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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 2.21 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Afghanistan vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Somalia
2100 131,803,615 68,384,185
2099 131,145,502 68,040,371
2098 130,482,225 67,702,230
2097 129,808,066 67,362,336
2096 129,147,895 66,972,933
2095 128,473,977 66,585,659
2094 127,761,785 66,179,819
2093 127,018,448 65,760,590
2092 126,270,202 65,324,261
2091 125,508,788 64,852,843
2090 124,636,092 64,362,727
2089 123,843,293 63,922,797
2088 123,034,495 63,464,036
2087 122,147,758 62,987,028
2086 121,381,088 62,447,029
2085 120,486,343 61,873,597
2084 119,491,780 61,318,916
2083 118,631,246 60,761,800
2082 117,742,446 60,187,980
2081 116,842,143 59,676,722
2080 115,793,841 59,100,915
2079 114,630,140 58,477,428
2078 113,624,958 57,852,528
2077 112,523,374 57,211,821
2076 111,442,221 56,602,463
2075 110,399,328 56,005,600
2074 109,236,338 55,330,165
2073 107,960,305 54,651,918
2072 106,746,984 53,978,548
2071 105,568,382 53,284,016
2070 104,230,485 52,573,210
2069 102,964,062 51,878,214
2068 101,629,164 51,197,653
2067 100,380,826 50,493,028
2066 99,116,663 49,779,172
2065 97,714,113 49,024,665
2064 96,306,602 48,265,876
2063 94,949,108 47,522,361
2062 93,579,065 46,785,920
2061 92,316,077 46,037,526
2060 91,000,643 45,220,507
2059 89,717,353 44,397,936
2058 88,346,732 43,659,021
2057 86,917,997 42,897,422
2056 85,480,219 42,121,542
2055 84,074,268 41,318,179
2054 82,676,432 40,513,141
2053 81,285,014 39,744,995
2052 79,908,081 38,992,177
2051 78,643,202 38,228,872
2050 77,331,830 37,471,735
2049 75,864,863 36,739,905
2048 74,479,782 35,984,999
2047 73,119,204 35,218,863
2046 71,697,214 34,462,403
2045 70,353,118 33,717,596
2044 69,024,959 32,977,674
2043 67,657,423 32,247,710
2042 66,357,363 31,537,272
2041 64,976,778 30,794,853
2040 63,535,531 30,032,324
2039 62,129,737 29,312,883
2038 60,803,646 28,583,386
2037 59,454,331 27,838,646
2036 58,114,874 27,114,453
2035 56,804,011 26,385,421
2034 55,502,408 25,687,629
2033 54,135,876 25,018,509
2032 52,791,273 24,338,597
2031 51,433,991 23,657,353
2030 50,079,746 22,965,742
2029 48,768,949 22,299,610
2028 47,533,470 21,651,582
2027 46,310,865 20,991,860
2026 45,075,045 20,322,668
2025 43,870,455 19,666,990
2024 42,647,492 19,009,151
2023 41,454,761 18,358,615
2022 40,578,842 17,801,897
2021 40,000,412 17,271,431
2020 39,068,979 16,651,191
2019 37,856,121 16,030,971
2018 36,743,039 15,452,487
2017 35,688,935 14,916,629
2016 34,700,612 14,348,740
2015 33,831,764 13,806,963
2014 32,792,523 13,339,491
2013 31,622,704 12,869,594
2012 30,560,034 12,461,160
2011 29,347,708 12,348,830
2010 28,284,089 12,261,756
2009 27,466,101 11,961,201
2008 26,482,622 11,663,084
2007 25,909,852 11,322,582
2006 25,424,094 10,975,502
2005 24,404,567 10,644,228
2004 23,560,654 10,280,998
2003 22,733,049 9,909,157
2002 21,378,117 9,550,063
2001 20,284,307 9,198,493
2000 20,130,327 8,838,713
1999 19,887,785 8,492,059
1998 19,159,996 8,155,417
1997 18,452,091 7,824,525
1996 17,763,266 7,554,474
1995 17,065,836 7,285,007
1994 16,250,794 7,026,797
1993 14,943,172 6,681,399
1992 13,278,974 6,495,107
1991 12,238,879 6,813,760
