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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 4.25 times bigger than Sweden's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

Afghanistan vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Sweden
2100 131,803,615 11,357,586
2099 131,145,502 11,361,443
2098 130,482,225 11,365,725
2097 129,808,066 11,366,889
2096 129,147,895 11,368,572
2095 128,473,977 11,371,525
2094 127,761,785 11,374,169
2093 127,018,448 11,376,054
2092 126,270,202 11,378,099
2091 125,508,788 11,379,549
2090 124,636,092 11,381,475
2089 123,843,293 11,384,408
2088 123,034,495 11,387,073
2087 122,147,758 11,390,874
2086 121,381,088 11,398,223
2085 120,486,343 11,403,279
2084 119,491,780 11,408,050
2083 118,631,246 11,411,588
2082 117,742,446 11,416,796
2081 116,842,143 11,418,438
2080 115,793,841 11,420,629
2079 114,630,140 11,420,158
2078 113,624,958 11,418,032
2077 112,523,374 11,415,948
2076 111,442,221 11,412,112
2075 110,399,328 11,407,978
2074 109,236,338 11,404,682
2073 107,960,305 11,401,754
2072 106,746,984 11,398,056
2071 105,568,382 11,393,134
2070 104,230,485 11,389,416
2069 102,964,062 11,385,560
2068 101,629,164 11,384,165
2067 100,380,826 11,383,331
2066 99,116,663 11,383,335
2065 97,714,113 11,382,611
2064 96,306,602 11,381,643
2063 94,949,108 11,381,489
2062 93,579,065 11,382,109
2061 92,316,077 11,379,849
2060 91,000,643 11,378,661
2059 89,717,353 11,376,317
2058 88,346,732 11,372,527
2057 86,917,997 11,367,109
2056 85,480,219 11,361,843
2055 84,074,268 11,354,884
2054 82,676,432 11,347,343
2053 81,285,014 11,336,678
2052 79,908,081 11,322,876
2051 78,643,202 11,306,983
2050 77,331,830 11,287,973
2049 75,864,863 11,268,461
2048 74,479,782 11,247,615
2047 73,119,204 11,225,655
2046 71,697,214 11,202,749
2045 70,353,118 11,178,920
2044 69,024,959 11,153,887
2043 67,657,423 11,128,417
2042 66,357,363 11,102,505
2041 64,976,778 11,078,898
2040 63,535,531 11,054,498
2039 62,129,737 11,031,322
2038 60,803,646 11,008,943
2037 59,454,331 10,987,323
2036 58,114,874 10,964,438
2035 56,804,011 10,941,953
2034 55,502,408 10,919,289
2033 54,135,876 10,895,104
2032 52,791,273 10,869,796
2031 51,433,991 10,844,434
2030 50,079,746 10,815,888
2029 48,768,949 10,784,274
2028 47,533,470 10,749,191
2027 46,310,865 10,710,226
2026 45,075,045 10,668,870
2025 43,870,455 10,621,495
2024 42,647,492 10,569,709
2023 41,454,761 10,536,632
2022 40,578,842 10,486,941
2021 40,000,412 10,415,811
2020 39,068,979 10,353,442
2019 37,856,121 10,278,887
2018 36,743,039 10,175,214
2017 35,688,935 10,057,698
2016 34,700,612 9,923,085
2015 33,831,764 9,799,186
2014 32,792,523 9,696,110
2013 31,622,704 9,600,379
2012 30,560,034 9,519,374
2011 29,347,708 9,449,213
2010 28,284,089 9,378,126
2009 27,466,101 9,298,515
2008 26,482,622 9,219,637
2007 25,909,852 9,148,092
2006 25,424,094 9,080,505
2005 24,404,567 9,029,572
2004 23,560,654 8,993,531
2003 22,733,049 8,958,229
2002 21,378,117 8,924,958
2001 20,284,307 8,895,960
2000 20,130,327 8,872,109
1999 19,887,785 8,857,874
1998 19,159,996 8,850,974
1997 18,452,091 8,846,062
1996 17,763,266 8,840,998
1995 17,065,836 8,826,939
1994 16,250,794 8,780,745
1993 14,943,172 8,718,561
1992 13,278,974 8,668,067
1991 12,238,879 8,617,375
