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Population in Afghanistan compared to Sao Tome and Principe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 184.3 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Sao Tome
2100 131,803,615 538,729
2099 131,145,502 537,330
2098 130,482,225 535,787
2097 129,808,066 534,124
2096 129,147,895 532,353
2095 128,473,977 530,576
2094 127,761,785 528,656
2093 127,018,448 526,643
2092 126,270,202 524,507
2091 125,508,788 522,325
2090 124,636,092 519,999
2089 123,843,293 517,612
2088 123,034,495 515,098
2087 122,147,758 512,568
2086 121,381,088 510,018
2085 120,486,343 507,340
2084 119,491,780 504,584
2083 118,631,246 501,679
2082 117,742,446 498,722
2081 116,842,143 495,689
2080 115,793,841 492,482
2079 114,630,140 489,244
2078 113,624,958 485,930
2077 112,523,374 482,450
2076 111,442,221 478,942
2075 110,399,328 475,380
2074 109,236,338 471,763
2073 107,960,305 468,114
2072 106,746,984 464,348
2071 105,568,382 460,509
2070 104,230,485 456,552
2069 102,964,062 452,449
2068 101,629,164 448,367
2067 100,380,826 444,152
2066 99,116,663 439,833
2065 97,714,113 435,561
2064 96,306,602 431,126
2063 94,949,108 426,703
2062 93,579,065 422,184
2061 92,316,077 417,686
2060 91,000,643 413,117
2059 89,717,353 408,577
2058 88,346,732 404,024
2057 86,917,997 399,413
2056 85,480,219 394,844
2055 84,074,268 390,153
2054 82,676,432 385,468
2053 81,285,014 380,737
2052 79,908,081 376,015
2051 78,643,202 371,194
2050 77,331,830 366,397
2049 75,864,863 361,591
2048 74,479,782 356,742
2047 73,119,204 351,861
2046 71,697,214 346,888
2045 70,353,118 341,838
2044 69,024,959 336,792
2043 67,657,423 331,713
2042 66,357,363 326,652
2041 64,976,778 321,594
2040 63,535,531 316,457
2039 62,129,737 311,279
2038 60,803,646 306,071
2037 59,454,331 300,875
2036 58,114,874 295,624
2035 56,804,011 290,400
2034 55,502,408 285,183
2033 54,135,876 279,990
2032 52,791,273 274,835
2031 51,433,991 269,740
2030 50,079,746 264,723
2029 48,768,949 259,705
2028 47,533,470 254,751
2027 46,310,865 249,860
2026 45,075,045 245,066
2025 43,870,455 240,286
2024 42,647,492 235,536
2023 41,454,761 230,871
2022 40,578,842 226,305
2021 40,000,412 221,961
2020 39,068,979 217,435
2019 37,856,121 213,392
2018 36,743,039 210,187
2017 35,688,935 206,970
2016 34,700,612 203,689
2015 33,831,764 200,291
2014 32,792,523 196,767
2013 31,622,704 193,148
2012 30,560,034 189,439
2011 29,347,708 185,649
2010 28,284,089 181,802
2009 27,466,101 177,853
2008 26,482,622 173,793
2007 25,909,852 169,700
2006 25,424,094 165,638
2005 24,404,567 161,639
2004 23,560,654 157,705
2003 22,733,049 153,814
2002 21,378,117 149,922
2001 20,284,307 146,375
2000 20,130,327 144,018
1999 19,887,785 142,442
1998 19,159,996 140,751
1997 18,452,091 138,922
1996 17,763,266 136,962
1995 17,065,836 134,895
1994 16,250,794 132,732
1993 14,943,172 130,467
1992 13,278,974 128,110
1991 12,238,879 125,697
1990 12,045,660 122,980
1989 11,874,088 119,979
1988 11,523,298 116,939
1987 11,387,818 113,919
1986 11,420,074 111,150
1985 11,426,852 108,658
1984 11,190,221 106,394
1983 10,917,982 104,380
1982 10,991,378 102,508
1981 11,937,581 100,615
1980 13,169,311 98,544
1979 13,655,567 96,252
1978 13,611,441 93,794
1977 13,340,756 91,301
1976 13,059,851 88,922
1975 12,773,954 86,708
1974 12,469,127 84,672
1973 12,157,999 82,798
1972 11,853,696 81,041
1971 11,567,667 79,330
1970 11,290,128 77,626
1969 11,017,409 76,083
1968 10,756,922 74,765
1967 10,505,959 73,596
1966 10,266,395 72,576
1965 10,036,008 71,680
1964 9,814,318 70,865
1963 9,604,487 70,112
1962 9,404,406 69,403
1961 9,214,083 68,707
1960 9,035,043 68,012

