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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 20,653,532 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 +2.68% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Afghanistan vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Somalia
2100 131,724,468 68,341,587
2099 131,066,750 67,997,987
2098 130,403,871 67,660,056
2097 129,730,117 67,320,374
2096 129,070,342 66,931,214
2095 128,396,829 66,544,181
2094 127,685,065 66,138,594
2093 126,942,174 65,719,626
2092 126,194,378 65,283,569
2091 125,433,421 64,812,444
2090 124,561,248 64,322,633
2089 123,768,926 63,882,977
2088 122,960,614 63,424,502
2087 122,074,409 62,947,792
2086 121,308,199 62,408,129
2085 120,413,992 61,835,054
2084 119,420,025 61,280,718
2083 118,560,008 60,723,949
2082 117,671,742 60,150,487
2081 116,771,980 59,639,547
2080 115,724,307 59,064,099
2079 114,561,305 58,441,001
2078 113,556,727 57,816,490
2077 112,455,804 57,176,183
2076 111,375,301 56,567,204
2075 110,333,033 55,970,712
2074 109,170,742 55,295,699
2073 107,895,475 54,617,874
2072 106,682,883 53,944,923
2071 105,504,989 53,250,824
2070 104,167,895 52,540,460
2069 102,902,233 51,845,897
2068 101,568,136 51,165,760
2067 100,320,548 50,461,574
2066 99,057,144 49,748,163
2065 97,655,437 48,994,126
2064 96,248,770 48,235,809
2063 94,892,092 47,492,758
2062 93,522,871 46,756,776
2061 92,260,642 46,008,848
2060 90,945,998 45,192,338
2059 89,663,478 44,370,279
2058 88,293,680 43,631,825
2057 86,865,803 42,870,700
2056 85,428,888 42,095,303
2055 84,023,782 41,292,441
2054 82,626,785 40,487,904
2053 81,236,203 39,720,236
2052 79,860,096 38,967,888
2051 78,595,977 38,205,058
2050 77,285,393 37,448,393
2049 75,819,307 36,717,019
2048 74,435,057 35,962,583
2047 73,075,297 35,196,924
2046 71,654,160 34,440,935
2045 70,310,871 33,696,593
2044 68,983,509 32,957,131
2043 67,616,795 32,227,622
2042 66,317,516 31,517,627
2041 64,937,760 30,775,671
2040 63,497,378 30,013,616
2039 62,092,429 29,294,623
2038 60,767,134 28,565,580
2037 59,418,629 27,821,304
2036 58,079,976 27,097,563
2035 56,769,901 26,368,985
2034 55,469,080 25,671,628
2033 54,103,368 25,002,924
2032 52,759,572 24,323,435
2031 51,403,105 23,642,617
2030 50,049,673 22,951,436
2029 48,739,663 22,285,719
2028 47,504,926 21,638,095
2027 46,283,055 20,978,784
2026 45,047,977 20,310,008
2025 43,844,111 19,654,739
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% 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 69.2% to 77,285,393 people with a rank change from 36th to 25th. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 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 68.3M 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 2.81% 3.4%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Somalia
Current population
45682388
20653532
Population rank 36/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.25%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
49 seconds
One birth every
21.1 seconds
39.2 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +3.4%
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 1,249,785 -44,089 619,793 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/somalia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 87.3% of the population change in Afghanistan is from natural causes (a gain of 11,488,046 people) and 12.7% is from migration (a loss of 1,674,047 people). In Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/somalia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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