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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 1.07 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.14% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Afghanistan vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Spain
2100 131,803,615 33,862,981
2099 131,145,502 34,039,965
2098 130,482,225 34,215,187
2097 129,808,066 34,387,116
2096 129,147,895 34,552,002
2095 128,473,977 34,719,411
2094 127,761,785 34,882,039
2093 127,018,448 35,044,043
2092 126,270,202 35,204,657
2091 125,508,788 35,366,895
2090 124,636,092 35,535,838
2089 123,843,293 35,707,942
2088 123,034,495 35,877,681
2087 122,147,758 36,043,209
2086 121,381,088 36,210,710
2085 120,486,343 36,386,207
2084 119,491,780 36,564,622
2083 118,631,246 36,749,680
2082 117,742,446 36,936,644
2081 116,842,143 37,133,976
2080 115,793,841 37,337,517
2079 114,630,140 37,551,557
2078 113,624,958 37,771,135
2077 112,523,374 38,002,963
2076 111,442,221 38,249,247
2075 110,399,328 38,506,040
2074 109,236,338 38,777,715
2073 107,960,305 39,056,249
2072 106,746,984 39,348,447
2071 105,568,382 39,642,346
2070 104,230,485 39,949,413
2069 102,964,062 40,256,590
2068 101,629,164 40,575,543
2067 100,380,826 40,893,798
2066 99,116,663 41,218,263
2065 97,714,113 41,543,254
2064 96,306,602 41,878,338
2063 94,949,108 42,208,320
2062 93,579,065 42,542,893
2061 92,316,077 42,874,096
2060 91,000,643 43,191,452
2059 89,717,353 43,506,737
2058 88,346,732 43,809,907
2057 86,917,997 44,112,668
2056 85,480,219 44,415,689
2055 84,074,268 44,691,749
2054 82,676,432 44,958,971
2053 81,285,014 45,223,225
2052 79,908,081 45,470,541
2051 78,643,202 45,695,307
2050 77,331,830 45,911,520
2049 75,864,863 46,127,777
2048 74,479,782 46,322,244
2047 73,119,204 46,510,152
2046 71,697,214 46,687,914
2045 70,353,118 46,858,778
2044 69,024,959 47,016,278
2043 67,657,423 47,158,325
2042 66,357,363 47,301,091
2041 64,976,778 47,434,593
2040 63,535,531 47,563,236
2039 62,129,737 47,685,343
2038 60,803,646 47,798,797
2037 59,454,331 47,910,899
2036 58,114,874 48,020,350
2035 56,804,011 48,124,430
2034 55,502,408 48,220,051
2033 54,135,876 48,311,842
2032 52,791,273 48,402,470
2031 51,433,991 48,495,278
2030 50,079,746 48,579,920
2029 48,768,949 48,648,699
2028 47,533,470 48,707,969
2027 46,310,865 48,758,200
2026 45,075,045 48,806,901
2025 43,870,455 48,838,057
2024 42,647,492 48,848,840
2023 41,454,761 48,352,528
2022 40,578,842 47,786,102
2021 40,000,412 47,443,821
2020 39,068,979 47,359,424
2019 37,856,121 47,118,501
2018 36,743,039 46,782,011
2017 35,688,935 46,571,232
2016 34,700,612 46,458,139
2015 33,831,764 46,422,303
2014 32,792,523 46,460,733
2013 31,622,704 46,604,197
2012 30,560,034 46,773,055
2011 29,347,708 46,742,697
2010 28,284,089 46,576,897
2009 27,466,101 46,362,946
2008 26,482,622 45,954,106
2007 25,909,852 45,226,803
2006 25,424,094 44,397,319
2005 24,404,567 43,653,155
2004 23,560,654 42,921,895
2003 22,733,049 42,187,645
2002 21,378,117 41,431,558
2001 20,284,307 40,850,412
2000 20,130,327 40,567,864
1999 19,887,785 40,386,875
1998 19,159,996 40,223,509
1997 18,452,091 40,057,389
1996 17,763,266 39,889,852
1995 17,065,836 39,724,050
1994 16,250,794 39,549,108
1993 14,943,172 39,361,262
1992 13,278,974 39,157,685
