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Population in Afghanistan compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.45 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.34% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan South Africa
2100 131,803,615 94,767,727
2099 131,145,502 94,556,931
2098 130,482,225 94,349,546
2097 129,808,066 94,158,472
2096 129,147,895 93,960,605
2095 128,473,977 93,752,736
2094 127,761,785 93,527,902
2093 127,018,448 93,300,398
2092 126,270,202 93,074,837
2091 125,508,788 92,826,204
2090 124,636,092 92,594,033
2089 123,843,293 92,355,184
2088 123,034,495 92,112,914
2087 122,147,758 91,866,024
2086 121,381,088 91,614,165
2085 120,486,343 91,385,350
2084 119,491,780 91,139,318
2083 118,631,246 90,877,425
2082 117,742,446 90,615,359
2081 116,842,143 90,345,492
2080 115,793,841 90,071,835
2079 114,630,140 89,801,998
2078 113,624,958 89,526,224
2077 112,523,374 89,249,206
2076 111,442,221 88,986,114
2075 110,399,328 88,713,215
2074 109,236,338 88,428,616
2073 107,960,305 88,149,885
2072 106,746,984 87,866,246
2071 105,568,382 87,540,177
2070 104,230,485 87,209,425
2069 102,964,062 86,901,512
2068 101,629,164 86,588,742
2067 100,380,826 86,268,392
2066 99,116,663 85,935,310
2065 97,714,113 85,604,376
2064 96,306,602 85,244,950
2063 94,949,108 84,875,503
2062 93,579,065 84,503,237
2061 92,316,077 84,132,885
2060 91,000,643 83,748,999
2059 89,717,353 83,354,923
2058 88,346,732 82,947,675
2057 86,917,997 82,538,045
2056 85,480,219 82,127,477
2055 84,074,268 81,698,196
2054 82,676,432 81,255,867
2053 81,285,014 80,818,632
2052 79,908,081 80,367,409
2051 78,643,202 79,886,672
2050 77,331,830 79,411,977
2049 75,864,863 78,925,493
2048 74,479,782 78,437,677
2047 73,119,204 77,922,211
2046 71,697,214 77,397,298
2045 70,353,118 76,879,838
2044 69,024,959 76,357,155
2043 67,657,423 75,827,709
2042 66,357,363 75,291,615
2041 64,976,778 74,748,408
2040 63,535,531 74,205,530
2039 62,129,737 73,663,047
2038 60,803,646 73,105,930
2037 59,454,331 72,532,742
2036 58,114,874 71,956,247
2035 56,804,011 71,362,555
2034 55,502,408 70,762,815
2033 54,135,876 70,153,205
2032 52,791,273 69,527,410
2031 51,433,991 68,890,002
2030 50,079,746 68,245,372
2029 48,768,949 67,573,179
2028 47,533,470 66,884,377
2027 46,310,865 66,190,258
2026 45,075,045 65,496,277
2025 43,870,455 64,770,314
2024 42,647,492 64,007,187
2023 41,454,761 63,212,384
2022 40,578,842 62,378,410
2021 40,000,412 61,502,603
2020 39,068,979 60,562,381
2019 37,856,121 59,587,885
2018 36,743,039 58,613,001
2017 35,688,935 57,635,162
2016 34,700,612 57,259,551
2015 33,831,764 56,723,537
2014 32,792,523 55,594,838
2013 31,622,704 54,678,791
2012 30,560,034 53,782,567
2011 29,347,708 52,995,205
2010 28,284,089 52,344,051
2009 27,466,101 51,728,516
2008 26,482,622 51,114,599
2007 25,909,852 50,528,584
2006 25,424,094 49,998,277
2005 24,404,567 49,490,033
2004 23,560,654 48,991,421
2003 22,733,049 48,500,348
2002 21,378,117 48,019,415
2001 20,284,307 47,566,800
2000 20,130,327 47,159,719
1999 19,887,785 46,730,335
1998 19,159,996 46,223,880
1997 18,452,091 45,666,838
1996 17,763,266 45,123,018
1995 17,065,836 44,541,554
1994 16,250,794 44,004,139
1993 14,943,172 43,297,156
