Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 3.64 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan South Sudan
2100 131,724,468 24,078,379
2099 131,066,750 24,072,957
2098 130,403,871 24,054,947
2097 129,730,117 24,056,753
2096 129,070,342 24,045,972
2095 128,396,829 24,037,837
2094 127,685,065 24,039,267
2093 126,942,174 24,030,512
2092 126,194,378 24,010,555
2091 125,433,421 23,991,816
2090 124,561,248 23,970,012
2089 123,768,926 23,929,017
2088 122,960,614 23,883,712
2087 122,074,409 23,848,809
2086 121,308,199 23,794,890
2085 120,413,992 23,750,772
2084 119,420,025 23,678,728
2083 118,560,008 23,609,290
2082 117,671,742 23,532,790
2081 116,771,980 23,458,146
2080 115,724,307 23,383,482
2079 114,561,305 23,286,011
2078 113,556,727 23,188,860
2077 112,455,804 23,078,416
2076 111,375,301 22,979,198
2075 110,333,033 22,860,496
2074 109,170,742 22,718,148
2073 107,895,475 22,575,682
2072 106,682,883 22,431,004
2071 105,504,989 22,280,140
2070 104,167,895 22,143,813
2069 102,902,233 21,995,874
2068 101,568,136 21,822,076
2067 100,320,548 21,654,546
2066 99,057,144 21,489,275
2065 97,655,437 21,309,913
2064 96,248,770 21,134,522
2063 94,892,092 20,957,705
2062 93,522,871 20,777,701
2061 92,260,642 20,601,672
2060 90,945,998 20,423,629
2059 89,663,478 20,227,862
2058 88,293,680 20,041,880
2057 86,865,803 19,846,671
2056 85,428,888 19,652,407
2055 84,023,782 19,457,411
2054 82,626,785 19,250,667
2053 81,236,203 19,053,773
2052 79,860,096 18,833,795
2051 78,595,977 18,626,605
2050 77,285,393 18,427,690
2049 75,819,307 18,224,430
2048 74,435,057 18,014,650
2047 73,075,297 17,799,982
2046 71,654,160 17,572,953
2045 70,310,871 17,348,901
2044 68,983,509 17,115,914
2043 67,616,795 16,882,303
2042 66,317,516 16,639,465
2041 64,937,760 16,390,966
2040 63,497,378 16,137,104
2039 62,092,429 15,884,330
2038 60,767,134 15,622,514
2037 59,418,629 15,358,539
2036 58,079,976 15,085,936
2035 56,769,901 14,810,066
2034 55,469,080 14,538,365
2033 54,103,368 14,273,128
2032 52,759,572 14,002,178
2031 51,403,105 13,725,779
2030 50,049,673 13,460,850
2029 48,739,663 13,201,804
2028 47,504,926 12,942,501
2027 46,283,055 12,688,278
2026 45,047,977 12,434,895
2025 43,844,111 12,188,788
2024 42,647,492 11,943,408
2023 41,454,761 11,483,374
2022 40,578,842 11,021,177
2021 40,000,412 10,865,780
2020 39,068,979 10,698,467
2019 37,856,121 10,423,384
2018 36,743,039 10,122,977
2017 35,688,935 10,259,154
2016 34,700,612 10,830,102
2015 33,831,764 11,107,561
2014 32,792,523 11,235,073
2013 31,622,704 11,166,275
2012 30,560,034 10,756,240
2011 29,347,708 10,288,109
2010 28,284,089 9,745,953
2009 27,466,101 9,243,556
2008 26,482,622 8,817,647
2007 25,909,852 8,388,788
2006 25,424,094 7,976,526
2005 24,404,567 7,590,143
2004 23,560,654 7,233,041
2003 22,733,049 6,903,127
2002 21,378,117 6,596,806
2001 20,284,307 6,308,391
2000 20,130,327 6,032,267
1999 19,887,785 5,771,628
1998 19,159,996 5,620,068
1997 18,452,091 5,509,136
1996 17,763,266 5,356,925
1995 17,065,836 5,225,836
1994 16,250,794 5,071,184
1993 14,943,172 4,956,002
1992 13,278,974 4,909,749
1991 12,238,879 4,836,677
1990 12,045,660 4,737,633
1989 11,874,088 4,713,229
1988 11,523,298 4,848,029