1991 12,238,879 38,966,376
1990 12,045,660 38,867,322
1989 11,874,088 38,827,764
1988 11,523,298 38,766,939
1987 11,387,818 38,684,815
1986 11,420,074 38,584,624
1985 11,426,852 38,469,512
1984 11,190,221 38,330,364
1983 10,917,982 38,171,525
1982 10,991,378 37,986,012
1981 11,937,581 37,758,631
1980 13,169,311 37,491,165
1979 13,655,567 37,191,330
1978 13,611,441 36,864,898
1977 13,340,756 36,511,638
1976 13,059,851 36,137,812
1975 12,773,954 35,757,900
1974 12,469,127 35,373,335
1973 12,157,999 34,988,947
1972 11,853,696 34,604,469
1971 11,567,667 34,224,490
1970 11,290,128 33,814,531
1969 11,017,409 33,441,054
1968 10,756,922 33,113,134
1967 10,505,959 32,682,947
1966 10,266,395 32,283,194
1965 10,036,008 31,954,292
1964 9,814,318 31,609,195
1963 9,604,487 31,296,651
1962 9,404,406 31,023,366
1961 9,214,083 30,739,250
1960 9,035,043 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Spain
2100 0.5% -0.52%
2099 0.51% -0.51%
2098 0.52% -0.5%
2097 0.51% -0.48%
2096 0.52% -0.48%
2095 0.56% -0.47%
2094 0.59% -0.46%
2093 0.59% -0.46%
2092 0.61% -0.46%
2091 0.7% -0.48%
2090 0.64% -0.48%
2089 0.66% -0.47%
2088 0.73% -0.46%
2087 0.63% -0.46%
2086 0.74% -0.48%
2085 0.83% -0.49%
2084 0.73% -0.5%
2083 0.75% -0.51%
2082 0.77% -0.53%
2081 0.91% -0.55%
2080 1.02% -0.57%
2079 0.88% -0.58%
2078 0.98% -0.61%
2077 0.97% -0.64%
2076 0.94% -0.67%
2075 1.06% -0.7%
2074 1.18% -0.71%
2073 1.14% -0.74%
2072 1.12% -0.74%
2071 1.28% -0.77%
2070 1.23% -0.76%
2069 1.31% -0.79%
2068 1.24% -0.78%
2067 1.28% -0.79%
2066 1.44% -0.78%
2065 1.46% -0.8%
2064 1.43% -0.78%
2063 1.46% -0.79%
2062 1.37% -0.77%
2061 1.45% -0.73%
2060 1.43% -0.72%
2059 1.55% -0.69%
2058 1.64% -0.69%
2057 1.68% -0.68%
2056 1.67% -0.62%
2055 1.69% -0.59%
2054 1.71% -0.58%
2053 1.72% -0.54%
2052 1.61% -0.49%
2051 1.7% -0.47%
2050 1.93% -0.47%
2049 1.86% -0.42%
2048 1.86% -0.4%
2047 1.98% -0.38%
2046 1.91% -0.36%
2045 1.92% -0.33%
2044 2.02% -0.3%
2043 1.96% -0.3%
2042 2.12% -0.28%
2041 2.27% -0.27%
2040 2.26% -0.26%
2039 2.18% -0.24%
2038 2.27% -0.23%
2037 2.3% -0.23%
2036 2.31% -0.22%
2035 2.35% -0.2%
2034 2.52% -0.19%
2033 2.55% -0.19%
2032 2.64% -0.19%
2031 2.7% -0.17%
2030 2.69% -0.14%
2029 2.6% -0.12%
2028 2.64% -0.1%
2027 2.74% -0.1%
2026 2.75% -0.06%
2025 2.87% -0.02%
2024 2.88% 1.03%
2023 2.16% 1.19%
2022 1.45% 0.72%
2021 2.38% 0.18%
2020 3.2% 0.51%
2019 3.03% 0.72%
2018 2.95% 0.45%
2017 2.85% 0.24%
2016 2.57% 0.08%
2015 3.17% -0.08%
2014 3.7% -0.31%
2013 3.48% -0.36%
2012 4.13% 0.06%
2011 3.76% 0.36%
2010 2.98% 0.46%
2009 3.71% 0.89%
2008 2.21% 1.61%
2007 1.91% 1.87%
2006 4.18% 1.7%
2005 3.58% 1.7%
2004 3.64% 1.74%
2003 6.34% 1.82%
2002 5.39% 1.42%
2001 0.76% 0.7%
2000 1.22% 0.45%
1999 3.8% 0.41%
1998 3.84% 0.41%
1997 3.88% 0.42%
1996 4.09% 0.42%
1995 5.02% 0.44%
1994 8.75% 0.48%
1993 12.5% 0.52%
1992 8.5% 0.49%
1991 1.6% 0.25%
1990 1.44% 0.1%
1989 3.04% 0.16%
1988 1.19% 0.21%
1987 -0.28% 0.26%
1986 -0.06% 0.3%
1985 2.11% 0.36%
1984 2.49% 0.42%
1983 -0.67% 0.49%
1982 -7.93% 0.6%
1981 -9.35% 0.71%
1980 -3.56% 0.81%
1979 0.32% 0.89%
1978 2.03% 0.97%
1977 2.15% 1.03%
1976 2.24% 1.06%
1975 2.44% 1.09%
1974 2.56% 1.1%
1973 2.57% 1.11%
1972 2.47% 1.11%
1971 2.46% 1.21%
1970 2.48% 1.12%
1969 2.42% 0.99%
1968 2.39% 1.32%
1967 2.33% 1.24%
1966 2.3% 1.03%
1965 2.26% 1.09%
1964 2.18% 1%
