930
1965 217,741 10,695 103,422 -9,774
1964 207,867 7,079 102,562 -19,458
1963 198,035 6,681 94,296 -25,524
1962 188,427 7,016 102,548 -25,594
1961 179,094 6,109 102,051 -20,508
1960 170,257 2,606 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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