1990 12,045,660 7,082,811
1989 11,874,088 7,114,817
1988 11,523,298 7,235,360
1987 11,387,818 7,228,302
1986 11,420,074 6,974,788
1985 11,426,852 6,693,289
1984 11,190,221 6,428,389
1983 10,917,982 6,198,430
1982 10,991,378 6,003,840
1981 11,937,581 5,982,849
1980 13,169,311 5,936,154
1979 13,655,567 5,449,117
1978 13,611,441 4,814,892
1977 13,340,756 4,484,050
1976 13,059,851 4,365,812
1975 12,773,954 4,257,535
1974 12,469,127 4,151,842
1973 12,157,999 4,045,592
1972 11,853,696 3,939,436
1971 11,567,667 3,837,691
1970 11,290,128 3,738,448
1969 11,017,409 3,641,015
1968 10,756,922 3,546,590
1967 10,505,959 3,454,537
1966 10,266,395 3,365,106
1965 10,036,008 3,277,874
1964 9,814,318 3,192,796
1963 9,604,487 3,110,361
1962 9,404,406 3,030,091
1961 9,214,083 2,952,054
1960 9,035,043 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Somalia
2100 0.5% 0.51%
2099 0.51% 0.5%
2098 0.52% 0.5%
2097 0.51% 0.58%
2096 0.52% 0.58%
2095 0.56% 0.61%
2094 0.59% 0.64%
2093 0.59% 0.67%
2092 0.61% 0.73%
2091 0.7% 0.76%
2090 0.64% 0.69%
2089 0.66% 0.72%
2088 0.73% 0.76%
2087 0.63% 0.86%
2086 0.74% 0.93%
2085 0.83% 0.9%
2084 0.73% 0.92%
2083 0.75% 0.95%
2082 0.77% 0.86%
2081 0.91% 0.97%
2080 1.02% 1.07%
2079 0.88% 1.08%
2078 0.98% 1.12%
2077 0.97% 1.08%
2076 0.94% 1.07%
2075 1.06% 1.22%
2074 1.18% 1.24%
2073 1.14% 1.25%
2072 1.12% 1.3%
2071 1.28% 1.35%
2070 1.23% 1.34%
2069 1.31% 1.33%
2068 1.24% 1.4%
2067 1.28% 1.43%
2066 1.44% 1.54%
2065 1.46% 1.57%
2064 1.43% 1.56%
2063 1.46% 1.57%
2062 1.37% 1.63%
2061 1.45% 1.81%
2060 1.43% 1.85%
2059 1.55% 1.69%
2058 1.64% 1.78%
2057 1.68% 1.84%
2056 1.67% 1.94%
2055 1.69% 1.99%
2054 1.71% 1.93%
2053 1.72% 1.93%
2052 1.61% 2%
2051 1.7% 2.02%
2050 1.93% 1.99%
2049 1.86% 2.1%
2048 1.86% 2.18%
2047 1.98% 2.2%
2046 1.91% 2.21%
2045 1.92% 2.24%
2044 2.02% 2.26%
2043 1.96% 2.25%
2042 2.12% 2.41%
2041 2.27% 2.54%
2040 2.26% 2.45%
2039 2.18% 2.55%
2038 2.27% 2.68%
2037 2.3% 2.67%
2036 2.31% 2.76%
2035 2.35% 2.72%
2034 2.52% 2.67%
2033 2.55% 2.79%
2032 2.64% 2.88%
2031 2.7% 3.01%
2030 2.69% 2.99%
2029 2.6% 2.99%
2028 2.64% 3.14%
2027 2.74% 3.29%
2026 2.75% 3.33%
2025 2.87% 3.46%
2024 2.88% 3.54%
2023 2.16% 3.13%
2022 1.45% 3.07%
2021 2.38% 3.72%
2020 3.2% 3.87%
2019 3.03% 3.74%
2018 2.95% 3.59%
2017 2.85% 3.96%
2016 2.57% 3.92%
2015 3.17% 3.5%
2014 3.7% 3.65%
2013 3.48% 3.28%
2012 4.13% 0.91%
2011 3.76% 0.71%
2010 2.98% 2.51%
2009 3.71% 2.56%
2008 2.21% 3.01%
2007 1.91% 3.16%
2006 4.18% 3.11%
2005 3.58% 3.53%
2004 3.64% 3.75%
2003 6.34% 3.76%
2002 5.39% 3.82%
2001 0.76% 4.07%
2000 1.22% 4.08%
1999 3.8% 4.13%
1998 3.84% 4.23%
1997 3.88% 3.57%
1996 4.09% 3.7%
1995 5.02% 3.67%
1994 8.75% 5.17%
1993 12.5% 2.87%
1992 8.5% -4.68%
1991 1.6% -3.8%
1990 1.44% -0.45%
1989 3.04% -1.67%
1988 1.19% 0.1%
1987 -0.28% 3.63%
1986 -0.06% 4.21%
1985 2.11% 4.12%
1984 2.49% 3.71%
1983 -0.67% 3.24%
1982 -7.93% 0.35%
1981 -9.35% 0.79%
1980 -3.56% 8.94%
1979 0.32% 13.2%
1978 2.03% 7.38%
1977 2.15% 2.71%
1976 2.24% 2.54%
1975 2.44% 2.55%
1974 2.56% 2.63%
1973 2.57% 2.69%
1972 2.47% 2.65%
1971 2.46% 2.65%
1970 2.48% 2.68%
1969 2.42% 2.66%
1968 2.39% 2.66%
1967 2.33% 2.66%
1966 2.3% 2.66%
1965 2.26% 2.66%
1964 2.18% 2.65%
1963 2.13% 2.65%
1962 2.07% 2.64%
