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Population in Afghanistan compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.24 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.99% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Saudi Arabia
2100 131,803,615 74,230,118
2099 131,145,502 73,760,045
2098 130,482,225 73,287,526
2097 129,808,066 72,813,125
2096 129,147,895 72,336,039
2095 128,473,977 71,858,206
2094 127,761,785 71,379,928
2093 127,018,448 70,900,460
2092 126,270,202 70,420,464
2091 125,508,788 69,940,749
2090 124,636,092 69,462,214
2089 123,843,293 68,985,976
2088 123,034,495 68,510,277
2087 122,147,758 68,035,545
2086 121,381,088 67,562,521
2085 120,486,343 67,091,615
2084 119,491,780 66,621,667
2083 118,631,246 66,152,653
2082 117,742,446 65,684,321
2081 116,842,143 65,216,102
2080 115,793,841 64,749,128
2079 114,630,140 64,282,393
2078 113,624,958 63,815,918
2077 112,523,374 63,348,712
2076 111,442,221 62,880,120
2075 110,399,328 62,409,793
2074 109,236,338 61,937,628
2073 107,960,305 61,462,662
2072 106,746,984 60,984,202
2071 105,568,382 60,502,791
2070 104,230,485 60,018,216
2069 102,964,062 59,529,456
2068 101,629,164 59,036,086
2067 100,380,826 58,539,487
2066 99,116,663 58,039,687
2065 97,714,113 57,537,106
2064 96,306,602 57,032,172
2063 94,949,108 56,524,331
2062 93,579,065 56,014,549
2061 92,316,077 55,501,467
2060 91,000,643 54,986,901
2059 89,717,353 54,469,809
2058 88,346,732 53,950,469
2057 86,917,997 53,430,639
2056 85,480,219 52,909,061
2055 84,074,268 52,386,571
2054 82,676,432 51,862,312
2053 81,285,014 51,336,335
2052 79,908,081 50,809,100
2051 78,643,202 50,280,719
2050 77,331,830 49,751,739
2049 75,864,863 49,221,828
2048 74,479,782 48,690,143
2047 73,119,204 48,157,605
2046 71,697,214 47,623,246
2045 70,353,118 47,087,215
2044 69,024,959 46,550,306
2043 67,657,423 46,013,232
2042 66,357,363 45,475,200
2041 64,976,778 44,936,131
2040 63,535,531 44,396,093
2039 62,129,737 43,856,006
2038 60,803,646 43,314,707
2037 59,454,331 42,773,375
2036 58,114,874 42,231,639
2035 56,804,011 41,690,245
2034 55,502,408 41,150,029
2033 54,135,876 40,611,021
2032 52,791,273 40,073,144
2031 51,433,991 39,535,357
2030 50,079,746 38,998,581
2029 48,768,949 38,417,447
2028 47,533,470 37,810,902
2027 46,310,865 37,189,969
2026 45,075,045 36,566,201
2025 43,870,455 35,932,673
2024 42,647,492 35,300,280
2023 41,454,761 33,702,731
2022 40,578,842 32,175,224
2021 40,000,412 30,784,383
2020 39,068,979 31,552,510
2019 37,856,121 30,063,799
2018 36,743,039 30,196,281
2017 35,688,935 30,977,355
2016 34,700,612 30,954,198
2015 33,831,764 29,816,382
2014 32,792,523 28,309,273
2013 31,622,704 27,624,004
2012 30,560,034 26,168,861
2011 29,347,708 25,091,867
2010 28,284,089 23,978,487
2009 27,466,101 24,217,654
2008 26,482,622 23,287,877
2007 25,909,852 22,368,313
2006 25,424,094 21,459,144
2005 24,404,567 20,559,890
2004 23,560,654 19,669,480
2003 22,733,049 18,786,767
2002 21,378,117 17,910,910
2001 20,284,307 17,041,397
2000 20,130,327 16,177,722
1999 19,887,785 15,472,075
1998 19,159,996 14,922,185
1997 18,452,091 14,374,943
1996 17,763,266 13,831,009
1995 17,065,836 13,289,245
1994 16,250,794 12,750,040
1993 14,943,172 12,215,862
1992 13,278,974 11,686,676
1991 12,238,879 11,160,744