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 539K people in 2100 for Sao Tome and Principe.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Sao Tome
2100 0.5% 0.26%
2099 0.51% 0.29%
2098 0.52% 0.31%
2097 0.51% 0.33%
2096 0.52% 0.33%
2095 0.56% 0.36%
2094 0.59% 0.38%
2093 0.59% 0.41%
2092 0.61% 0.42%
2091 0.7% 0.45%
2090 0.64% 0.46%
2089 0.66% 0.49%
2088 0.73% 0.49%
2087 0.63% 0.5%
2086 0.74% 0.53%
2085 0.83% 0.55%
2084 0.73% 0.58%
2083 0.75% 0.59%
2082 0.77% 0.61%
2081 0.91% 0.65%
2080 1.02% 0.66%
2079 0.88% 0.68%
2078 0.98% 0.72%
2077 0.97% 0.73%
2076 0.94% 0.75%
2075 1.06% 0.77%
2074 1.18% 0.78%
2073 1.14% 0.81%
2072 1.12% 0.83%
2071 1.28% 0.87%
2070 1.23% 0.91%
2069 1.31% 0.91%
2068 1.24% 0.95%
2067 1.28% 0.98%
2066 1.44% 0.98%
2065 1.46% 1.03%
2064 1.43% 1.04%
2063 1.46% 1.07%
2062 1.37% 1.08%
2061 1.45% 1.11%
2060 1.43% 1.11%
2059 1.55% 1.13%
2058 1.64% 1.15%
2057 1.68% 1.16%
2056 1.67% 1.2%
2055 1.69% 1.22%
2054 1.71% 1.24%
2053 1.72% 1.26%
2052 1.61% 1.3%
2051 1.7% 1.31%
2050 1.93% 1.33%
2049 1.86% 1.36%
2048 1.86% 1.39%
2047 1.98% 1.43%
2046 1.91% 1.48%
2045 1.92% 1.5%
2044 2.02% 1.53%
2043 1.96% 1.55%
2042 2.12% 1.57%
2041 2.27% 1.62%
2040 2.26% 1.66%
2039 2.18% 1.7%
2038 2.27% 1.73%
2037 2.3% 1.78%
2036 2.31% 1.8%
2035 2.35% 1.83%
2034 2.52% 1.85%
2033 2.55% 1.88%
2032 2.64% 1.89%
2031 2.7% 1.9%
2030 2.69% 1.93%
2029 2.6% 1.94%
2028 2.64% 1.96%
2027 2.74% 1.96%
2026 2.75% 1.99%
2025 2.87% 2.02%
2024 2.88% 2.02%
2023 2.16% 2.02%
2022 1.45% 1.96%
2021 2.38% 2.08%
2020 3.2% 1.89%
2019 3.03% 1.52%
2018 2.95% 1.55%
2017 2.85% 1.61%
2016 2.57% 1.7%
2015 3.17% 1.79%
2014 3.7% 1.87%
2013 3.48% 1.96%
2012 4.13% 2.04%
2011 3.76% 2.12%
2010 2.98% 2.22%
2009 3.71% 2.34%
2008 2.21% 2.41%
2007 1.91% 2.45%
2006 4.18% 2.47%
2005 3.58% 2.49%
2004 3.64% 2.53%
2003 6.34% 2.6%
2002 5.39% 2.42%
2001 0.76% 1.64%
2000 1.22% 1.11%
1999 3.8% 1.2%
1998 3.84% 1.32%
1997 3.88% 1.43%
1996 4.09% 1.53%
1995 5.02% 1.63%
1994 8.75% 1.74%
1993 12.5% 1.84%
1992 8.5% 1.92%
1991 1.6% 2.21%
1990 1.44% 2.5%
1989 3.04% 2.6%
1988 1.19% 2.65%
1987 -0.28% 2.49%
1986 -0.06% 2.29%
1985 2.11% 2.13%
1984 2.49% 1.93%
1983 -0.67% 1.83%
1982 -7.93% 1.88%
1981 -9.35% 2.1%
1980 -3.56% 2.38%
1979 0.32% 2.62%
1978 2.03% 2.73%
1977 2.15% 2.68%
1976 2.24% 2.55%
1975 2.44% 2.4%
1974 2.56% 2.26%
1973 2.57% 2.17%
1972 2.47% 2.16%
1971 2.46% 2.2%
1970 2.48% 2.03%
1969 2.42% 1.76%
1968 2.39% 1.59%
1967 2.33% 1.41%
1966 2.3% 1.25%
1965 2.26% 1.15%
1964 2.18% 1.07%
1963 2.13% 1.02%
1962 2.07% 1.01%
1961 1.98% 1.02%

