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Population in Afghanistan compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 2.05 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Sri Lanka
2100 131,803,615 20,270,496
2099 131,145,502 20,383,669
2098 130,482,225 20,498,567
2097 129,808,066 20,611,123
2096 129,147,895 20,723,560
2095 128,473,977 20,834,629
2094 127,761,785 20,943,809
2093 127,018,448 21,052,131
2092 126,270,202 21,158,833
2091 125,508,788 21,263,961
2090 124,636,092 21,371,263
2089 123,843,293 21,475,426
2088 123,034,495 21,577,177
2087 122,147,758 21,677,510
2086 121,381,088 21,777,420
2085 120,486,343 21,876,464
2084 119,491,780 21,970,336
2083 118,631,246 22,062,801
2082 117,742,446 22,151,745
2081 116,842,143 22,240,834
2080 115,793,841 22,326,555
2079 114,630,140 22,411,438
2078 113,624,958 22,489,772
2077 112,523,374 22,565,028
2076 111,442,221 22,637,463
2075 110,399,328 22,707,112
2074 109,236,338 22,778,489
2073 107,960,305 22,844,703
2072 106,746,984 22,905,707
2071 105,568,382 22,964,866
2070 104,230,485 23,022,515
2069 102,964,062 23,076,310
2068 101,629,164 23,129,541
2067 100,380,826 23,184,596
2066 99,116,663 23,234,419
2065 97,714,113 23,285,901
2064 96,306,602 23,331,390
2063 94,949,108 23,372,184
2062 93,579,065 23,409,522
2061 92,316,077 23,441,893
2060 91,000,643 23,474,032
2059 89,717,353 23,502,132
2058 88,346,732 23,528,076
2057 86,917,997 23,550,580
2056 85,480,219 23,570,923
2055 84,074,268 23,582,432
2054 82,676,432 23,591,414
2053 81,285,014 23,601,371
2052 79,908,081 23,605,361
2051 78,643,202 23,606,194
2050 77,331,830 23,603,330
2049 75,864,863 23,597,604
2048 74,479,782 23,587,307
2047 73,119,204 23,570,881
2046 71,697,214 23,547,409
2045 70,353,118 23,515,133
2044 69,024,959 23,483,546
2043 67,657,423 23,446,242
2042 66,357,363 23,404,983
2041 64,976,778 23,357,358
2040 63,535,531 23,306,148
2039 62,129,737 23,248,341
2038 60,803,646 23,187,512
2037 59,454,331 23,120,775
2036 58,114,874 23,053,427
2035 56,804,011 22,981,808
2034 55,502,408 22,906,587
2033 54,135,876 22,826,414
2032 52,791,273 22,742,267
2031 51,433,991 22,655,907
2030 50,079,746 22,564,038
2029 48,768,949 22,470,759
2028 47,533,470 22,370,999
2027 46,310,865 22,266,017
2026 45,075,045 22,155,543
2025 43,870,455 22,039,908
2024 42,647,492 21,916,000
2023 41,454,761 22,037,000
2022 40,578,842 22,181,000
2021 40,000,412 22,156,000
2020 39,068,979 21,919,000
2019 37,856,121 21,803,000
2018 36,743,039 21,670,000
2017 35,688,935 21,453,000
2016 34,700,612 21,209,000
2015 33,831,764 20,970,000
2014 32,792,523 20,778,000
2013 31,622,704 20,585,000
2012 30,560,034 21,169,458
2011 29,347,708 21,009,048
2010 28,284,089 20,879,089
2009 27,466,101 20,756,435
2008 26,482,622 20,629,378
2007 25,909,852 20,492,545
2006 25,424,094 20,352,411
2005 24,404,567 20,216,524
2004 23,560,654 20,087,605
2003 22,733,049 19,951,521
2002 21,378,117 19,805,752
2001 20,284,307 19,600,362
2000 20,130,327 19,293,054
1999 19,887,785 18,944,731
1998 19,159,996 18,596,003
1997 18,452,091 18,248,200
1996 17,763,266 17,905,018
1995 17,065,836 17,564,068
1994 16,250,794 17,275,773
1993 14,943,172 17,025,918
1992 13,278,974 16,739,284
1991 12,238,879 16,475,354
1990 12,045,660 16,352,458