1990 12,045,660 10,640,691
1989 11,874,088 10,128,394
1988 11,523,298 9,629,165
1987 11,387,818 9,130,194
1986 11,420,074 8,628,639
1985 11,426,852 8,151,779
1984 11,190,221 7,697,307
1983 10,917,982 7,252,941
1982 10,991,378 6,824,486
1981 11,937,581 6,420,551
1980 13,169,311 6,047,997
1979 13,655,567 5,703,698
1978 13,611,441 5,381,902
1977 13,340,756 5,083,048
1976 13,059,851 4,807,933
1975 12,773,954 4,556,287
1974 12,469,127 4,323,632
1973 12,157,999 4,106,344
1972 11,853,696 3,905,722
1971 11,567,667 3,724,031
1970 11,290,128 3,562,470
1969 11,017,409 3,417,114
1968 10,756,922 3,282,711
1967 10,505,959 3,157,242
1966 10,266,395 3,039,887
1965 10,036,008 2,928,771
1964 9,814,318 2,821,968
1963 9,604,487 2,719,341
1962 9,404,406 2,620,910
1961 9,214,083 2,526,347
1960 9,035,043 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Saudi Arabia
2100 0.5% 0.64%
2099 0.51% 0.64%
2098 0.52% 0.65%
2097 0.51% 0.66%
2096 0.52% 0.66%
2095 0.56% 0.67%
2094 0.59% 0.68%
2093 0.59% 0.68%
2092 0.61% 0.69%
2091 0.7% 0.69%
2090 0.64% 0.69%
2089 0.66% 0.69%
2088 0.73% 0.7%
2087 0.63% 0.7%
2086 0.74% 0.7%
2085 0.83% 0.71%
2084 0.73% 0.71%
2083 0.75% 0.71%
2082 0.77% 0.72%
2081 0.91% 0.72%
2080 1.02% 0.73%
2079 0.88% 0.73%
2078 0.98% 0.74%
2077 0.97% 0.75%
2076 0.94% 0.75%
2075 1.06% 0.76%
2074 1.18% 0.77%
2073 1.14% 0.78%
2072 1.12% 0.8%
2071 1.28% 0.81%
2070 1.23% 0.82%
2069 1.31% 0.84%
2068 1.24% 0.85%
2067 1.28% 0.86%
2066 1.44% 0.87%
2065 1.46% 0.89%
2064 1.43% 0.9%
2063 1.46% 0.91%
2062 1.37% 0.92%
2061 1.45% 0.94%
2060 1.43% 0.95%
2059 1.55% 0.96%
2058 1.64% 0.97%
2057 1.68% 0.99%
2056 1.67% 1%
2055 1.69% 1.01%
2054 1.71% 1.02%
2053 1.72% 1.04%
2052 1.61% 1.05%
2051 1.7% 1.06%
2050 1.93% 1.08%
2049 1.86% 1.09%
2048 1.86% 1.11%
2047 1.98% 1.12%
2046 1.91% 1.14%
2045 1.92% 1.15%
2044 2.02% 1.17%
2043 1.96% 1.18%
2042 2.12% 1.2%
2041 2.27% 1.22%
2040 2.26% 1.23%
2039 2.18% 1.25%
2038 2.27% 1.27%
2037 2.3% 1.28%
2036 2.31% 1.3%
2035 2.35% 1.31%
2034 2.52% 1.33%
2033 2.55% 1.34%
2032 2.64% 1.36%
2031 2.7% 1.38%
2030 2.69% 1.51%
2029 2.6% 1.6%
2028 2.64% 1.67%
2027 2.74% 1.71%
2026 2.75% 1.76%
2025 2.87% 1.79%
2024 2.88% 4.74%
2023 2.16% 4.75%
2022 1.45% 4.52%
2021 2.38% -2.43%
2020 3.2% 4.95%
2019 3.03% -0.44%
2018 2.95% -2.52%
2017 2.85% 0.07%
2016 2.57% 3.82%
2015 3.17% 5.32%
2014 3.7% 2.48%
2013 3.48% 5.56%
2012 4.13% 4.29%
2011 3.76% 4.64%
2010 2.98% -0.99%
2009 3.71% 3.99%
2008 2.21% 4.11%
2007 1.91% 4.24%
2006 4.18% 4.37%
2005 3.58% 4.53%
2004 3.64% 4.7%
2003 6.34% 4.89%
2002 5.39% 5.1%
2001 0.76% 5.34%
2000 1.22% 4.56%
1999 3.8% 3.69%
1998 3.84% 3.81%
1997 3.88% 3.93%
1996 4.09% 4.08%
1995 5.02% 4.23%
1994 8.75% 4.37%
1993 12.5% 4.53%
1992 8.5% 4.71%
1991 1.6% 4.89%
1990 1.44% 5.06%
1989 3.04% 5.18%
1988 1.19% 5.47%
1987 -0.28% 5.81%
1986 -0.06% 5.85%
1985 2.11% 5.9%
1984 2.49% 6.13%
1983 -0.67% 6.28%
1982 -7.93% 6.29%
1981 -9.35% 6.16%
1980 -3.56% 6.04%
1979 0.32% 5.98%
1978 2.03% 5.88%
1977 2.15% 5.72%
1976 2.24% 5.52%
1975 2.44% 5.38%
1974 2.56% 5.29%
1973 2.57% 5.14%
1972 2.47% 4.88%
1971 2.46% 4.54%
1970 2.48% 4.25%
1969 2.42% 4.09%
1968 2.39% 3.97%
1967 2.33% 3.86%
1966 2.3% 3.79%
1965 2.26% 3.78%
1964 2.18% 3.77%
1963 2.13% 3.76%
1962 2.07% 3.74%
