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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 4.99 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Afghanistan vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Switzerland
2100 131,803,615 9,234,296
2099 131,145,502 9,226,472
2098 130,482,225 9,220,109
2097 129,808,066 9,212,728
2096 129,147,895 9,208,997
2095 128,473,977 9,203,477
2094 127,761,785 9,199,095
2093 127,018,448 9,196,672
2092 126,270,202 9,194,082
2091 125,508,788 9,191,145
2090 124,636,092 9,189,122
2089 123,843,293 9,188,754
2088 123,034,495 9,190,102
2087 122,147,758 9,189,763
2086 121,381,088 9,191,494
2085 120,486,343 9,195,728
2084 119,491,780 9,199,983
2083 118,631,246 9,204,908
2082 117,742,446 9,210,695
2081 116,842,143 9,217,065
2080 115,793,841 9,223,475
2079 114,630,140 9,230,920
2078 113,624,958 9,237,649
2077 112,523,374 9,245,300
2076 111,442,221 9,250,248
2075 110,399,328 9,255,753
2074 109,236,338 9,266,455
2073 107,960,305 9,275,439
2072 106,746,984 9,283,185
2071 105,568,382 9,292,913
2070 104,230,485 9,303,843
2069 102,964,062 9,311,935
2068 101,629,164 9,320,335
2067 100,380,826 9,327,741
2066 99,116,663 9,339,455
2065 97,714,113 9,351,481
2064 96,306,602 9,362,413
2063 94,949,108 9,372,441
2062 93,579,065 9,383,258
2061 92,316,077 9,395,036
2060 91,000,643 9,403,920
2059 89,717,353 9,414,241
2058 88,346,732 9,422,560
2057 86,917,997 9,428,212
2056 85,480,219 9,435,441
2055 84,074,268 9,443,890
2054 82,676,432 9,451,268
2053 81,285,014 9,456,389
2052 79,908,081 9,456,418
2051 78,643,202 9,456,395
2050 77,331,830 9,454,544
2049 75,864,863 9,451,083
2048 74,479,782 9,444,091
2047 73,119,204 9,437,061
2046 71,697,214 9,430,954
2045 70,353,118 9,425,155
2044 69,024,959 9,418,152
2043 67,657,423 9,410,763
2042 66,357,363 9,400,808
2041 64,976,778 9,393,857
2040 63,535,531 9,382,662
2039 62,129,737 9,373,984
2038 60,803,646 9,365,030
2037 59,454,331 9,354,254
2036 58,114,874 9,342,450
2035 56,804,011 9,328,907
2034 55,502,408 9,312,054
2033 54,135,876 9,294,881
2032 52,791,273 9,276,221
2031 51,433,991 9,253,034
2030 50,079,746 9,228,188
2029 48,768,949 9,201,743
2028 47,533,470 9,170,620
2027 46,310,865 9,135,740
2026 45,075,045 9,097,532
2025 43,870,455 9,053,983
2024 42,647,492 9,005,582
2023 41,454,761 8,888,822
2022 40,578,842 8,777,088
2021 40,000,412 8,704,546
2020 39,068,979 8,638,167
2019 37,856,121 8,575,280
2018 36,743,039 8,514,329
2017 35,688,935 8,451,840
2016 34,700,612 8,373,338
2015 33,831,764 8,282,396
2014 32,792,523 8,188,649
2013 31,622,704 8,089,346
2012 30,560,034 7,996,861
2011 29,347,708 7,912,398
2010 28,284,089 7,824,909
2009 27,466,101 7,743,831
2008 26,482,622 7,647,675
2007 25,909,852 7,551,117
2006 25,424,094 7,483,934
2005 24,404,567 7,437,115
2004 23,560,654 7,389,625
2003 22,733,049 7,339,001
2002 21,378,117 7,284,753
2001 20,284,307 7,229,854
2000 20,130,327 7,184,250
1999 19,887,785 7,143,991
1998 19,159,996 7,110,001
1997 18,452,091 7,088,906
1996 17,763,266 7,071,850
1995 17,065,836 7,040,687
1994 16,250,794 6,993,795
1993 14,943,172 6,938,265
1992 13,278,974 6,875,364
1991 12,238,879 6,799,978
1990 12,045,660 6,715,519