1992 13,278,974 42,443,509
1991 12,238,879 41,687,898
1990 12,045,660 40,746,268
1989 11,874,088 39,628,575
1988 11,523,298 38,480,649
1987 11,387,818 37,326,190
1986 11,420,074 36,180,515
1985 11,426,852 35,042,093
1984 11,190,221 33,892,788
1983 10,917,982 32,739,304
1982 10,991,378 31,615,339
1981 11,937,581 30,541,044
1980 13,169,311 29,518,857
1979 13,655,567 28,634,162
1978 13,611,441 27,869,507
1977 13,340,756 27,118,952
1976 13,059,851 26,395,450
1975 12,773,954 25,690,940
1974 12,469,127 24,989,108
1973 12,157,999 24,294,263
1972 11,853,696 23,609,456
1971 11,567,667 22,942,143
1970 11,290,128 22,279,984
1969 11,017,409 21,614,676
1968 10,756,922 20,957,287
1967 10,505,959 20,314,066
1966 10,266,395 19,690,087
1965 10,036,008 19,089,380
1964 9,814,318 18,511,361
1963 9,604,487 17,954,564
1962 9,404,406 17,418,522
1961 9,214,083 16,908,035
1960 9,035,043 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan South Africa
2100 0.5% 0.22%
2099 0.51% 0.22%
2098 0.52% 0.2%
2097 0.51% 0.21%
2096 0.52% 0.22%
2095 0.56% 0.24%
2094 0.59% 0.24%
2093 0.59% 0.24%
2092 0.61% 0.27%
2091 0.7% 0.25%
2090 0.64% 0.26%
2089 0.66% 0.26%
2088 0.73% 0.27%
2087 0.63% 0.27%
2086 0.74% 0.25%
2085 0.83% 0.27%
2084 0.73% 0.29%
2083 0.75% 0.29%
2082 0.77% 0.3%
2081 0.91% 0.3%
2080 1.02% 0.3%
2079 0.88% 0.31%
2078 0.98% 0.31%
2077 0.97% 0.3%
2076 0.94% 0.31%
2075 1.06% 0.32%
2074 1.18% 0.32%
2073 1.14% 0.32%
2072 1.12% 0.37%
2071 1.28% 0.38%
2070 1.23% 0.35%
2069 1.31% 0.36%
2068 1.24% 0.37%
2067 1.28% 0.39%
2066 1.44% 0.39%
2065 1.46% 0.42%
2064 1.43% 0.44%
2063 1.46% 0.44%
2062 1.37% 0.44%
2061 1.45% 0.46%
2060 1.43% 0.47%
2059 1.55% 0.49%
2058 1.64% 0.5%
2057 1.68% 0.5%
2056 1.67% 0.53%
2055 1.69% 0.54%
2054 1.71% 0.54%
2053 1.72% 0.56%
2052 1.61% 0.6%
2051 1.7% 0.6%
2050 1.93% 0.62%
2049 1.86% 0.62%
2048 1.86% 0.66%
2047 1.98% 0.68%
2046 1.91% 0.67%
2045 1.92% 0.68%
2044 2.02% 0.7%
2043 1.96% 0.71%
2042 2.12% 0.73%
2041 2.27% 0.73%
2040 2.26% 0.74%
2039 2.18% 0.76%
2038 2.27% 0.79%
2037 2.3% 0.8%
2036 2.31% 0.83%
2035 2.35% 0.85%
2034 2.52% 0.87%
2033 2.55% 0.9%
2032 2.64% 0.93%
2031 2.7% 0.94%
2030 2.69% 0.99%
2029 2.6% 1.03%
2028 2.64% 1.05%
2027 2.74% 1.06%
2026 2.75% 1.12%
2025 2.87% 1.19%
2024 2.88% 1.26%
2023 2.16% 1.34%
2022 1.45% 1.42%
2021 2.38% 1.55%
2020 3.2% 1.64%
2019 3.03% 1.66%
2018 2.95% 1.7%
2017 2.85% 0.66%
2016 2.57% 0.94%
2015 3.17% 2.03%
2014 3.7% 1.68%
2013 3.48% 1.67%
2012 4.13% 1.49%
2011 3.76% 1.24%
2010 2.98% 1.19%
2009 3.71% 1.2%
2008 2.21% 1.16%
2007 1.91% 1.06%
2006 4.18% 1.03%
2005 3.58% 1.02%
2004 3.64% 1.01%
2003 6.34% 1%
2002 5.39% 0.95%
2001 0.76% 0.86%
2000 1.22% 0.92%
1999 3.8% 1.1%
1998 3.84% 1.22%
1997 3.88% 1.21%
1996 4.09% 1.31%
1995 5.02% 1.22%
1994 8.75% 1.63%
1993 12.5% 2.01%
1992 8.5% 1.81%
1991 1.6% 2.31%
1990 1.44% 2.82%
1989 3.04% 2.98%
1988 1.19% 3.09%
1987 -0.28% 3.17%
1986 -0.06% 3.25%
1985 2.11% 3.39%
1984 2.49% 3.52%
1983 -0.67% 3.56%
1982 -7.93% 3.52%
1981 -9.35% 3.46%
1980 -3.56% 3.09%
1979 0.32% 2.74%
1978 2.03% 2.77%
1977 2.15% 2.74%
1976 2.24% 2.74%
1975 2.44% 2.81%
1974 2.56% 2.86%
1973 2.57% 2.9%
1972 2.47% 2.91%
1971 2.46% 2.97%
1970 2.48% 3.08%
1969 2.42% 3.14%
1968 2.39% 3.17%
1967 2.33% 3.17%
1966 2.3% 3.15%
1965 2.26% 3.12%