1963 2.13% 0.88%
1962 2.07% 0.92%
1961 1.98% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Spain
Current population
45409324
48806901
Population rank 36/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.59%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.06 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.62 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 100/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +96,630
Net migration rank 179/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 96,630
2024 - -44,089 - 111,674
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -111,211 119,099
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -133,801 299,779
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 -113,865 144,385
2020 1,134,407 143,634 -151,551 236,854
2019 1,138,485 9,159 -56,542 464,783
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 -56,139 337,467
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 -32,600 201,135
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 0 106,474
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 -4,642 -1,979
2014 1,053,788 233,913 32,522 -97,870
2013 1,033,778 18,119 37,284 -250,741
2012 1,004,814 68,628 51,450 -153,486
2011 966,743 384,486 84,137 60,761
2010 943,473 -167,460 102,469 69,406
2009 920,581 -60,602 106,635 129,557
2008 891,246 215,753 133,267 434,135
2007 889,848 -851,298 108,545 772,317
2006 875,301 57,673 110,994 659,720
2005 855,112 250,971 78,576 629,803
2004 850,940 -269,194 85,844 661,158
2003 826,165 247,317 54,844 658,428
2002 776,048 860,349 53,861 737,880
2001 764,090 -212,872 44,936 181,307
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 36,512 176,269
1999 760,727 -32,400 8,077 178,559
1998 719,860 7,380 4,022 182,926
1997 709,778 -21,215 20,028 165,345
1996 685,005 4,072 11,967 162,704
1995 653,280 52,505 15,889 162,434
1994 609,096 315,206 31,639 160,407
1993 541,257 1,149,684 47,234 160,907
1992 440,132 1,197,329 62,652 177,544
1991 409,954 32,782 58,450 122,841
1990 402,433 -458,737 66,075 -30,684
1989 381,158 18,296 81,538 -25,892
1988 358,397 -56,263 100,794 -17,663
1987 314,361 -345,535 116,054 -12,681
1986 310,066 -343,397 131,188 -13,540
1985 228,469 -208,685 146,184 -589
1984 205,262 248,224 172,487 2,754
1983 263,778 -172,797 183,223 1,241
1982 263,210 -500,998 231,714 -7,384
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 237,879 2,563
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 281,184 20,166
1979 361,750 -525,413 312,407 -5,929
1978 369,101 -117,186 339,157 -2,504
1977 372,567 -83,115 361,465 -1,332
1976 357,775 -85,430 375,834 2,804
1975 343,850 -44,418 371,882 -218
1974 330,232 -20,009 396,182 105,838
1973 315,062 -3,030 374,381 8,624
1972 300,633 -4,050 391,030 7,935
1971 288,267 -12,801 369,625 7,363
1970 275,129 4,458 378,723 -60,580
1969 263,823 2,029 367,851 -49,956
1968 251,798 3,333 387,423 -46,088
1967 239,967 6,824 402,001 -42,344
1966 228,786 3,563 397,084 -41,467
1965 217,741 10,695 405,819 -42,476
1964 207,867 7,079 429,885 -41,461
1963 198,035 6,681 394,338 -44,446
1962 188,427 7,016 384,690 -45,211
1961 179,094 6,109 396,537 -46,517
1960 170,257 2,606 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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