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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.14 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.17% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Afghanistan vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan South Korea
2100 131,803,615 22,012,503
2099 131,145,502 22,335,528
2098 130,482,225 22,668,719
2097 129,808,066 23,009,661
2096 129,147,895 23,360,151
2095 128,473,977 23,722,747
2094 127,761,785 24,093,391
2093 127,018,448 24,473,038
2092 126,270,202 24,860,975
2091 125,508,788 25,255,379
2090 124,636,092 25,655,577
2089 123,843,293 26,060,945
2088 123,034,495 26,470,073
2087 122,147,758 26,884,813
2086 121,381,088 27,301,913
2085 120,486,343 27,723,736
2084 119,491,780 28,147,480
2083 118,631,246 28,578,182
2082 117,742,446 29,012,953
2081 116,842,143 29,456,022
2080 115,793,841 29,901,880
2079 114,630,140 30,352,062
2078 113,624,958 30,809,176
2077 112,523,374 31,273,700
2076 111,442,221 31,744,480
2075 110,399,328 32,221,226
2074 109,236,338 32,706,020
2073 107,960,305 33,196,556
2072 106,746,984 33,696,490
2071 105,568,382 34,203,935
2070 104,230,485 34,719,324
2069 102,964,062 35,241,850
2068 101,629,164 35,762,799
2067 100,380,826 36,292,307
2066 99,116,663 36,826,655
2065 97,714,113 37,368,086
2064 96,306,602 37,916,439
2063 94,949,108 38,469,051
2062 93,579,065 39,028,473
2061 92,316,077 39,584,621
2060 91,000,643 40,149,830
2059 89,717,353 40,712,514
2058 88,346,732 41,277,134
2057 86,917,997 41,833,887
2056 85,480,219 42,377,427
2055 84,074,268 42,909,302
2054 82,676,432 43,427,254
2053 81,285,014 43,938,741
2052 79,908,081 44,441,106
2051 78,643,202 44,923,604
2050 77,331,830 45,385,311
2049 75,864,863 45,832,153
2048 74,479,782 46,258,529
2047 73,119,204 46,668,898
2046 71,697,214 47,056,404
2045 70,353,118 47,433,205
2044 69,024,959 47,797,411
2043 67,657,423 48,144,730
2042 66,357,363 48,478,991
2041 64,976,778 48,806,273
2040 63,535,531 49,115,658
2039 62,129,737 49,412,830
2038 60,803,646 49,694,340
2037 59,454,331 49,957,504
2036 58,114,874 50,200,702
2035 56,804,011 50,426,000
2034 55,502,408 50,632,962
2033 54,135,876 50,821,090
2032 52,791,273 50,987,020
2031 51,433,991 51,134,940
2030 50,079,746 51,267,908
2029 48,768,949 51,385,868
2028 47,533,470 51,486,791
2027 46,310,865 51,576,746
2026 45,075,045 51,649,918
2025 43,870,455 51,710,062
2024 42,647,492 51,751,065
2023 41,454,761 51,712,619
2022 40,578,842 51,672,569
2021 40,000,412 51,769,539
2020 39,068,979 51,836,239
2019 37,856,121 51,764,822
2018 36,743,039 51,585,058
2017 35,688,935 51,361,911
2016 34,700,612 51,217,803
2015 33,831,764 51,014,947
2014 32,792,523 50,746,659
2013 31,622,704 50,428,893
2012 30,560,034 50,199,853
2011 29,347,708 49,936,638
2010 28,284,089 49,554,112
2009 27,466,101 49,307,835
2008 26,482,622 49,054,708
2007 25,909,852 48,683,638
2006 25,424,094 48,438,292
2005 24,404,567 48,184,561
2004 23,560,654 48,082,519
2003 22,733,049 47,892,330
2002 21,378,117 47,644,736
2001 20,284,307 47,370,164
2000 20,130,327 47,008,111
1999 19,887,785 46,616,677
1998 19,159,996 46,286,503
1997 18,452,091 45,953,580
1996 17,763,266 45,524,681
1995 17,065,836 45,092,991
1994 16,250,794 44,641,540
1993 14,943,172 44,194,628
1992 13,278,974 43,747,962
1991 12,238,879 43,295,704
