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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 1.69 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Afghanistan vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Syria
2100 131,803,615 44,620,090
2099 131,145,502 44,690,260
2098 130,482,225 44,750,249
2097 129,808,066 44,813,148
2096 129,147,895 44,867,740
2095 128,473,977 44,895,489
2094 127,761,785 44,945,231
2093 127,018,448 44,974,311
2092 126,270,202 45,003,795
2091 125,508,788 45,016,478
2090 124,636,092 45,048,083
2089 123,843,293 45,047,102
2088 123,034,495 45,041,864
2087 122,147,758 45,049,516
2086 121,381,088 45,068,928
2085 120,486,343 45,034,847
2084 119,491,780 44,999,929
2083 118,631,246 44,971,600
2082 117,742,446 44,910,859
2081 116,842,143 44,843,908
2080 115,793,841 44,744,718
2079 114,630,140 44,687,371
2078 113,624,958 44,649,760
2077 112,523,374 44,604,175
2076 111,442,221 44,520,132
2075 110,399,328 44,426,423
2074 109,236,338 44,328,795
2073 107,960,305 44,221,016
2072 106,746,984 44,084,262
2071 105,568,382 43,939,848
2070 104,230,485 43,795,999
2069 102,964,062 43,648,130
2068 101,629,164 43,465,442
2067 100,380,826 43,271,173
2066 99,116,663 43,060,752
2065 97,714,113 42,810,442
2064 96,306,602 42,559,554
2063 94,949,108 42,311,907
2062 93,579,065 42,062,193
2061 92,316,077 41,808,082
2060 91,000,643 41,522,274
2059 89,717,353 41,208,825
2058 88,346,732 40,925,728
2057 86,917,997 40,643,453
2056 85,480,219 40,332,578
2055 84,074,268 40,026,632
2054 82,676,432 39,691,425
2053 81,285,014 39,348,020
2052 79,908,081 39,045,268
2051 78,643,202 38,733,827
2050 77,331,830 38,410,423
2049 75,864,863 38,089,455
2048 74,479,782 37,784,449
2047 73,119,204 37,492,636
2046 71,697,214 37,181,526
2045 70,353,118 36,843,579
2044 69,024,959 36,526,509
2043 67,657,423 36,188,225
2042 66,357,363 35,825,419
2041 64,976,778 35,447,414
2040 63,535,531 35,042,107
2039 62,129,737 34,626,945
2038 60,803,646 34,183,740
2037 59,454,331 33,703,682
2036 58,114,874 33,223,843
2035 56,804,011 32,696,648
2034 55,502,408 32,148,814
2033 54,135,876 31,562,427
2032 52,791,273 30,967,322
2031 51,433,991 30,329,874
2030 50,079,746 29,672,629
2029 48,768,949 28,949,535
2028 47,533,470 28,217,748
2027 46,310,865 27,428,807
2026 45,075,045 26,607,148
2025 43,870,455 25,689,551
2024 42,647,492 24,672,760
2023 41,454,761 23,594,623
2022 40,578,842 22,462,173
2021 40,000,412 21,628,839
2020 39,068,979 21,049,429
2019 37,856,121 20,353,534
2018 36,743,039 19,577,845
2017 35,688,935 19,224,668
2016 34,700,612 19,193,834
2015 33,831,764 19,424,618
2014 32,792,523 20,273,659
2013 31,622,704 21,666,917
2012 30,560,034 22,759,763
2011 29,347,708 22,878,098
2010 28,284,089 22,482,421
2009 27,466,101 21,976,969
2008 26,482,622 21,636,564
2007 25,909,852 20,884,125
2006 25,424,094 19,637,022
2005 24,404,567 18,814,091
2004 23,560,654 18,336,875
2003 22,733,049 17,889,296
2002 21,378,117 17,468,332
2001 20,284,307 17,051,338
2000 20,130,327 16,637,888
1999 19,887,785 16,228,061
1998 19,159,996 15,820,413
1997 18,452,091 15,417,542
1996 17,763,266 15,018,104
1995 17,065,836 14,616,801
1994 16,250,794 14,208,583
1993 14,943,172 13,795,686
1992 13,278,974 13,385,571
1991 12,238,879 12,980,821
