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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 10,590,927 people in Tajikistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 11,038,274 in Tajikistan.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 4.11 times bigger than Tajikistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Tajikistan is the 88th.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.13% for Tajikistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +2.33% in Tajikistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Tajikistan has grown from 7.06M to 11M (56.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Tajikistan: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Tajikistan
2100 131,803,615 20,390,053
2099 131,145,502 20,381,074
2098 130,482,225 20,367,161
2097 129,808,066 20,348,897
2096 129,147,895 20,324,869
2095 128,473,977 20,297,885
2094 127,761,785 20,265,966
2093 127,018,448 20,234,160
2092 126,270,202 20,192,937
2091 125,508,788 20,148,873
2090 124,636,092 20,103,798
2089 123,843,293 20,056,079
2088 123,034,495 20,005,521
2087 122,147,758 19,950,317
2086 121,381,088 19,895,606
2085 120,486,343 19,836,988
2084 119,491,780 19,773,272
2083 118,631,246 19,706,082
2082 117,742,446 19,639,516
2081 116,842,143 19,572,596
2080 115,793,841 19,499,390
2079 114,630,140 19,425,502
2078 113,624,958 19,347,261
2077 112,523,374 19,265,447
2076 111,442,221 19,175,355
2075 110,399,328 19,083,859
2074 109,236,338 18,988,290
2073 107,960,305 18,889,470
2072 106,746,984 18,785,103
2071 105,568,382 18,674,697
2070 104,230,485 18,559,138
2069 102,964,062 18,437,873
2068 101,629,164 18,315,011
2067 100,380,826 18,187,508
2066 99,116,663 18,054,404
2065 97,714,113 17,921,674
2064 96,306,602 17,783,801
2063 94,949,108 17,641,066
2062 93,579,065 17,498,306
2061 92,316,077 17,356,130
2060 91,000,643 17,206,922
2059 89,717,353 17,056,085
2058 88,346,732 16,903,532
2057 86,917,997 16,749,284
2056 85,480,219 16,595,691
2055 84,074,268 16,441,650
2054 82,676,432 16,285,520
2053 81,285,014 16,130,235
2052 79,908,081 15,967,770
2051 78,643,202 15,805,253
2050 77,331,830 15,638,613
2049 75,864,863 15,468,883
2048 74,479,782 15,292,499
2047 73,119,204 15,112,083
2046 71,697,214 14,928,123
2045 70,353,118 14,739,540
2044 69,024,959 14,544,544
2043 67,657,423 14,349,357
2042 66,357,363 14,147,892
2041 64,976,778 13,945,694
2040 63,535,531 13,741,587
2039 62,129,737 13,536,704
2038 60,803,646 13,331,490
2037 59,454,331 13,125,051
2036 58,114,874 12,917,110
2035 56,804,011 12,714,184
2034 55,502,408 12,515,962
2033 54,135,876 12,321,294
2032 52,791,273 12,128,060
2031 51,433,991 11,938,351
2030 50,079,746 11,749,706
2029 48,768,949 11,559,235
2028 47,533,470 11,369,414
2027 46,310,865 11,178,605
2026 45,075,045 10,986,242
2025 43,870,455 10,791,246
2024 42,647,492 10,590,927
2023 41,454,761 10,389,799
2022 40,578,842 10,182,222
2021 40,000,412 9,966,908
2020 39,068,979 9,749,310
2019 37,856,121 9,529,966
2018 36,743,039 9,307,333
2017 35,688,935 9,085,946
2016 34,700,612 8,865,631
2015 33,831,764 8,643,840
2014 32,792,523 8,425,552
2013 31,622,704 8,216,724
2012 30,560,034 8,014,084
2011 29,347,708 7,824,785
2010 28,284,089 7,652,141
2009 27,466,101 7,490,230
2008 26,482,622 7,338,403
2007 25,909,852 7,194,477
2006 25,424,094 7,057,566
2005 24,404,567 6,924,720
2004 23,560,654 6,790,547
2003 22,733,049 6,658,575
2002 21,378,117 6,531,669
2001 20,284,307 6,407,377
2000 20,130,327 6,284,735
1999 19,887,785 6,208,370
1998 19,159,996 6,176,397
1997 18,452,091 6,139,829
1996 17,763,266 6,066,523
1995 17,065,836 5,948,584
1994 16,250,794 5,825,368
1993 14,943,172 5,724,993
1992 13,278,974 5,649,400
1991 12,238,879 5,541,205
1990 12,045,660 5,398,768
1989 11,874,088 5,267,249
1988 11,523,298 5,114,989
1987 11,387,818 4,939,059
1986 11,420,074 4,772,139
1985 11,426,852 4,619,003
1984 11,190,221 4,480,026
1983 10,917,982 4,350,874
1982 10,991,378 4,227,171
1981 11,937,581 4,109,022
1980 13,169,311 3,995,256
1979 13,655,567 3,882,691
1978 13,611,441 3,768,508
1977 13,340,756 3,653,265
1976 13,059,851 3,540,076
1975 12,773,954 3,430,425
1974 12,469,127 3,324,499
1973 12,157,999 3,222,290
1972 11,853,696 3,123,691
1971 11,567,667 3,028,837
1970 11,290,128 2,936,779
1969 11,017,409 2,845,273
1968 10,756,922 2,753,848
1967 10,505,959 2,664,130
1966 10,266,395 2,577,184
1965 10,036,008 2,492,998
1964 9,814,318 2,411,260
1963 9,604,487 2,331,736
1962 9,404,406 2,255,026
1961 9,214,083 2,181,805
1960 9,035,043 2,112,131