1990 12,045,660 42,869,283
1989 11,874,088 42,449,038
1988 11,523,298 42,031,247
1987 11,387,818 41,621,690
1986 11,420,074 41,213,674
1985 11,426,852 40,805,744
1984 11,190,221 40,405,956
1983 10,917,982 39,910,403
1982 10,991,378 39,326,352
1981 11,937,581 38,723,248
1980 13,169,311 38,123,775
1979 13,655,567 37,534,236
1978 13,611,441 36,969,185
1977 13,340,756 36,411,795
1976 13,059,851 35,848,523
1975 12,773,954 35,280,725
1974 12,469,127 34,692,266
1973 12,157,999 34,103,149
1972 11,853,696 33,505,406
1971 11,567,667 32,882,704
1970 11,290,128 32,240,827
1969 11,017,409 31,544,266
1968 10,756,922 30,838,302
1967 10,505,959 30,130,983
1966 10,266,395 29,435,571
1965 10,036,008 28,704,674
1964 9,814,318 27,984,155
1963 9,604,487 27,261,747
1962 9,404,406 26,513,030
1961 9,214,083 25,765,673
1960 9,035,043 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan South Korea
2100 0.5% -1.45%
2099 0.51% -1.47%
2098 0.52% -1.48%
2097 0.51% -1.5%
2096 0.52% -1.53%
2095 0.56% -1.54%
2094 0.59% -1.55%
2093 0.59% -1.56%
2092 0.61% -1.56%
2091 0.7% -1.56%
2090 0.64% -1.56%
2089 0.66% -1.55%
2088 0.73% -1.54%
2087 0.63% -1.53%
2086 0.74% -1.52%
2085 0.83% -1.51%
2084 0.73% -1.51%
2083 0.75% -1.5%
2082 0.77% -1.5%
2081 0.91% -1.49%
2080 1.02% -1.48%
2079 0.88% -1.48%
2078 0.98% -1.49%
2077 0.97% -1.48%
2076 0.94% -1.48%
2075 1.06% -1.48%
2074 1.18% -1.48%
2073 1.14% -1.48%
2072 1.12% -1.48%
2071 1.28% -1.48%
2070 1.23% -1.48%
2069 1.31% -1.46%
2068 1.24% -1.46%
2067 1.28% -1.45%
2066 1.44% -1.45%
2065 1.46% -1.45%
2064 1.43% -1.44%
2063 1.46% -1.43%
2062 1.37% -1.4%
2061 1.45% -1.41%
2060 1.43% -1.38%
2059 1.55% -1.37%
2058 1.64% -1.33%
2057 1.68% -1.28%
2056 1.67% -1.24%
2055 1.69% -1.19%
2054 1.71% -1.16%
2053 1.72% -1.13%
2052 1.61% -1.07%
2051 1.7% -1.02%
2050 1.93% -0.97%
2049 1.86% -0.92%
2048 1.86% -0.88%
2047 1.98% -0.82%
2046 1.91% -0.79%
2045 1.92% -0.76%
2044 2.02% -0.72%
2043 1.96% -0.69%
2042 2.12% -0.67%
2041 2.27% -0.63%
2040 2.26% -0.6%
2039 2.18% -0.57%
2038 2.27% -0.53%
2037 2.3% -0.48%
2036 2.31% -0.45%
2035 2.35% -0.41%
2034 2.52% -0.37%
2033 2.55% -0.33%
2032 2.64% -0.29%
2031 2.7% -0.26%
2030 2.69% -0.23%
2029 2.6% -0.2%
2028 2.64% -0.17%
2027 2.74% -0.14%
2026 2.75% -0.12%
2025 2.87% -0.08%
2024 2.88% 0.07%
2023 2.16% 0.08%
2022 1.45% -0.19%
2021 2.38% -0.13%
2020 3.2% 0.14%
2019 3.03% 0.35%
2018 2.95% 0.43%
2017 2.85% 0.28%
2016 2.57% 0.4%
2015 3.17% 0.53%
2014 3.7% 0.63%
2013 3.48% 0.46%
2012 4.13% 0.53%
2011 3.76% 0.77%
2010 2.98% 0.5%
2009 3.71% 0.52%
2008 2.21% 0.76%
2007 1.91% 0.51%
2006 4.18% 0.53%
2005 3.58% 0.21%
2004 3.64% 0.4%
2003 6.34% 0.52%
2002 5.39% 0.58%
2001 0.76% 0.77%
2000 1.22% 0.84%
1999 3.8% 0.71%
1998 3.84% 0.72%
1997 3.88% 0.94%
1996 4.09% 0.96%
1995 5.02% 1.01%
1994 8.75% 1.01%
1993 12.5% 1.02%
1992 8.5% 1.04%
1991 1.6% 0.99%
1990 1.44% 0.99%
1989 3.04% 0.99%
1988 1.19% 0.98%
1987 -0.28% 0.99%
1986 -0.06% 1%
1985 2.11% 0.99%
1984 2.49% 1.24%
1983 -0.67% 1.49%
1982 -7.93% 1.56%
1981 -9.35% 1.57%
1980 -3.56% 1.57%
1979 0.32% 1.53%
1978 2.03% 1.53%
1977 2.15% 1.57%
1976 2.24% 1.61%
1975 2.44% 1.7%
1974 2.56% 1.73%
1973 2.57% 1.78%
1972 2.47% 1.89%
1971 2.46% 1.99%
1970 2.48% 2.21%
1969 2.42% 2.29%
1968 2.39% 2.35%
1967 2.33% 2.36%
1966 2.3% 2.55%
1965 2.26% 2.57%
1964 2.18% 2.65%
1963 2.13% 2.82%