1961 1.98% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Saudi Arabia
Current population
45409324
36734925
Population rank 36/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.44%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
19.7 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
57 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 4/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +119,738
Net migration rank 179/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 119,738
2024 - -44,089 - 122,170
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 474,366 325,691
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 406,920 977,072
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 409,032 -106,287
2020 1,134,407 143,634 447,036 -74,725
2019 1,138,485 9,159 474,407 191,582
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 528,767 -988,751
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 546,751 -920,812
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 537,829 -26,997
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 511,023 465,292
2014 1,053,788 233,913 493,431 469,144
2013 1,033,778 18,119 475,299 485,794
2012 1,004,814 68,628 465,649 479,206
2011 966,743 384,486 443,675 491,253
2010 943,473 -167,460 418,641 504,955
2009 920,581 -60,602 438,557 496,229
2008 891,246 215,753 433,457 491,337
2007 889,848 -851,298 425,199 489,136
2006 875,301 57,673 399,333 504,661
2005 855,112 250,971 375,938 518,565
2004 850,940 -269,194 362,843 523,472
2003 826,165 247,317 364,520 514,606
2002 776,048 860,349 372,099 500,508
2001 764,090 -212,872 382,153 484,252
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 392,407 468,515
1999 760,727 -32,400 390,112 160,263
1998 719,860 7,380 389,499 159,898
1997 709,778 -21,215 385,033 160,066
1996 685,005 4,072 382,248 160,532
1995 653,280 52,505 380,231 160,512
1994 609,096 315,206 377,351 160,306
1993 541,257 1,149,684 372,621 158,074
1992 440,132 1,197,329 366,763 160,908
1991 409,954 32,782 361,329 162,857
1990 402,433 -458,737 355,495 160,416
1989 381,158 18,296 349,399 159,273
1988 358,397 -56,263 342,865 146,918
1987 314,361 -345,535 333,088 175,075
1986 310,066 -343,397 322,340 172,606
1985 228,469 -208,685 310,558 148,208
1984 205,262 248,224 296,615 153,562
1983 263,778 -172,797 280,616 157,930
1982 263,210 -500,998 264,831 153,528
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 249,156 140,355
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 234,372 121,220
1979 361,750 -525,413 220,186 112,826
1978 369,101 -117,186 205,331 105,263
1977 372,567 -83,115 191,103 96,015
1976 357,775 -85,430 178,024 85,083
1975 343,850 -44,418 166,223 73,960
1974 330,232 -20,009 155,478 69,653
1973 315,062 -3,030 145,450 63,995
1972 300,633 -4,050 136,360 55,439
1971 288,267 -12,801 127,600 43,989
1970 275,129 4,458 120,440 31,097
1969 263,823 2,029 113,859 25,312
1968 251,798 3,333 108,281 21,366
1967 239,967 6,824 103,343 17,947
1966 228,786 3,563 98,361 15,054
1965 217,741 10,695 93,820 15,000
1964 207,867 7,079 89,776 15,000
1963 198,035 6,681 85,480 15,000
1962 188,427 7,016 81,393 15,000
1961 179,094 6,109 77,743 15,000
1960 170,257 2,606 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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