1987 11,387,818 4,962,395
1986 11,420,074 4,921,240
1985 11,426,852 4,834,296
1984 11,190,221 4,750,627
1983 10,917,982 4,661,574
1982 10,991,378 4,557,686
1981 11,937,581 4,447,272
1980 13,169,311 4,339,030
1979 13,655,567 4,232,605
1978 13,611,441 4,127,657
1977 13,340,756 4,024,032
1976 13,059,851 3,921,910
1975 12,773,954 3,821,494
1974 12,469,127 3,723,259
1973 12,157,999 3,627,383
1972 11,853,696 3,542,497
1971 11,567,667 3,468,646
1970 11,290,128 3,409,614
1969 11,017,409 3,365,533
1968 10,756,922 3,321,528
1967 10,505,959 3,277,648
1966 10,266,395 3,236,423
1965 10,036,008 3,189,835
1964 9,814,318 3,129,918
1963 9,604,487 3,072,669
1962 9,404,406 3,024,308
1961 9,214,083 2,976,724
1960 9,035,043 2,931,559

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan South Sudan
2100 0.5% 0.02%
2099 0.51% 0.07%
2098 0.52% -0.008%
2097 0.51% 0.04%
2096 0.52% 0.03%
2095 0.56% -0.006%
2094 0.59% 0.04%
2093 0.59% 0.08%
2092 0.61% 0.08%
2091 0.7% 0.09%
2090 0.64% 0.17%
2089 0.66% 0.19%
2088 0.73% 0.15%
2087 0.63% 0.23%
2086 0.74% 0.19%
2085 0.83% 0.3%
2084 0.73% 0.29%
2083 0.75% 0.33%
2082 0.77% 0.32%
2081 0.91% 0.32%
2080 1.02% 0.42%
2079 0.88% 0.42%
2078 0.98% 0.48%
2077 0.97% 0.43%
2076 0.94% 0.52%
2075 1.06% 0.63%
2074 1.18% 0.63%
2073 1.14% 0.64%
2072 1.12% 0.68%
2071 1.28% 0.62%
2070 1.23% 0.67%
2069 1.31% 0.8%
2068 1.24% 0.77%
2067 1.28% 0.77%
2066 1.44% 0.84%
2065 1.46% 0.83%
2064 1.43% 0.84%
2063 1.46% 0.87%
2062 1.37% 0.85%
2061 1.45% 0.87%
2060 1.43% 0.97%
2059 1.55% 0.93%
2058 1.64% 0.98%
2057 1.68% 0.99%
2056 1.67% 1%
2055 1.69% 1.07%
2054 1.71% 1.03%
2053 1.72% 1.17%
2052 1.61% 1.11%
2051 1.7% 1.08%
2050 1.93% 1.12%
2049 1.86% 1.16%
2048 1.86% 1.21%
2047 1.98% 1.29%
2046 1.91% 1.29%
2045 1.92% 1.36%
2044 2.02% 1.38%
2043 1.96% 1.46%
2042 2.12% 1.52%
2041 2.27% 1.57%
2040 2.26% 1.59%
2039 2.18% 1.68%
2038 2.27% 1.72%
2037 2.3% 1.81%
2036 2.31% 1.86%
2035 2.35% 1.87%
2034 2.52% 1.86%
2033 2.55% 1.94%
2032 2.64% 2.01%
2031 2.7% 1.97%
2030 2.69% 1.96%
2029 2.6% 2%
2028 2.64% 2%
2027 2.74% 2.04%
2026 2.75% 2.02%
2025 2.81% 2.05%
2024 2.88% 4.01%
2023 2.16% 4.19%
2022 1.45% 1.43%
2021 2.38% 1.56%
2020 3.2% 2.64%
2019 3.03% 2.97%
2018 2.95% -1.33%
2017 2.85% -5.27%
2016 2.57% -2.5%
2015 3.17% -1.13%
2014 3.7% 0.62%
2013 3.48% 3.81%
2012 4.13% 4.55%
2011 3.76% 5.56%
2010 2.98% 5.44%
2009 3.71% 4.83%
2008 2.21% 5.11%
2007 1.91% 5.17%
2006 4.18% 5.09%
2005 3.58% 4.94%
2004 3.64% 4.78%
2003 6.34% 4.64%
2002 5.39% 4.57%
2001 0.76% 4.58%
2000 1.22% 4.52%
1999 3.8% 2.7%
1998 3.84% 2.01%
1997 3.88% 2.84%
1996 4.09% 2.51%
1995 5.02% 3.05%
1994 8.75% 2.32%
1993 12.5% 0.94%
1992 8.5% 1.51%
1991 1.6% 2.09%
1990 1.44% 0.52%
1989 3.04% -2.78%
1988 1.19% -2.3%
1987 -0.28% 0.84%
1986 -0.06% 1.8%
1985 2.11% 1.76%
1984 2.49% 1.91%
1983 -0.67% 2.28%
1982 -7.93% 2.48%
1981 -9.35% 2.49%
1980 -3.56% 2.51%
1979 0.32% 2.54%
1978 2.03% 2.58%
1977 2.15% 2.6%
1976 2.24% 2.63%
1975 2.44% 2.64%
1974 2.56% 2.64%
1973 2.57% 2.4%
1972 2.47% 2.13%
1971 2.46% 1.73%
1970 2.48% 1.31%
1969 2.42% 1.32%
1968 2.39% 1.34%
1967 2.33% 1.27%
1966 2.3% 1.46%
1965 2.26% 1.91%
1964 2.18% 1.86%
1963 2.13% 1.6%
1962 2.07% 1.6%
1961 1.98% 1.54%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan South Sudan