1962 2.07% 2.9%
1961 1.98% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan South Korea
Current population
45409324
51649918
Population rank 36/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.62%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +105
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 160/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +65,731
Net migration rank 179/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 65,731
2024 - -44,089 - 75,963
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -77,569 87,800
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -124,014 87,800
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -56,947 -16,778
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -31,101 112,631
2019 1,138,485 9,159 10,353 128,622
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 30,951 118,220
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 71,907 104,029
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 122,923 91,568
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 163,248 276,427
2014 1,053,788 233,913 167,464 308,037
2013 1,033,778 18,119 166,415 301,926
2012 1,004,814 68,628 215,859 281,866
2011 966,743 384,486 214,728 269,958
2010 943,473 -167,460 213,083 52,042
2009 920,581 -60,602 197,231 5,308
2008 891,246 215,753 215,841 -19,630
2007 889,848 -851,298 248,286 -42,293
2006 875,301 57,673 203,441 -28,434
2005 855,112 250,971 187,920 -47,821
2004 850,940 -269,194 225,988 -42,549
2003 826,165 247,317 244,251 -31,994
2002 776,048 860,349 247,752 -18,105
2001 764,090 -212,872 312,643 -28,006
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 390,167 -84,960
1999 760,727 -32,400 368,272 -107,448
1998 719,860 7,380 393,436 -98,044
1997 709,778 -21,215 422,773 -109,130
1996 685,005 4,072 446,142 -115,705
1995 653,280 52,505 468,967 -208,491
1994 609,096 315,206 473,200 -208,309
1993 541,257 1,149,684 477,302 -222,802
1992 440,132 1,197,329 494,352 -265,849
1991 409,954 32,782 467,594 -270,754
1990 402,433 -458,737 411,546 79,294
1989 381,158 18,296 403,266 186,120
1988 358,397 -56,263 399,297 192,534
1987 314,361 -345,535 378,758 198,057
1986 310,066 -343,397 395,651 189,782
1985 228,469 -208,685 416,219 97,949
1984 205,262 248,224 436,384 101,394
1983 263,778 -172,797 514,844 102,167
1982 263,210 -500,998 605,626 48,638
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 631,189 18,442
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 583,294 -148,341
1979 361,750 -525,413 623,068 -139,566
1978 369,101 -117,186 499,084 -85,721
1977 372,567 -83,115 578,947 -90,737
1976 357,775 -85,430 530,558 -92,314
1975 343,850 -44,418 603,300 -52,332
1974 330,232 -20,009 673,030 27,005
1973 315,062 -3,030 699,115 35,779
1972 300,633 -4,050 740,469 25,382
1971 288,267 -12,801 789,185 -6,326
1970 275,129 4,458 747,987 -27,999
1969 263,823 2,029 694,227 -21,175
1968 251,798 3,333 684,487 -16,868
1967 239,967 6,824 692,169 -16,484
1966 228,786 3,563 623,534 -16,688
1965 217,741 10,695 641,090 -146,386
1964 207,867 7,079 655,501 -102,284
1963 198,035 6,681 685,824 -80,226
1962 188,427 7,016 712,590 -94,606
1961 179,094 6,109 730,173 -93,179
1960 170,257 2,606 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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