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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 4.28 times bigger than Sweden's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • 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 +2.68% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Afghanistan vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Sweden
2100 131,724,468 11,330,987
2099 131,066,750 11,334,835
2098 130,403,871 11,339,107
2097 129,730,117 11,340,268
2096 129,070,342 11,341,947
2095 128,396,829 11,344,893
2094 127,685,065 11,347,531
2093 126,942,174 11,349,412
2092 126,194,378 11,351,452
2091 125,433,421 11,352,899
2090 124,561,248 11,354,820
2089 123,768,926 11,357,746
2088 122,960,614 11,360,405
2087 122,074,409 11,364,197
2086 121,308,199 11,371,529
2085 120,413,992 11,376,573
2084 119,420,025 11,381,332
2083 118,560,008 11,384,862
2082 117,671,742 11,390,058
2081 116,771,980 11,391,696
2080 115,724,307 11,393,882
2079 114,561,305 11,393,412
2078 113,556,727 11,391,291
2077 112,455,804 11,389,212
2076 111,375,301 11,385,385
2075 110,333,033 11,381,261
2074 109,170,742 11,377,973
2073 107,895,475 11,375,051
2072 106,682,883 11,371,362
2071 105,504,989 11,366,451
2070 104,167,895 11,362,742
2069 102,902,233 11,358,895
2068 101,568,136 11,357,504
2067 100,320,548 11,356,672
2066 99,057,144 11,356,676
2065 97,655,437 11,355,953
2064 96,248,770 11,354,988
2063 94,892,092 11,354,834
2062 93,522,871 11,355,452
2061 92,260,642 11,353,198
2060 90,945,998 11,352,013
2059 89,663,478 11,349,674
2058 88,293,680 11,345,893
2057 86,865,803 11,340,487
2056 85,428,888 11,335,234
2055 84,023,782 11,328,291
2054 82,626,785 11,320,768
2053 81,236,203 11,310,127
2052 79,860,096 11,296,358
2051 78,595,977 11,280,503
2050 77,285,393 11,261,537
2049 75,819,307 11,242,070
2048 74,435,057 11,221,274
2047 73,075,297 11,199,365
2046 71,654,160 11,176,512
2045 70,310,871 11,152,739
2044 68,983,509 11,127,765
2043 67,616,795 11,102,354
2042 66,317,516 11,076,504
2041 64,937,760 11,052,951
2040 63,497,378 11,028,609
2039 62,092,429 11,005,487
2038 60,767,134 10,983,160
2037 59,418,629 10,961,591
2036 58,079,976 10,938,759
2035 56,769,901 10,916,327
2034 55,469,080 10,893,717
2033 54,103,368 10,869,588
2032 52,759,572 10,844,339
2031 51,403,105 10,819,037
2030 50,049,673 10,790,557
2029 48,739,663 10,759,017
2028 47,504,926 10,724,017
2027 46,283,055 10,685,143
2026 45,047,977 10,643,884
2025 43,844,111 10,596,620
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 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 2.81% 0.25%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Sweden
Current population
45682388
10665077
Population rank 36/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.13%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
19.6 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
5.35 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +74
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 148/197
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 1,249,785 -44,089 7,399 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 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 (1960–2025, 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/sweden | CC BY

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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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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