1964 2.18% 3.1%
1963 2.13% 3.08%
1962 2.07% 3.02%
1961 1.98% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan South Africa
Current population
45409324
65683993
Population rank 36/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.79%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 85/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +146,370
Net migration rank 179/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 146,370
2024 - -44,089 - 166,972
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 602,793 228,222
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 603,636 233,284
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 456,411 458,246
2020 1,134,407 143,634 595,873 369,901
2019 1,138,485 9,159 652,130 331,124
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 648,319 318,260
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 645,975 343,146
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 641,365 -879,235
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 668,771 641,150
2014 1,053,788 233,913 674,754 272,697
2013 1,033,778 18,119 652,427 232,230
2012 1,004,814 68,628 643,723 264,091
2011 966,743 384,486 601,708 65,166
2010 943,473 -167,460 566,834 68,563
2009 920,581 -60,602 554,115 41,528
2008 891,246 215,753 595,332 36,869
2007 889,848 -851,298 503,567 36,339
2006 875,301 57,673 487,584 33,159
2005 855,112 250,971 464,464 31,286
2004 850,940 -269,194 442,540 58,924
2003 826,165 247,317 415,018 65,604
2002 776,048 860,349 430,926 50,313
2001 764,090 -212,872 484,801 -60,793
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 526,963 -136,794
1999 760,727 -32,400 594,643 -126,011
1998 719,860 7,380 627,027 -82,722
1997 709,778 -21,215 667,969 -98,181
1996 685,005 4,072 710,868 -193,007
1995 653,280 52,505 743,488 -98,403
1994 609,096 315,206 698,609 -268,849
1993 541,257 1,149,684 789,220 194,977
1992 440,132 1,197,329 794,415 -71,342
1991 409,954 32,782 827,296 -39,131
1990 402,433 -458,737 835,421 259,718
1989 381,158 18,296 884,629 255,605
1988 358,397 -56,263 909,221 246,382
1987 314,361 -345,535 922,330 231,009
1986 310,066 -343,397 903,644 234,378
1985 228,469 -208,685 893,889 244,940
1984 205,262 248,224 869,011 290,789
1983 263,778 -172,797 837,013 310,172
1982 263,210 -500,998 807,550 293,195
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 767,833 279,985
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 738,415 258,127
1979 361,750 -525,413 716,541 56,323
1978 369,101 -117,186 694,341 62,121
1977 372,567 -83,115 680,929 63,739
1976 357,775 -85,430 675,011 27,333
1975 343,850 -44,418 667,862 38,809
1974 330,232 -20,009 658,438 38,518
1973 315,062 -3,030 651,596 41,125
1972 300,633 -4,050 638,754 38,163
1971 288,267 -12,801 624,761 32,961
1970 275,129 4,458 605,102 61,514
1969 263,823 2,029 590,794 73,225
1968 251,798 3,333 571,841 78,932
1967 239,967 6,824 553,741 81,932
1966 228,786 3,563 534,862 77,417
1965 217,741 10,695 506,632 82,514
1964 207,867 7,079 490,606 76,298
1963 198,035 6,681 473,821 72,844
1962 188,427 7,016 455,634 69,771
1961 179,094 6,109 437,851 57,728
1960 170,257 2,606 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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