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Population in Afghanistan compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 5.02 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Afghanistan vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Sierra Leone
2100 131,803,615 16,111,324
2099 131,145,502 16,126,181
2098 130,482,225 16,139,280
2097 129,808,066 16,154,153
2096 129,147,895 16,164,923
2095 128,473,977 16,173,557
2094 127,761,785 16,173,155
2093 127,018,448 16,177,864
2092 126,270,202 16,175,032
2091 125,508,788 16,168,153
2090 124,636,092 16,158,415
2089 123,843,293 16,146,773
2088 123,034,495 16,133,018
2087 122,147,758 16,116,823
2086 121,381,088 16,089,780
2085 120,486,343 16,068,438
2084 119,491,780 16,044,782
2083 118,631,246 16,011,134
2082 117,742,446 15,975,073
2081 116,842,143 15,935,071
2080 115,793,841 15,896,846
2079 114,630,140 15,854,898
2078 113,624,958 15,805,607
2077 112,523,374 15,754,551
2076 111,442,221 15,699,439
2075 110,399,328 15,639,458
2074 109,236,338 15,584,377
2073 107,960,305 15,516,736
2072 106,746,984 15,446,543
2071 105,568,382 15,374,790
2070 104,230,485 15,297,449
2069 102,964,062 15,216,666
2068 101,629,164 15,128,048
2067 100,380,826 15,032,144
2066 99,116,663 14,935,222
2065 97,714,113 14,837,697
2064 96,306,602 14,740,749
2063 94,949,108 14,642,031
2062 93,579,065 14,529,557
2061 92,316,077 14,423,861
2060 91,000,643 14,311,215
2059 89,717,353 14,198,706
2058 88,346,732 14,080,827
2057 86,917,997 13,960,869
2056 85,480,219 13,836,132
2055 84,074,268 13,706,113
2054 82,676,432 13,579,802
2053 81,285,014 13,444,465
2052 79,908,081 13,303,409
2051 78,643,202 13,156,370
2050 77,331,830 13,010,109
2049 75,864,863 12,867,021
2048 74,479,782 12,716,015
2047 73,119,204 12,570,250
2046 71,697,214 12,414,307
2045 70,353,118 12,257,874
2044 69,024,959 12,092,075
2043 67,657,423 11,931,531
2042 66,357,363 11,770,467
2041 64,976,778 11,602,993
2040 63,535,531 11,431,337
2039 62,129,737 11,262,807
2038 60,803,646 11,100,099
2037 59,454,331 10,931,629
2036 58,114,874 10,760,758
2035 56,804,011 10,585,702
2034 55,502,408 10,413,826
2033 54,135,876 10,241,196
2032 52,791,273 10,062,575
2031 51,433,991 9,883,708
2030 50,079,746 9,708,038
2029 48,768,949 9,532,000
2028 47,533,470 9,360,873
2027 46,310,865 9,179,702
2026 45,075,045 9,001,269
2025 43,870,455 8,822,114
2024 42,647,492 8,642,022
2023 41,454,761 8,460,512
2022 40,578,842 8,276,807
2021 40,000,412 8,094,602
2020 39,068,979 7,912,558
2019 37,856,121 7,731,991
2018 36,743,039 7,554,563
2017 35,688,935 7,379,299
2016 34,700,612 7,205,328
2015 33,831,764 7,037,655
2014 32,792,523 6,876,385
2013 31,622,704 6,714,051
2012 30,560,034 6,551,080
2011 29,347,708 6,387,251
2010 28,284,089 6,222,714
2009 27,466,101 6,055,646
2008 26,482,622 5,894,722
2007 25,909,852 5,749,352
2006 25,424,094 5,624,466
2005 24,404,567 5,501,712
2004 23,560,654 5,355,717
2003 22,733,049 5,177,687
2002 21,378,117 4,971,435
2001 20,284,307 4,692,716
2000 20,130,327 4,423,611
1999 19,887,785 4,318,043
1998 19,159,996 4,295,785
1997 18,452,091 4,253,716
1996 17,763,266 4,199,210
1995 17,065,836 4,179,179
1994 16,250,794 4,173,105
1993 14,943,172 4,157,130
1992 13,278,974 4,166,366
1991 12,238,879 4,246,267
1990 12,045,660 4,196,828