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/tajikistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Tajikistan gained 1,808,065 people (a 25.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Tajikistan's population increased by 2,172,643 people (a 24.5% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Tajikistan was ranked 98th in 2006 and ranked 88th 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 Tajikistan will increase by 41.7% to 15,638,613 people and rank change from 88th to 82nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 20.4M people in 2100 for Tajikistan.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Tajikistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Tajikistan
2100 0.5% 0.04%
2099 0.51% 0.07%
2098 0.52% 0.09%
2097 0.51% 0.12%
2096 0.52% 0.13%
2095 0.56% 0.16%
2094 0.59% 0.16%
2093 0.59% 0.2%
2092 0.61% 0.22%
2091 0.7% 0.22%
2090 0.64% 0.24%
2089 0.66% 0.25%
2088 0.73% 0.28%
2087 0.63% 0.27%
2086 0.74% 0.3%
2085 0.83% 0.32%
2084 0.73% 0.34%
2083 0.75% 0.34%
2082 0.77% 0.34%
2081 0.91% 0.38%
2080 1.02% 0.38%
2079 0.88% 0.4%
2078 0.98% 0.42%
2077 0.97% 0.47%
2076 0.94% 0.48%
2075 1.06% 0.5%
2074 1.18% 0.52%
2073 1.14% 0.56%
2072 1.12% 0.59%
2071 1.28% 0.62%
2070 1.23% 0.66%
2069 1.31% 0.67%
2068 1.24% 0.7%
2067 1.28% 0.74%
2066 1.44% 0.74%
2065 1.46% 0.78%
2064 1.43% 0.81%
2063 1.46% 0.82%
2062 1.37% 0.82%
2061 1.45% 0.87%
2060 1.43% 0.88%
2059 1.55% 0.9%
2058 1.64% 0.92%
2057 1.68% 0.93%
2056 1.67% 0.94%
2055 1.69% 0.96%
2054 1.71% 0.96%
2053 1.72% 1.02%
2052 1.61% 1.03%
2051 1.7% 1.07%
2050 1.93% 1.1%
2049 1.86% 1.15%
2048 1.86% 1.19%
2047 1.98% 1.23%
2046 1.91% 1.28%
2045 1.92% 1.34%
2044 2.02% 1.36%
2043 1.96% 1.42%
2042 2.12% 1.45%
2041 2.27% 1.49%
2040 2.26% 1.51%
2039 2.18% 1.54%
2038 2.27% 1.57%
2037 2.3% 1.61%
2036 2.31% 1.6%
2035 2.35% 1.58%
2034 2.52% 1.58%
2033 2.55% 1.59%
2032 2.64% 1.59%
2031 2.7% 1.61%
2030 2.69% 1.65%
2029 2.6% 1.67%
2028 2.64% 1.71%
2027 2.74% 1.75%
2026 2.75% 1.81%
2025 2.87% 1.89%
2024 2.88% 1.94%
2023 2.16% 2.04%
2022 1.45% 2.16%
2021 2.38% 2.23%
2020 3.2% 2.3%
2019 3.03% 2.39%
2018 2.95% 2.44%
2017 2.85% 2.49%
2016 2.57% 2.57%
2015 3.17% 2.59%
2014 3.7% 2.54%
2013 3.48% 2.53%
2012 4.13% 2.42%
2011 3.76% 2.26%
2010 2.98% 2.16%
2009 3.71% 2.07%
2008 2.21% 2%
2007 1.91% 1.94%
2006 4.18% 1.92%
2005 3.58% 1.98%
2004 3.64% 1.98%
2003 6.34% 1.94%
2002 5.39% 1.94%
2001 0.76% 1.95%
2000 1.22% 1.23%
1999 3.8% 0.52%
1998 3.84% 0.6%
1997 3.88% 1.21%
1996 4.09% 1.98%
1995 5.02% 2.12%
1994 8.75% 1.75%
1993 12.5% 1.34%
1992 8.5% 1.95%
1991 1.6% 2.64%
1990 1.44% 2.5%
1989 3.04% 2.98%
1988 1.19% 3.56%
1987 -0.28% 3.5%
1986 -0.06% 3.32%
1985 2.11% 3.1%
1984 2.49% 2.97%
1983 -0.67% 2.93%
1982 -7.93% 2.88%
1981 -9.35% 2.85%
1980 -3.56% 2.9%
1979 0.32% 3.03%
1978 2.03% 3.15%
1977 2.15% 3.2%
1976 2.24% 3.2%
1975 2.44% 3.19%
1974 2.56% 3.17%
1973 2.57% 3.16%
1972 2.47% 3.13%
1971 2.46% 3.13%
1970 2.48% 3.22%
1969 2.42% 3.32%
1968 2.39% 3.37%
1967 2.33% 3.37%
1966 2.3% 3.38%
1965 2.26% 3.39%
1964 2.18% 3.41%
1963 2.13% 3.4%
1962 2.07% 3.36%
1961 1.98% 3.3%