1989 11,874,088 6,646,912
1988 11,523,298 6,593,386
1987 11,387,818 6,545,106
1986 11,420,074 6,504,124
1985 11,426,852 6,470,365
1984 11,190,221 6,441,865
1983 10,917,982 6,418,773
1982 10,991,378 6,391,309
1981 11,937,581 6,354,074
1980 13,169,311 6,319,408
1979 13,655,567 6,294,365
1978 13,611,441 6,281,738
1977 13,340,756 6,281,174
1976 13,059,851 6,302,504
1975 12,773,954 6,338,632
1974 12,469,127 6,341,405
1973 12,157,999 6,307,347
1972 11,853,696 6,260,956
1971 11,567,667 6,213,399
1970 11,290,128 6,180,877
1969 11,017,409 6,136,387
1968 10,756,922 6,067,714
1967 10,505,959 5,991,785
1966 10,266,395 5,918,002
1965 10,036,008 5,856,472
1964 9,814,318 5,789,228
1963 9,604,487 5,694,247
1962 9,404,406 5,573,815
1961 9,214,083 5,434,294
1960 9,035,043 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Switzerland
2100 0.5% 0.08%
2099 0.51% 0.07%
2098 0.52% 0.08%
2097 0.51% 0.04%
2096 0.52% 0.06%
2095 0.56% 0.05%
2094 0.59% 0.03%
2093 0.59% 0.03%
2092 0.61% 0.03%
2091 0.7% 0.02%
2090 0.64% 0.004%
2089 0.66% -0.01%
2088 0.73% 0.004%
2087 0.63% -0.02%
2086 0.74% -0.05%
2085 0.83% -0.05%
2084 0.73% -0.05%
2083 0.75% -0.06%
2082 0.77% -0.07%
2081 0.91% -0.07%
2080 1.02% -0.08%
2079 0.88% -0.07%
2078 0.98% -0.08%
2077 0.97% -0.05%
2076 0.94% -0.06%
2075 1.06% -0.12%
2074 1.18% -0.1%
2073 1.14% -0.08%
2072 1.12% -0.1%
2071 1.28% -0.12%
2070 1.23% -0.09%
2069 1.31% -0.09%
2068 1.24% -0.08%
2067 1.28% -0.13%
2066 1.44% -0.13%
2065 1.46% -0.12%
2064 1.43% -0.11%
2063 1.46% -0.12%
2062 1.37% -0.13%
2061 1.45% -0.09%
2060 1.43% -0.11%
2059 1.55% -0.09%
2058 1.64% -0.06%
2057 1.68% -0.08%
2056 1.67% -0.09%
2055 1.69% -0.08%
2054 1.71% -0.05%
2053 1.72% -0%
2052 1.61% 0%
2051 1.7% 0.02%
2050 1.93% 0.04%
2049 1.86% 0.07%
2048 1.86% 0.07%
2047 1.98% 0.06%
2046 1.91% 0.06%
2045 1.92% 0.07%
2044 2.02% 0.08%
2043 1.96% 0.11%
2042 2.12% 0.07%
2041 2.27% 0.12%
2040 2.26% 0.09%
2039 2.18% 0.1%
2038 2.27% 0.12%
2037 2.3% 0.13%
2036 2.31% 0.15%
2035 2.35% 0.18%
2034 2.52% 0.18%
2033 2.55% 0.2%
2032 2.64% 0.25%
2031 2.7% 0.27%
2030 2.69% 0.29%
2029 2.6% 0.34%
2028 2.64% 0.38%
2027 2.74% 0.42%
2026 2.75% 0.48%
2025 2.87% 0.54%
2024 2.88% 1.31%
2023 2.16% 1.27%
2022 1.45% 0.83%
2021 2.38% 0.77%
2020 3.2% 0.73%
2019 3.03% 0.72%
2018 2.95% 0.74%
2017 2.85% 0.94%
2016 2.57% 1.1%
2015 3.17% 1.14%
2014 3.7% 1.23%
2013 3.48% 1.16%
2012 4.13% 1.07%
2011 3.76% 1.12%
2010 2.98% 1.05%
2009 3.71% 1.26%
2008 2.21% 1.28%
2007 1.91% 0.9%
2006 4.18% 0.63%
2005 3.58% 0.64%
2004 3.64% 0.69%
2003 6.34% 0.74%
2002 5.39% 0.76%
2001 0.76% 0.63%
2000 1.22% 0.56%
1999 3.8% 0.48%
1998 3.84% 0.3%
1997 3.88% 0.24%
1996 4.09% 0.44%
1995 5.02% 0.67%
1994 8.75% 0.8%
1993 12.5% 0.91%
1992 8.5% 1.11%
1991 1.6% 1.26%
1990 1.44% 1.03%
1989 3.04% 0.81%
1988 1.19% 0.74%
1987 -0.28% 0.63%
1986 -0.06% 0.52%
1985 2.11% 0.44%
1984 2.49% 0.36%
1983 -0.67% 0.43%
1982 -7.93% 0.59%
1981 -9.35% 0.55%
1980 -3.56% 0.4%
1979 0.32% 0.2%
1978 2.03% 0.009%
1977 2.15% -0.34%
1976 2.24% -0.57%
1975 2.44% -0.04%
1974 2.56% 0.54%
1973 2.57% 0.74%
1972 2.47% 0.77%
1971 2.46% 0.53%
1970 2.48% 0.73%
1969 2.42% 1.13%
1968 2.39% 1.27%
1967 2.33% 1.25%
1966 2.3% 1.05%
1965 2.26% 1.16%