1990 12,045,660 12,579,208
1989 11,874,088 12,179,060
1988 11,523,298 11,782,264
1987 11,387,818 11,388,923
1986 11,420,074 11,002,844
1985 11,426,852 10,625,672
1984 11,190,221 10,258,398
1983 10,917,982 9,904,809
1982 10,991,378 9,572,511
1981 11,937,581 9,260,189
1980 13,169,311 8,957,663
1979 13,655,567 8,661,909
1978 13,611,441 8,372,759
1977 13,340,756 8,090,501
1976 13,059,851 7,817,320
1975 12,773,954 7,554,364
1974 12,469,127 7,302,160
1973 12,157,999 7,060,321
1972 11,853,696 6,826,024
1971 11,567,667 6,598,094
1970 11,290,128 6,380,609
1969 11,017,409 6,175,166
1968 10,756,922 5,978,742
1967 10,505,959 5,790,198
1966 10,266,395 5,609,047
1965 10,036,008 5,435,267
1964 9,814,318 5,269,087
1963 9,604,487 5,110,467
1962 9,404,406 4,959,340
1961 9,214,083 4,815,466
1960 9,035,043 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Syria
2100 0.5% -0.16%
2099 0.51% -0.13%
2098 0.52% -0.14%
2097 0.51% -0.12%
2096 0.52% -0.06%
2095 0.56% -0.11%
2094 0.59% -0.06%
2093 0.59% -0.07%
2092 0.61% -0.03%
2091 0.7% -0.07%
2090 0.64% 0.002%
2089 0.66% 0.01%
2088 0.73% -0.02%
2087 0.63% -0.04%
2086 0.74% 0.08%
2085 0.83% 0.08%
2084 0.73% 0.06%
2083 0.75% 0.14%
2082 0.77% 0.15%
2081 0.91% 0.22%
2080 1.02% 0.13%
2079 0.88% 0.08%
2078 0.98% 0.1%
2077 0.97% 0.19%
2076 0.94% 0.21%
2075 1.06% 0.22%
2074 1.18% 0.24%
2073 1.14% 0.31%
2072 1.12% 0.33%
2071 1.28% 0.33%
2070 1.23% 0.34%
2069 1.31% 0.42%
2068 1.24% 0.45%
2067 1.28% 0.49%
2066 1.44% 0.58%
2065 1.46% 0.59%
2064 1.43% 0.59%
2063 1.46% 0.59%
2062 1.37% 0.61%
2061 1.45% 0.69%
2060 1.43% 0.76%
2059 1.55% 0.69%
2058 1.64% 0.69%
2057 1.68% 0.77%
2056 1.67% 0.76%
2055 1.69% 0.84%
2054 1.71% 0.87%
2053 1.72% 0.78%
2052 1.61% 0.8%
2051 1.7% 0.84%
2050 1.93% 0.84%
2049 1.86% 0.81%
2048 1.86% 0.78%
2047 1.98% 0.84%
2046 1.91% 0.92%
2045 1.92% 0.87%
2044 2.02% 0.93%
2043 1.96% 1.01%
2042 2.12% 1.07%
2041 2.27% 1.16%
2040 2.26% 1.2%
2039 2.18% 1.3%
2038 2.27% 1.42%
2037 2.3% 1.44%
2036 2.31% 1.61%
2035 2.35% 1.7%
2034 2.52% 1.86%
2033 2.55% 1.92%
2032 2.64% 2.1%
2031 2.7% 2.21%
2030 2.69% 2.5%
2029 2.6% 2.59%
2028 2.64% 2.88%
2027 2.74% 3.09%
2026 2.75% 3.57%
2025 2.87% 4.12%
2024 2.88% 4.57%
2023 2.16% 5.04%
2022 1.45% 3.85%
2021 2.38% 2.75%
2020 3.2% 3.42%
2019 3.03% 3.96%
2018 2.95% 1.84%
2017 2.85% 0.16%
2016 2.57% -1.19%
2015 3.17% -4.19%
2014 3.7% -6.43%
2013 3.48% -4.8%
2012 4.13% -0.52%
2011 3.76% 1.76%
2010 2.98% 2.3%
2009 3.71% 1.57%
2008 2.21% 3.6%
2007 1.91% 6.35%
2006 4.18% 4.37%
2005 3.58% 2.6%
2004 3.64% 2.5%
2003 6.34% 2.41%
2002 5.39% 2.45%
2001 0.76% 2.48%
2000 1.22% 2.53%
1999 3.8% 2.58%
1998 3.84% 2.61%
1997 3.88% 2.66%
1996 4.09% 2.75%
1995 5.02% 2.87%
1994 8.75% 2.99%
1993 12.5% 3.06%
1992 8.5% 3.12%
1991 1.6% 3.19%
1990 1.44% 3.29%
1989 3.04% 3.37%
1988 1.19% 3.45%
1987 -0.28% 3.51%
1986 -0.06% 3.55%
1985 2.11% 3.58%
1984 2.49% 3.57%
1983 -0.67% 3.47%
1982 -7.93% 3.37%
1981 -9.35% 3.38%
1980 -3.56% 3.41%
1979 0.32% 3.45%
1978 2.03% 3.49%
1977 2.15% 3.49%
1976 2.24% 3.48%
1975 2.44% 3.45%
1974 2.56% 3.43%
1973 2.57% 3.43%
1972 2.47% 3.45%
1971 2.46% 3.41%
1970 2.48% 3.33%
1969 2.42% 3.29%
1968 2.39% 3.26%
1967 2.33% 3.23%
1966 2.3% 3.2%
1965 2.26% 3.15%
1964 2.18% 3.1%
1963 2.13% 3.05%
1962 2.07% 2.99%