1989 11,874,088 16,248,557
1988 11,523,298 16,078,621
1987 11,387,818 15,916,576
1986 11,420,074 15,731,256
1985 11,426,852 15,544,154
1984 11,190,221 15,441,860
1983 10,917,982 15,388,794
1982 10,991,378 15,286,567
1981 11,937,581 15,099,414
1980 13,169,311 14,847,974
1979 13,655,567 14,579,614
1978 13,611,441 14,310,128
1977 13,340,756 14,049,371
1976 13,059,851 13,796,770
1975 12,773,954 13,548,984
1974 12,469,127 13,305,693
1973 12,157,999 13,060,916
1972 11,853,696 12,809,205
1971 11,567,667 12,551,910
1970 11,290,128 12,287,110
1969 11,017,409 12,013,858
1968 10,756,922 11,736,088
1967 10,505,959 11,457,328
1966 10,266,395 11,183,928
1965 10,036,008 10,916,965
1964 9,814,318 10,653,397
1963 9,604,487 10,395,040
1962 9,404,406 10,143,754
1961 9,214,083 9,899,372
1960 9,035,043 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Sri Lanka
2100 0.5% -0.56%
2099 0.51% -0.56%
2098 0.52% -0.55%
2097 0.51% -0.54%
2096 0.52% -0.53%
2095 0.56% -0.52%
2094 0.59% -0.51%
2093 0.59% -0.5%
2092 0.61% -0.49%
2091 0.7% -0.5%
2090 0.64% -0.49%
2089 0.66% -0.47%
2088 0.73% -0.46%
2087 0.63% -0.46%
2086 0.74% -0.45%
2085 0.83% -0.43%
2084 0.73% -0.42%
2083 0.75% -0.4%
2082 0.77% -0.4%
2081 0.91% -0.38%
2080 1.02% -0.38%
2079 0.88% -0.35%
2078 0.98% -0.33%
2077 0.97% -0.32%
2076 0.94% -0.31%
2075 1.06% -0.31%
2074 1.18% -0.29%
2073 1.14% -0.27%
2072 1.12% -0.26%
2071 1.28% -0.25%
2070 1.23% -0.23%
2069 1.31% -0.23%
2068 1.24% -0.24%
2067 1.28% -0.21%
2066 1.44% -0.22%
2065 1.46% -0.19%
2064 1.43% -0.17%
2063 1.46% -0.16%
2062 1.37% -0.14%
2061 1.45% -0.14%
2060 1.43% -0.12%
2059 1.55% -0.11%
2058 1.64% -0.1%
2057 1.68% -0.09%
2056 1.67% -0.05%
2055 1.69% -0.04%
2054 1.71% -0.04%
2053 1.72% -0.02%
2052 1.61% -0.004%
2051 1.7% 0.01%
2050 1.93% 0.02%
2049 1.86% 0.04%
2048 1.86% 0.07%
2047 1.98% 0.1%
2046 1.91% 0.14%
2045 1.92% 0.13%
2044 2.02% 0.16%
2043 1.96% 0.18%
2042 2.12% 0.2%
2041 2.27% 0.22%
2040 2.26% 0.25%
2039 2.18% 0.26%
2038 2.27% 0.29%
2037 2.3% 0.29%
2036 2.31% 0.31%
2035 2.35% 0.33%
2034 2.52% 0.35%
2033 2.55% 0.37%
2032 2.64% 0.38%
2031 2.7% 0.41%
2030 2.69% 0.42%
2029 2.6% 0.45%
2028 2.64% 0.47%
2027 2.74% 0.5%
2026 2.75% 0.52%
2025 2.87% 0.57%
2024 2.88% -0.55%
2023 2.16% -0.65%
2022 1.45% 0.11%
2021 2.38% 1.08%
2020 3.2% 0.53%
2019 3.03% 0.61%
2018 2.95% 1.01%
2017 2.85% 1.15%
2016 2.57% 1.14%
2015 3.17% 0.92%
2014 3.7% 0.94%
2013 3.48% -2.76%
2012 4.13% 0.76%
2011 3.76% 0.62%
2010 2.98% 0.59%
2009 3.71% 0.62%
2008 2.21% 0.67%
2007 1.91% 0.69%
2006 4.18% 0.67%
2005 3.58% 0.64%
2004 3.64% 0.68%
2003 6.34% 0.74%
2002 5.39% 1.05%
2001 0.76% 1.59%
2000 1.22% 1.84%
1999 3.8% 1.88%
1998 3.84% 1.91%
1997 3.88% 1.92%
1996 4.09% 1.94%
1995 5.02% 1.67%
1994 8.75% 1.47%
1993 12.5% 1.71%
1992 8.5% 1.6%
1991 1.6% 0.75%
1990 1.44% 0.64%
1989 3.04% 1.06%
1988 1.19% 1.02%
1987 -0.28% 1.18%
1986 -0.06% 1.2%
1985 2.11% 0.66%
1984 2.49% 0.34%
1983 -0.67% 0.67%
1982 -7.93% 1.24%
1981 -9.35% 1.69%
1980 -3.56% 1.84%
1979 0.32% 1.88%
1978 2.03% 1.86%
1977 2.15% 1.83%
1976 2.24% 1.83%
1975 2.44% 1.83%
1974 2.56% 1.87%
1973 2.57% 1.97%
1972 2.47% 2.05%
1971 2.46% 2.16%
1970 2.48% 2.27%
1969 2.42% 2.37%
1968 2.39% 2.43%
1967 2.33% 2.44%
1966 2.3% 2.45%
1965 2.26% 2.47%
1964 2.18% 2.49%
1963 2.13% 2.48%
1962 2.07% 2.47%