1961 1.98% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Somalia
Current population
45409324
20503678
Population rank 36/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.25%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
48.5 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
40 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 8/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +12,077
Net migration rank 179/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 12,077
2024 - -44,089 - 26,859
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 608,203 46,217
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 551,450 -92,434
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 566,399 35,506
2020 1,134,407 143,634 561,311 77,259
2019 1,138,485 9,159 548,756 53,124
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 514,244 40,844
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 478,556 38,067
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 495,132 124,017
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 481,573 -17,178
2014 1,053,788 233,913 464,481 6,065
2013 1,033,778 18,119 448,518 20,723
2012 1,004,814 68,628 399,468 -51,833
2011 966,743 384,486 203,213 -326,192
2010 943,473 -167,460 385,571 -88,448
2009 920,581 -60,602 405,784 -101,795
2008 891,246 215,753 394,258 -102,035
2007 889,848 -851,298 380,303 8,476
2006 875,301 57,673 372,597 -67,200
2005 855,112 250,971 363,117 -5,955
2004 850,940 -269,194 351,959 17,353
2003 826,165 247,317 341,192 33,174
2002 776,048 860,349 331,215 12,603
2001 764,090 -212,872 319,059 40,274
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 306,651 53,580
1999 760,727 -32,400 295,523 37,548
1998 719,860 7,380 284,779 55,426
1997 709,778 -21,215 271,894 49,692
1996 685,005 4,072 264,807 -46,291
1995 653,280 52,505 254,509 65,888
1994 609,096 315,206 246,950 -50,921
1993 541,257 1,149,684 232,960 261,815
1992 440,132 1,197,329 57,495 -179,675
1991 409,954 32,782 53,052 -568,166
1990 402,433 -458,737 225,162 -248,155
1989 381,158 18,296 225,255 -266,281
1988 358,397 -56,263 215,599 -415,660
1987 314,361 -345,535 231,580 -17,391
1986 310,066 -343,397 218,416 74,424
1985 228,469 -208,685 207,960 62,183
1984 205,262 248,224 199,017 60,630
1983 263,778 -172,797 190,775 9,505
1982 263,210 -500,998 182,793 6,115
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 185,211 -332,129
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 174,790 65,519
1979 361,750 -525,413 151,016 582,746
1978 369,101 -117,186 132,689 402,005
1977 372,567 -83,115 124,818 2,170
1976 357,775 -85,430 113,319 -3,831
1975 343,850 -44,418 108,998 -1,934
1974 330,232 -20,009 104,813 -495
1973 315,062 -3,030 108,038 143
1972 300,633 -4,050 104,493 -351
1971 288,267 -12,801 101,196 -1,850
1970 275,129 4,458 98,025 1,104
1969 263,823 2,029 95,045 690
1968 251,798 3,333 92,208 906
1967 239,967 6,824 89,497 1,498
1966 228,786 3,563 86,930 941
1965 217,741 10,695 84,448 2,142
1964 207,867 7,079 82,042 1,518
1963 198,035 6,681 79,859 1,449
1962 188,427 7,016 77,737 1,496
1961 179,094 6,109 75,513 1,336
1960 170,257 2,606 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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