1964 2.18% 1.67%
1963 2.13% 2.16%
1962 2.07% 2.57%
1961 1.98% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Switzerland
Current population
45409324
9107866
Population rank 36/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.11%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +320
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 81/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +37,253
Net migration rank 179/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 37,253
2024 - -44,089 - 40,099
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 8,000 45,098
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 7,899 96,424
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 18,279 50,665
2020 1,134,407 143,634 9,502 55,523
2019 1,138,485 9,159 18,008 44,517
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 20,434 41,253
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 20,284 45,658
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 22,608 71,009
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 19,050 71,876
2014 1,053,788 233,913 21,290 78,122
2013 1,033,778 18,119 17,797 83,823
2012 1,004,814 68,628 18,393 67,840
2011 966,743 384,486 18,990 67,194
2010 943,473 -167,460 17,997 76,388
2009 920,581 -60,602 15,487 69,324
2008 891,246 215,753 15,295 94,430
2007 889,848 -851,298 13,592 72,475
2006 875,301 57,673 12,723 37,308
2005 855,112 250,971 11,899 33,203
2004 850,940 -269,194 13,302 39,484
2003 826,165 247,317 8,807 42,567
2002 776,048 860,349 10,199 49,650
2001 764,090 -212,872 10,845 35,420
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 15,806 24,463
1999 760,727 -32,400 16,431 25,599
1998 719,860 7,380 16,353 11,325
1997 709,778 -21,215 17,722 -1,939
1996 685,005 4,072 19,801 -131
1995 653,280 52,505 19,010 25,343
1994 609,096 315,206 20,982 30,274
1993 541,257 1,149,684 21,509 40,267
1992 440,132 1,197,329 24,064 42,014
1991 409,954 32,782 23,800 69,738
1990 402,433 -458,737 20,146 58,428
1989 381,158 18,296 19,941 34,432
1988 358,397 -56,263 21,099 34,602
1987 314,361 -345,535 15,708 27,081
1986 310,066 -343,397 16,261 23,242
1985 228,469 -208,685 14,882 14,402
1984 205,262 248,224 16,105 12,532
1983 263,778 -172,797 12,837 5,663
1982 263,210 -500,998 15,339 21,929
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 13,979 24,229
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 14,535 17,841
1979 361,750 -525,413 14,477 4,262
1978 369,101 -117,186 13,820 -6,552
1977 372,567 -83,115 16,959 -22,516
1976 357,775 -85,430 17,017 -54,255
1975 343,850 -44,418 22,820 -58,187
1974 330,232 -20,009 27,902 2,008
1973 315,062 -3,030 30,906 8,158
1972 300,633 -4,050 35,061 19,991
1971 288,267 -12,801 38,523 2,636
1970 275,129 4,458 42,648 -18,326
1969 263,823 2,029 44,182 20,754
1968 251,798 3,333 47,328 25,828
1967 239,967 6,824 52,128 27,697
1966 228,786 3,563 53,854 14,979
1965 217,741 10,695 56,222 -1,351
1964 207,867 7,079 59,050 21,455
1963 198,035 6,681 52,956 58,415
1962 188,427 7,016 49,050 82,798
1961 179,094 6,109 48,365 101,278
1960 170,257 2,606 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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