Current population
45682388
12565048
Population rank 36/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.15%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +672
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 48/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 +6,145
Net migration rank 179/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 6,145
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 231,714 15,374
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 217,966 455,000
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 211,166 40,259
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 213,567 -154,359
2020 1,134,407 143,634 212,332 62,935
2019 1,138,485 9,159 209,708 65,198
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 168,497 157,408
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 72,193 -670,477
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 110,553 -654,225
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 148,542 -159,822
2014 1,053,788 233,913 227,611 -471,523
2013 1,033,778 18,119 315,983 65,337
2012 1,004,814 68,628 312,974 125,771
2011 966,743 384,486 303,181 194,325
2010 943,473 -167,460 287,409 299,402
2009 920,581 -60,602 278,859 139,129
2008 891,246 215,753 268,268 165,557
2007 889,848 -851,298 256,546 167,350
2006 875,301 57,673 246,706 153,926
2005 855,112 250,971 239,272 132,869
2004 850,940 -269,194 231,877 110,182
2003 826,165 247,317 225,822 91,951
2002 776,048 860,349 212,014 82,847
2001 764,090 -212,872 204,108 77,856
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 196,055 74,227
1999 760,727 -32,400 180,721 70,271
1998 719,860 7,380 -12,157 64,285
1997 709,778 -21,215 121,454 48,280
1996 685,005 4,072 116,728 17,953
1995 653,280 52,505 110,417 17,077
1994 609,096 315,206 165,407 16,407
1993 541,257 1,149,684 32,779 15,772
1992 440,132 1,197,329 28,874 15,077
1991 409,954 32,782 87,873 14,327
1990 402,433 -458,737 82,900 12,988
1989 381,158 18,296 83,735 -130,821
1988 358,397 -56,263 -125,447 -97,065
1987 314,361 -345,535 5,756 -11,976
1986 310,066 -343,397 99,502 -10,973
1985 228,469 -208,685 95,342 -9,986
1984 205,262 248,224 90,970 -8,984
1983 263,778 -172,797 104,107 -7,986
1982 263,210 -500,998 118,641 -6,983
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 115,163 -5,994
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 112,307 -4,997
1979 361,750 -525,413 109,540 -3,997
1978 369,101 -117,186 107,352 -2,998
1977 372,567 -83,115 104,886 -1,997
1976 357,775 -85,430 102,346 -995
1975 343,850 -44,418 99,882 -395
1974 330,232 -20,009 97,181 -192
1973 315,062 -3,030 94,765 0
1972 300,633 -4,050 74,803 193
1971 288,267 -12,801 72,308 394
1970 275,129 4,458 44,776 587
1969 263,823 2,029 42,015 786
1968 251,798 3,333 44,213 995
1967 239,967 6,824 41,357 1,194
1966 228,786 3,563 38,523 1,386
1965 217,741 10,695 51,682 1,591
1964 207,867 7,079 64,786 1,785
1963 198,035 6,681 46,333 1,591
1962 188,427 7,016 47,406 1,386
1961 179,094 6,109 45,186 1,194
1960 170,257 2,606 42,945 995

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-sudan | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.