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/tajikistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Tajikistan's population grew by 1.94%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Tajikistan
Current population
45409324
11038274
Population rank 36/197 88/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.13%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.61 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.94 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +551
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +201,128
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.94%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 55/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
24.4 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -21,606
Net migration rank 179/196 152/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 276,777
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 101/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 124/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Tajikistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Tajikistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -21,606
2024 - -44,089 - -21,236
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 223,828 -19,999
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 228,336 -17,001
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 222,850 -3,564
2020 1,134,407 143,634 219,467 -3,564
2019 1,138,485 9,159 231,817 -9,041
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 228,597 -6,111
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 224,396 -4,093
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 228,547 -8,210
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 230,903 -7,660
2014 1,053,788 233,913 227,304 -13,962
2013 1,033,778 18,119 220,693 -16,362
2012 1,004,814 68,628 213,078 -12,132
2011 966,743 384,486 208,429 -30,783
2010 943,473 -167,460 201,389 -33,733
2009 920,581 -60,602 192,851 -36,677
2008 891,246 215,753 182,337 -34,855
2007 889,848 -851,298 173,200 -32,831
2006 875,301 57,673 164,046 -30,591
2005 855,112 250,971 160,189 -27,954
2004 850,940 -269,194 161,201 -25,082
2003 826,165 247,317 150,391 -22,562
2002 776,048 860,349 146,492 -20,526
2001 764,090 -212,872 142,276 -19,657
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 136,549 -13,871
1999 760,727 -32,400 147,622 -117,571
1998 719,860 7,380 153,508 -119,621
1997 709,778 -21,215 149,825 -110,572
1996 685,005 4,072 138,287 -30,922
1995 653,280 52,505 168,934 -40,418
1994 609,096 315,206 167,590 -49,668
1993 541,257 1,149,684 157,975 -75,147
1992 440,132 1,197,329 163,652 -95,280
1991 409,954 32,782 177,585 -29,553
1990 402,433 -458,737 178,429 -41,596
1989 381,158 18,296 179,212 -53,020
1988 358,397 -56,263 172,805 5,523
1987 314,361 -345,535 163,611 9,923
1986 310,066 -343,397 155,987 4,321
1985 228,469 -208,685 145,720 247
1984 205,262 248,224 139,145 -7,152
1983 263,778 -172,797 133,280 -6,972
1982 263,210 -500,998 127,838 -6,730
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 121,418 -6,221
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 117,888 -5,557
1979 361,750 -525,413 114,496 -1,703
1978 369,101 -117,186 110,564 5,006
1977 372,567 -83,115 106,920 7,999
1976 357,775 -85,430 103,777 7,679
1975 343,850 -44,418 100,604 7,237
1974 330,232 -20,009 97,481 6,531
1973 315,062 -3,030 94,523 5,876
1972 300,633 -4,050 91,677 5,123
1971 288,267 -12,801 88,618 4,293
1970 275,129 4,458 85,645 5,559
1969 263,823 2,029 82,931 8,886
1968 251,798 3,333 80,698 10,323
1967 239,967 6,824 78,733 9,670
1966 228,786 3,563 76,702 8,796
1965 217,741 10,695 75,139 7,744
1964 207,867 7,079 74,030 6,568
1963 198,035 6,681 73,065 5,379
1962 188,427 7,016 70,700 4,270
1961 179,094 6,109 68,182 3,291
1960 170,257 2,606 65,415 2,457

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/tajikistan | 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 Tajikistan 96% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,266,045 people) and 3.95% is from migration (a loss of 93,205 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 276,777 people or 2.6% in Tajikistan.

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
Tajikistan
City Population
Dushanbe 948K
Khujand 199K
Qurghonteppa 127K
Istaravshan 64.3K
Konibodom 54.4K
Tursunzoda 46.7K
Panjakent 33K
Buston 29.8K
Ghafurov 18.4K
Istiklol 14.2K

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/tajikistan | 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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