1961 1.98% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Sri Lanka
Current population
45409324
22185425
Population rank 36/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.27%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 -332
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 188/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -30,724
Net migration rank 179/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -30,724
2024 - -44,089 - -27,245
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 66,111 -28,011
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 95,378 -27,435
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 121,858 -29,586
2020 1,134,407 143,634 170,968 -29,875
2019 1,138,485 9,159 172,243 -28,426
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 183,610 -28,607
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 187,993 -22,324
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 194,232 -18,388
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 201,815 -29,797
2014 1,053,788 233,913 211,541 -33,672
2013 1,033,778 18,119 221,021 -37,754
2012 1,004,814 68,628 229,138 -41,955
2011 966,743 384,486 224,461 -90,839
2010 943,473 -167,460 224,325 -98,060
2009 920,581 -60,602 200,175 -81,130
2008 891,246 215,753 232,225 -97,144
2007 889,848 -851,298 248,287 -109,695
2006 875,301 57,673 248,706 -107,045
2005 855,112 250,971 248,683 -118,594
2004 850,940 -269,194 212,527 -84,795
2003 826,165 247,317 252,008 -107,573
2002 776,048 860,349 252,840 -105,718
2001 764,090 -212,872 244,377 19,273
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 227,060 123,894
1999 760,727 -32,400 206,876 138,799
1998 719,860 7,380 201,059 150,724
1997 709,778 -21,215 208,193 135,636
1996 685,005 4,072 215,290 127,236
1995 653,280 52,505 221,957 117,416
1994 609,096 315,206 228,904 8,323
1993 541,257 1,149,684 226,257 36,232
1992 440,132 1,197,329 222,230 88,542
1991 409,954 32,782 218,117 -1,047
1990 402,433 -458,737 224,454 -195,736
1989 381,158 18,296 212,401 -33,305
1988 358,397 -56,263 219,184 -58,415
1987 314,361 -345,535 226,414 -63,105
1986 310,066 -343,397 233,782 -26,460
1985 228,469 -208,685 247,836 -80,950
1984 205,262 248,224 263,175 -225,450
1983 263,778 -172,797 277,768 -209,362
1982 263,210 -500,998 300,030 -163,987
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 328,096 -89,824
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 328,155 -63,541
1979 361,750 -525,413 329,791 -57,683
1978 369,101 -117,186 317,055 -50,189
1977 372,567 -83,115 300,038 -45,383
1976 357,775 -85,430 291,816 -41,258
1975 343,850 -44,418 282,496 -37,475
1974 330,232 -20,009 275,521 -33,979
1973 315,062 -3,030 278,577 -30,582
1972 300,633 -4,050 282,494 -27,071
1971 288,267 -12,801 281,200 -22,021
1970 275,129 4,458 286,719 -16,299
1969 263,823 2,029 286,218 -10,152
1968 251,798 3,333 286,642 -7,163
1967 239,967 6,824 284,738 -6,696
1966 228,786 3,563 275,549 -6,794
1965 217,741 10,695 272,422 -7,249
1964 207,867 7,079 269,584 -7,614
1963 198,035 6,681 262,880 -8,118
1962 188,427 7,016 256,719 -8,909
1961 179,094 6,109 251,087 -10,144
1960 170,257 2,606 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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