1989 11,874,088 4,034,037
1988 11,523,298 3,934,517
1987 11,387,818 3,829,718
1986 11,420,074 3,728,380
1985 11,426,852 3,638,438
1984 11,190,221 3,558,758
1983 10,917,982 3,481,646
1982 10,991,378 3,408,183
1981 11,937,581 3,338,940
1980 13,169,311 3,272,089
1979 13,655,567 3,207,499
1978 13,611,441 3,145,517
1977 13,340,756 3,085,354
1976 13,059,851 3,028,820
1975 12,773,954 2,974,657
1974 12,469,127 2,920,459
1973 12,157,999 2,866,955
1972 11,853,696 2,814,388
1971 11,567,667 2,763,222
1970 11,290,128 2,712,286
1969 11,017,409 2,661,365
1968 10,756,922 2,611,532
1967 10,505,959 2,562,384
1966 10,266,395 2,514,638
1965 10,036,008 2,468,666
1964 9,814,318 2,424,390
1963 9,604,487 2,382,258
1962 9,404,406 2,342,242
1961 9,214,083 2,304,227
1960 9,035,043 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Sierra Leone
2100 0.5% -0.09%
2099 0.51% -0.08%
2098 0.52% -0.09%
2097 0.51% -0.07%
2096 0.52% -0.05%
2095 0.56% 0.002%
2094 0.59% -0.03%
2093 0.59% 0.02%
2092 0.61% 0.04%
2091 0.7% 0.06%
2090 0.64% 0.07%
2089 0.66% 0.09%
2088 0.73% 0.1%
2087 0.63% 0.17%
2086 0.74% 0.13%
2085 0.83% 0.15%
2084 0.73% 0.21%
2083 0.75% 0.23%
2082 0.77% 0.25%
2081 0.91% 0.24%
2080 1.02% 0.26%
2079 0.88% 0.31%
2078 0.98% 0.32%
2077 0.97% 0.35%
2076 0.94% 0.38%
2075 1.06% 0.35%
2074 1.18% 0.44%
2073 1.14% 0.45%
2072 1.12% 0.47%
2071 1.28% 0.51%
2070 1.23% 0.53%
2069 1.31% 0.59%
2068 1.24% 0.64%
2067 1.28% 0.65%
2066 1.44% 0.66%
2065 1.46% 0.66%
2064 1.43% 0.67%
2063 1.46% 0.77%
2062 1.37% 0.73%
2061 1.45% 0.79%
2060 1.43% 0.79%
2059 1.55% 0.84%
2058 1.64% 0.86%
2057 1.68% 0.9%
2056 1.67% 0.95%
2055 1.69% 0.93%
2054 1.71% 1.01%
2053 1.72% 1.06%
2052 1.61% 1.12%
2051 1.7% 1.12%
2050 1.93% 1.11%
2049 1.86% 1.19%
2048 1.86% 1.16%
2047 1.98% 1.26%
2046 1.91% 1.28%
2045 1.92% 1.37%
2044 2.02% 1.35%
2043 1.96% 1.37%
2042 2.12% 1.44%
2041 2.27% 1.5%
2040 2.26% 1.5%
2039 2.18% 1.47%
2038 2.27% 1.54%
2037 2.3% 1.59%
2036 2.31% 1.65%
2035 2.35% 1.65%
2034 2.52% 1.69%
2033 2.55% 1.78%
2032 2.64% 1.81%
2031 2.7% 1.81%
2030 2.69% 1.85%
2029 2.6% 1.83%
2028 2.64% 1.97%
2027 2.74% 1.98%
2026 2.75% 2.03%
2025 2.87% 2.08%
2024 2.88% 2.15%
2023 2.16% 2.22%
2022 1.45% 2.25%
2021 2.38% 2.3%
2020 3.2% 2.34%
2019 3.03% 2.35%
2018 2.95% 2.38%
2017 2.85% 2.41%
2016 2.57% 2.38%
2015 3.17% 2.35%
2014 3.7% 2.42%
2013 3.48% 2.49%
2012 4.13% 2.56%
2011 3.76% 2.64%
2010 2.98% 2.76%
2009 3.71% 2.73%
2008 2.21% 2.53%
2007 1.91% 2.22%
2006 4.18% 2.23%
2005 3.58% 2.73%
2004 3.64% 3.44%
2003 6.34% 4.15%
2002 5.39% 5.94%
2001 0.76% 6.08%
2000 1.22% 2.44%
1999 3.8% 0.52%
1998 3.84% 0.99%
1997 3.88% 1.3%
1996 4.09% 0.48%
1995 5.02% 0.15%
1994 8.75% 0.38%
1993 12.5% -0.22%
1992 8.5% -1.88%
1991 1.6% 1.18%
1990 1.44% 4.04%
1989 3.04% 2.53%
1988 1.19% 2.74%
1987 -0.28% 2.72%
1986 -0.06% 2.47%
1985 2.11% 2.24%
1984 2.49% 2.21%
1983 -0.67% 2.16%
1982 -7.93% 2.07%
1981 -9.35% 2.04%
1980 -3.56% 2.01%
1979 0.32% 1.97%
1978 2.03% 1.95%
1977 2.15% 1.87%
1976 2.24% 1.82%
1975 2.44% 1.86%
1974 2.56% 1.87%
1973 2.57% 1.87%
1972 2.47% 1.85%
1971 2.46% 1.88%
1970 2.48% 1.91%
1969 2.42% 1.91%
1968 2.39% 1.92%
1967 2.33% 1.9%
1966 2.3% 1.86%
1965 2.26% 1.83%
1964 2.18% 1.77%
1963 2.13% 1.71%
1962 2.07% 1.65%
1961 1.98% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Sierra Leone