1961 1.98% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Syria
Current population
45409324
26829400
Population rank 36/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.32%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 6/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +421,693
Net migration rank 179/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 421,693
2024 - -44,089 - 546,494
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 402,713 757,309
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 369,750 735,142
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 350,560 211,220
2020 1,134,407 143,634 327,992 269,050
2019 1,138,485 9,159 293,762 500,985
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 242,530 514,102
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 237,214 -287,501
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 236,007 -124,063
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 253,977 -827,496
2014 1,053,788 233,913 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 1,033,778 18,119 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 1,004,814 68,628 475,520 -999,267
2011 966,743 384,486 543,950 -256,888
2010 943,473 -167,460 558,666 -54,359
2009 920,581 -60,602 559,314 -52,703
2008 891,246 215,753 576,593 -402,393
2007 889,848 -851,298 529,162 801,514
2006 875,301 57,673 480,616 682,911
2005 855,112 250,971 468,960 13,382
2004 850,940 -269,194 461,209 10,881
2003 826,165 247,317 457,000 -33,920
2002 776,048 860,349 453,967 -35,096
2001 764,090 -212,872 451,503 -36,383
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 446,211 -34,425
1999 760,727 -32,400 439,261 -31,394
1998 719,860 7,380 433,447 -26,025
1997 709,778 -21,215 429,887 -31,571
1996 685,005 4,072 430,765 -30,197
1995 653,280 52,505 430,172 -28,122
1994 609,096 315,206 426,996 -12,630
1993 541,257 1,149,684 420,244 -8,828
1992 440,132 1,197,329 412,878 -4,063
1991 409,954 32,782 410,830 -10,154
1990 402,433 -458,737 409,177 -6,620
1989 381,158 18,296 406,111 -8,379
1988 358,397 -56,263 404,285 -8,426
1987 314,361 -345,535 399,159 -8,335
1986 310,066 -343,397 390,821 -9,485
1985 228,469 -208,685 379,231 -6,221
1984 205,262 248,224 366,768 -5,245
1983 263,778 -172,797 355,375 -9,729
1982 263,210 -500,998 319,664 -721
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 330,237 -24,536
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 332,464 -33,114
1979 361,750 -525,413 324,943 -32,793
1978 369,101 -117,186 316,724 -30,567
1977 372,567 -83,115 306,630 -28,275
1976 357,775 -85,430 294,267 -26,268
1975 343,850 -44,418 282,299 -24,389
1974 330,232 -20,009 270,735 -24,242
1973 315,062 -3,030 254,687 -17,502
1972 300,633 -4,050 249,027 -17,610
1971 288,267 -12,801 239,610 -15,167
1970 275,129 4,458 230,117 -19,594
1969 263,823 2,029 219,114 -18,749
1968 251,798 3,333 209,454 -16,968
1967 239,967 6,824 199,223 -14,618
1966 228,786 3,563 191,122 -13,434
1965 217,741 10,695 182,560 -12,704
1964 207,867 7,079 174,549 -12,044
1963 198,035 6,681 166,555 -11,817
1962 188,427 7,016 159,155 -11,641
1961 179,094 6,109 151,485 -11,237
1960 170,257 2,606 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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