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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 3.63 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 +2.76% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Afghanistan vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan South Sudan
2100 131,803,615 24,086,901
2099 131,145,502 24,081,477
2098 130,482,225 24,063,461
2097 129,808,066 24,065,268
2096 129,147,895 24,054,483
2095 128,473,977 24,046,345
2094 127,761,785 24,047,776
2093 127,018,448 24,039,017
2092 126,270,202 24,019,054
2091 125,508,788 24,000,308
2090 124,636,092 23,978,496
2089 123,843,293 23,937,487
2088 123,034,495 23,892,166
2087 122,147,758 23,857,250
2086 121,381,088 23,803,312
2085 120,486,343 23,759,178
2084 119,491,780 23,687,109
2083 118,631,246 23,617,646
2082 117,742,446 23,541,119
2081 116,842,143 23,466,449
2080 115,793,841 23,391,758
2079 114,630,140 23,294,252
2078 113,624,958 23,197,067
2077 112,523,374 23,086,584
2076 111,442,221 22,987,331
2075 110,399,328 22,868,587
2074 109,236,338 22,726,189
2073 107,960,305 22,583,672
2072 106,746,984 22,438,943
2071 105,568,382 22,288,026
2070 104,230,485 22,151,650
2069 102,964,062 22,003,659
2068 101,629,164 21,829,800
2067 100,380,826 21,662,211
2066 99,116,663 21,496,881
2065 97,714,113 21,317,455
2064 96,306,602 21,142,002
2063 94,949,108 20,965,122
2062 93,579,065 20,785,055
2061 92,316,077 20,608,964
2060 91,000,643 20,430,857
2059 89,717,353 20,235,022
2058 88,346,732 20,048,974
2057 86,917,997 19,853,696
2056 85,480,219 19,659,362
2055 84,074,268 19,464,297
2054 82,676,432 19,257,481
2053 81,285,014 19,060,517
2052 79,908,081 18,840,461
2051 78,643,202 18,633,198
2050 77,331,830 18,434,212
2049 75,864,863 18,230,881
2048 74,479,782 18,021,026
2047 73,119,204 17,806,282
2046 71,697,214 17,579,173
2045 70,353,118 17,355,041
2044 69,024,959 17,121,972
2043 67,657,423 16,888,278
2042 66,357,363 16,645,354
2041 64,976,778 16,396,768
2040 63,535,531 16,142,816
2039 62,129,737 15,889,952
2038 60,803,646 15,628,043
2037 59,454,331 15,363,975
2036 58,114,874 15,091,275
2035 56,804,011 14,815,307
2034 55,502,408 14,543,511
2033 54,135,876 14,278,180
2032 52,791,273 14,007,134
2031 51,433,991 13,730,637
2030 50,079,746 13,465,615
2029 48,768,949 13,206,477
2028 47,533,470 12,947,082
2027 46,310,865 12,692,769
2026 45,075,045 12,439,296
2025 43,870,455 12,193,102
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 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 2.87% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan South Sudan
Current population
45409324
12507858
Population rank 36/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.15%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 7/197
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 - -44,089 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 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 (1960–2024, 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-sudan | 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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