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Sao Tome
Current population
45409324
246362
Population rank 36/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.003%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.88 hours
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.35 hours
One death every
2.19 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +13
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 49/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 -650
Net migration rank 179/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -650
2024 - -44,089 - -604
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 5,221 -592
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 5,102 -592
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 4,954 -782
2020 1,134,407 143,634 4,874 0
2019 1,138,485 9,159 4,932 -1,716
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 4,957 -1,757
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 5,007 -1,779
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 5,125 -1,793
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 5,269 -1,809
2014 1,053,788 233,913 5,381 -1,801
2013 1,033,778 18,119 5,449 -1,787
2012 1,004,814 68,628 5,501 -1,739
2011 966,743 384,486 5,445 -1,616
2010 943,473 -167,460 5,391 -1,529
2009 920,581 -60,602 5,349 -1,328
2008 891,246 215,753 5,297 -1,203
2007 889,848 -851,298 5,226 -1,127
2006 875,301 57,673 5,057 -1,031
2005 855,112 250,971 4,897 -941
2004 850,940 -269,194 4,810 -894
2003 826,165 247,317 4,702 -816
2002 776,048 860,349 4,591 -690
2001 764,090 -212,872 4,471 -1,289
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 4,334 -2,798
1999 760,727 -32,400 4,221 -2,594
1998 719,860 7,380 4,120 -2,364
1997 709,778 -21,215 4,041 -2,153
1996 685,005 4,072 3,993 -1,974
1995 653,280 52,505 3,948 -1,829
1994 609,096 315,206 3,860 -1,644
1993 541,257 1,149,684 3,841 -1,527
1992 440,132 1,197,329 3,822 -1,432
1991 409,954 32,782 3,801 -1,362
1990 402,433 -458,737 3,719 -727
1989 381,158 18,296 3,576 -571
1988 358,397 -56,263 3,544 -465
1987 314,361 -345,535 3,440 -470
1986 310,066 -343,397 3,180 -614
1985 228,469 -208,685 3,242 -828
1984 205,262 248,224 3,163 -1,041
1983 263,778 -172,797 3,100 -1,203
1982 263,210 -500,998 3,047 -1,203
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 3,015 -1,067
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 2,965 -770
1979 361,750 -525,413 2,893 -491
1978 369,101 -117,186 2,800 -279
1977 372,567 -83,115 2,705 -255
1976 357,775 -85,430 2,608 -302
1975 343,850 -44,418 2,515 -392
1974 330,232 -20,009 2,422 -474
1973 315,062 -3,030 2,329 -525
1972 300,633 -4,050 2,232 -517
1971 288,267 -12,801 2,127 -430
1970 275,129 4,458 1,980 -279
1969 263,823 2,029 1,862 -469
1968 251,798 3,333 1,767 -520
1967 239,967 6,824 1,693 -606
1966 228,786 3,563 1,642 -688
1965 217,741 10,695 1,611 -765
1964 207,867 7,079 1,600 -819
1963 198,035 6,681 1,609 -886
1962 188,427 7,016 1,625 -927
1961 179,094 6,109 1,657 -960
1960 170,257 2,606 1,547 -860

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

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
Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K

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/sao-tome-and-principe | 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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