1990 12,045,660 8,558,835
1989 11,874,088 8,492,964
1988 11,523,298 8,436,489
1987 11,387,818 8,397,804
1986 11,420,074 8,369,829
1985 11,426,852 8,350,386
1984 11,190,221 8,336,605
1983 10,917,982 8,329,033
1982 10,991,378 8,325,263
1981 11,937,581 8,320,503
1980 13,169,311 8,310,531
1979 13,655,567 8,293,678
1978 13,611,441 8,275,599
1977 13,340,756 8,251,540
1976 13,059,851 8,222,286
1975 12,773,954 8,192,437
1974 12,469,127 8,159,955
1973 12,157,999 8,136,312
1972 11,853,696 8,122,300
1971 11,567,667 8,098,334
1970 11,290,128 8,042,801
1969 11,017,409 7,968,072
1968 10,756,922 7,912,273
1967 10,505,959 7,867,931
1966 10,266,395 7,807,797
1965 10,036,008 7,733,853
1964 9,814,318 7,661,354
1963 9,604,487 7,604,328
1962 9,404,406 7,561,588
1961 9,214,083 7,519,998
1960 9,035,043 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 93rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Sweden
2100 0.5% -0.03%
2099 0.51% -0.04%
2098 0.52% -0.01%
2097 0.51% -0.01%
2096 0.52% -0.03%
2095 0.56% -0.02%
2094 0.59% -0.02%
2093 0.59% -0.02%
2092 0.61% -0.01%
2091 0.7% -0.02%
2090 0.64% -0.03%
2089 0.66% -0.02%
2088 0.73% -0.03%
2087 0.63% -0.06%
2086 0.74% -0.04%
2085 0.83% -0.04%
2084 0.73% -0.03%
2083 0.75% -0.05%
2082 0.77% -0.01%
2081 0.91% -0.02%
2080 1.02% 0.004%
2079 0.88% 0.02%
2078 0.98% 0.02%
2077 0.97% 0.03%
2076 0.94% 0.04%
2075 1.06% 0.03%
2074 1.18% 0.03%
2073 1.14% 0.03%
2072 1.12% 0.04%
2071 1.28% 0.03%
2070 1.23% 0.03%
2069 1.31% 0.01%
2068 1.24% 0.007%
2067 1.28% -0%
2066 1.44% 0.006%
2065 1.46% 0.009%
2064 1.43% 0.001%
2063 1.46% -0.005%
2062 1.37% 0.02%
2061 1.45% 0.01%
2060 1.43% 0.02%
2059 1.55% 0.03%
2058 1.64% 0.05%
2057 1.68% 0.05%
2056 1.67% 0.06%
2055 1.69% 0.07%
2054 1.71% 0.09%
2053 1.72% 0.12%
2052 1.61% 0.14%
2051 1.7% 0.17%
2050 1.93% 0.17%
2049 1.86% 0.19%
2048 1.86% 0.2%
2047 1.98% 0.2%
2046 1.91% 0.21%
2045 1.92% 0.22%
2044 2.02% 0.23%
2043 1.96% 0.23%
2042 2.12% 0.21%
2041 2.27% 0.22%
2040 2.26% 0.21%
2039 2.18% 0.2%
2038 2.27% 0.2%
2037 2.3% 0.21%
2036 2.31% 0.21%
2035 2.35% 0.21%
2034 2.52% 0.22%
2033 2.55% 0.23%
2032 2.64% 0.23%
2031 2.7% 0.26%
2030 2.69% 0.29%
2029 2.6% 0.33%
2028 2.64% 0.36%
2027 2.74% 0.39%
2026 2.75% 0.45%
2025 2.87% 0.49%
2024 2.88% 0.31%
2023 2.16% 0.47%
2022 1.45% 0.68%
2021 2.38% 0.6%
2020 3.2% 0.73%
2019 3.03% 1.02%
2018 2.95% 1.17%
2017 2.85% 1.36%
2016 2.57% 1.26%
2015 3.17% 1.06%
2014 3.7% 1%
2013 3.48% 0.85%
2012 4.13% 0.74%
2011 3.76% 0.76%
2010 2.98% 0.86%
2009 3.71% 0.86%
2008 2.21% 0.78%
2007 1.91% 0.74%
2006 4.18% 0.56%
2005 3.58% 0.4%
2004 3.64% 0.39%
2003 6.34% 0.37%
2002 5.39% 0.33%
2001 0.76% 0.27%
2000 1.22% 0.16%
1999 3.8% 0.08%
1998 3.84% 0.06%
1997 3.88% 0.06%
1996 4.09% 0.16%
1995 5.02% 0.53%
1994 8.75% 0.71%
1993 12.5% 0.58%
1992 8.5% 0.59%
1991 1.6% 0.68%
1990 1.44% 0.78%
1989 3.04% 0.67%
1988 1.19% 0.46%
1987 -0.28% 0.33%
1986 -0.06% 0.23%
1985 2.11% 0.17%
1984 2.49% 0.09%
1983 -0.67% 0.05%
1982 -7.93% 0.06%
1981 -9.35% 0.12%
1980 -3.56% 0.2%
1979 0.32% 0.22%
1978 2.03% 0.29%
1977 2.15% 0.36%
1976 2.24% 0.36%
1975 2.44% 0.4%
1974 2.56% 0.29%
1973 2.57% 0.17%
1972 2.47% 0.3%
1971 2.46% 0.69%
1970 2.48% 0.94%
1969 2.42% 0.71%
1968 2.39% 0.56%
1967 2.33% 0.77%
1966 2.3% 0.96%
1965 2.26% 0.95%
1964 2.18% 0.75%