Current population
45409324
9049533
Population rank 36/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.11%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +497
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 47/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -11,309
Net migration rank 179/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -11,309
2024 - -44,089 - -11,000
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 188,788 -4,000
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 186,625 -4,000
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 183,326 -1,544
2020 1,134,407 143,634 181,015 1,292
2019 1,138,485 9,159 181,068 -2,238
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 178,772 -2,741
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 173,259 1,234
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 168,784 4,657
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 162,275 -356
2014 1,053,788 233,913 160,137 485
2013 1,033,778 18,119 161,265 2,773
2012 1,004,814 68,628 160,915 988
2011 966,743 384,486 158,858 6,895
2010 943,473 -167,460 155,338 7,983
2009 920,581 -60,602 152,669 18,145
2008 891,246 215,753 149,855 1,182
2007 889,848 -851,298 145,740 -6,042
2006 875,301 57,673 144,127 -34,052
2005 855,112 250,971 137,234 -1,805
2004 850,940 -269,194 132,661 23,897
2003 826,165 247,317 130,312 69,185
2002 776,048 860,349 126,429 86,578
2001 764,090 -212,872 116,647 227,791
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 110,754 83,013
1999 760,727 -32,400 102,295 -84,926
1998 719,860 7,380 103,906 -76,766
1997 709,778 -21,215 105,433 -48,437
1996 685,005 4,072 104,140 -52,110
1995 653,280 52,505 100,885 -112,857
1994 609,096 315,206 101,486 -77,371
1993 541,257 1,149,684 103,317 -95,476
1992 440,132 1,197,329 103,251 -129,565
1991 409,954 32,782 105,477 -238,965
1990 402,433 -458,737 100,778 131,587
1989 381,158 18,296 98,298 -5,079
1988 358,397 -56,263 96,344 9,470
1987 314,361 -345,535 94,235 9,558
1986 310,066 -343,397 90,902 7,992
1985 228,469 -208,685 88,869 -7,873
1984 205,262 248,224 87,072 -8,708
1983 263,778 -172,797 84,628 -8,783
1982 263,210 -500,998 82,457 -11,379
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 80,111 -12,699
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 77,932 -11,641
1979 361,750 -525,413 75,992 -13,095
1978 369,101 -117,186 74,130 -13,073
1977 372,567 -83,115 71,663 -12,399
1976 357,775 -85,430 69,506 -15,686
1975 343,850 -44,418 67,560 -13,058
1974 330,232 -20,009 65,357 -11,473
1973 315,062 -3,030 62,443 -9,322
1972 300,633 -4,050 60,279 -8,267
1971 288,267 -12,801 58,484 -8,162
1970 275,129 4,458 56,513 -4,957
1969 263,823 2,029 54,768 -4,485
1968 251,798 3,333 53,126 -3,743
1967 239,967 6,824 51,734 -2,819
1966 228,786 3,563 49,486 -2,911
1965 217,741 10,695 47,223 -1,851
1964 207,867 7,079 45,487 -2,308
1963 198,035 6,681 43,569 -2,480
1962 188,427 7,016 41,603 -2,658
1961 179,094 6,109 40,022 -2,947
1960 170,257 2,606 38,192 -3,528

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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/sierra-leone | 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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