1963 2.13% 0.57%
1962 2.07% 0.55%
1961 1.98% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Sweden
Current population
45409324
10680056
Population rank 36/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.13%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
15.9 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
5.25 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +91
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 149/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +47,079
Net migration rank 179/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 47,079
2024 - -44,089 - 50,115
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 5,269 55,209
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 10,487 58,955
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 22,914 51,947
2020 1,134,407 143,634 14,495 37,302
2019 1,138,485 9,159 25,697 72,619
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 23,403 87,517
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 24,138 102,671
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 25,800 119,234
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 23,518 80,534
2014 1,053,788 233,913 26,179 77,654
2013 1,033,778 18,119 23,041 66,760
2012 1,004,814 68,628 20,943 52,879
2011 966,743 384,486 21,733 46,049
2010 943,473 -167,460 25,320 51,175
2009 920,581 -60,602 21,387 63,638
2008 891,246 215,753 18,439 56,452
2007 889,848 -851,298 15,552 54,907
2006 875,301 57,673 15,436 51,675
2005 855,112 250,971 9,030 27,030
2004 850,940 -269,194 9,893 25,842
2003 826,165 247,317 6,271 29,161
2002 776,048 860,349 893 31,364
2001 764,090 -212,872 -1,779 28,856
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 -2,662 24,900
1999 760,727 -32,400 -6,201 13,940
1998 719,860 7,380 -3,541 11,325
1997 709,778 -21,215 -3,539 6,047
1996 685,005 4,072 1,768 5,773
1995 653,280 52,505 9,710 11,621
1994 609,096 315,206 20,196 51,545
1993 541,257 1,149,684 20,924 32,725
1992 440,132 1,197,329 28,605 20,507
1991 409,954 32,782 29,299 25,314
1990 402,433 -458,737 29,100 35,668
1989 381,158 18,296 24,629 44,565
1988 358,397 -56,263 15,186 30,064
1987 314,361 -345,535 11,757 21,335
1986 310,066 -343,397 9,206 15,211
1985 228,469 -208,685 4,175 11,464
1984 205,262 248,224 3,335 8,668
1983 263,778 -172,797 833 2,105
1982 263,210 -500,998 1,665 2,524
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 1,664 3,209
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 5,818 10,040
1979 361,750 -525,413 4,976 13,895
1978 369,101 -117,186 4,138 13,807
1977 372,567 -83,115 7,426 23,528
1976 357,775 -85,430 8,222 20,324
1975 343,850 -44,418 14,746 16,564
1974 330,232 -20,009 23,664 9,217
1973 315,062 -3,030 24,409 -9,551
1972 300,633 -4,050 28,428 -13,519
1971 288,267 -12,801 31,583 2,334
1970 275,129 4,458 30,563 47,242
1969 263,823 2,029 23,904 48,824
1968 251,798 3,333 30,858 8,545
1967 239,967 6,824 41,700 11,075
1966 228,786 3,563 45,286 24,920
1965 217,741 10,695 44,857 32,444
1964 207,867 7,079 45,968 23,581
1963 198,035 6,681 35,741 11,009
1962 188,427 7,016 30,246 9,627
1961 179,094 6,109 30,832 14,401
1960 170,257 2,606 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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