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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 1.57 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 1.41% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

Afghanistan vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Thailand
2100 131,724,468 45,708,431
2099 131,066,750 46,053,146
2098 130,403,871 46,403,189
2097 129,730,117 46,757,918
2096 129,070,342 47,118,652
2095 128,396,829 47,484,043
2094 127,685,065 47,853,561
2093 126,942,174 48,226,682
2092 126,194,378 48,605,235
2091 125,433,421 48,984,504
2090 124,561,248 49,368,049
2089 123,768,926 49,756,629
2088 122,960,614 50,142,276
2087 122,074,409 50,532,164
2086 121,308,199 50,925,294
2085 120,413,992 51,321,960
2084 119,420,025 51,724,454
2083 118,560,008 52,127,592
2082 117,671,742 52,533,368
2081 116,771,980 52,938,345
2080 115,724,307 53,347,733
2079 114,561,305 53,762,492
2078 113,556,727 54,177,529
2077 112,455,804 54,595,112
2076 111,375,301 55,015,291
2075 110,333,033 55,438,108
2074 109,170,742 55,867,914
2073 107,895,475 56,300,358
2072 106,682,883 56,735,274
2071 105,504,989 57,172,515
2070 104,167,895 57,616,731
2069 102,902,233 58,061,962
2068 101,568,136 58,512,248
2067 100,320,548 58,962,990
2066 99,057,144 59,413,893
2065 97,655,437 59,873,261
2064 96,248,770 60,331,851
2063 94,892,092 60,792,306
2062 93,522,871 61,257,068
2061 92,260,642 61,720,030
2060 90,945,998 62,187,380
2059 89,663,478 62,651,158
2058 88,293,680 63,113,332
2057 86,865,803 63,572,746
2056 85,428,888 64,027,520
2055 84,023,782 64,473,146
2054 82,626,785 64,912,210
2053 81,236,203 65,338,122
2052 79,860,096 65,758,061
2051 78,595,977 66,162,612
2050 77,285,393 66,552,915
2049 75,819,307 66,931,487
2048 74,435,057 67,291,479
2047 73,075,297 67,636,461
2046 71,654,160 67,967,131
2045 70,310,871 68,281,902
2044 68,983,509 68,579,656
2043 67,616,795 68,864,788
2042 66,317,516 69,133,982
2041 64,937,760 69,390,832
2040 63,497,378 69,626,857
2039 62,092,429 69,848,522
2038 60,767,134 70,056,903
2037 59,418,629 70,250,371
2036 58,079,976 70,429,677
2035 56,769,901 70,599,021
2034 55,469,080 70,751,094
2033 54,103,368 70,891,510
2032 52,759,572 71,019,665
2031 51,403,105 71,134,882
2030 50,049,673 71,241,584
2029 48,739,663 71,337,147
2028 47,504,926 71,423,119
2027 46,283,055 71,499,411
2026 45,047,977 71,565,981
2025 43,844,111 71,619,863
2024 42,647,492 71,668,011
2023 41,454,761 71,702,435
2022 40,578,842 71,735,329
2021 40,000,412 71,727,332
2020 39,068,979 71,641,484
2019 37,856,121 71,522,271
2018 36,743,039 71,376,079
2017 35,688,935 71,160,187
2016 34,700,612 70,859,841
2015 33,831,764 70,540,795
2014 32,792,523 70,216,367
2013 31,622,704 69,845,114
2012 30,560,034 69,436,098
2011 29,347,708 69,007,208
2010 28,284,089 68,579,447
2009 27,466,101 68,121,080
2008 26,482,622 67,619,830
2007 25,909,852 67,102,394
2006 25,424,094 66,567,687
2005 24,404,567 66,017,420
2004 23,560,654 65,452,047
2003 22,733,049 64,868,166
2002 21,378,117 64,266,437
2001 20,284,307 63,651,141
2000 20,130,327 63,007,815
1999 19,887,785 62,299,043
1998 19,159,996 61,522,630
1997 18,452,091 60,724,584
1996 17,763,266 59,920,064
1995 17,065,836 59,098,232
1994 16,250,794 58,260,854
1993 14,943,172 57,408,198
1992 13,278,974 56,528,834
1991 12,238,879 55,637,434
1990 12,045,660 54,738,329
1989 11,874,088 53,848,956
1988 11,523,298 52,969,595
1987 11,387,818 52,074,105
1986 11,420,074 51,177,834
1985 11,426,852 50,270,753
1984 11,190,221 49,351,708
1983 10,917,982 48,423,309
1982 10,991,378 47,494,577
1981 11,937,581 46,575,855
1980 13,169,311 45,650,022
1979 13,655,567 44,718,434
1978 13,611,441 43,788,976
1977 13,340,756 42,843,974
1976 13,059,851 41,896,504
1975 12,773,954 40,940,005
1974 12,469,127 39,952,891
1973 12,157,999 38,947,787
1972 11,853,696 37,933,929
1971 11,567,667 36,937,387
1970 11,290,128 35,954,408
1969 11,017,409 34,973,782
1968 10,756,922 34,002,560
1967 10,505,959 33,037,801
1966 10,266,395 32,086,071
1965 10,036,008 31,149,337
1964 9,814,318 30,232,141
1963 9,604,487 29,342,322
1962 9,404,406 28,481,040
1961 9,214,083 27,650,334
1960 9,035,043 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 people (a 1% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Thailand
2100 0.5% -0.75%
2099 0.51% -0.75%
2098 0.52% -0.76%
2097 0.51% -0.77%
2096 0.52% -0.77%
2095 0.56% -0.77%
2094 0.59% -0.77%
2093 0.59% -0.78%
2092 0.61% -0.77%
2091 0.7% -0.78%
2090 0.64% -0.78%
2089 0.66% -0.77%
2088 0.73% -0.77%
2087 0.63% -0.77%
2086 0.74% -0.77%
2085 0.83% -0.78%
2084 0.73% -0.77%
2083 0.75% -0.77%
2082 0.77% -0.76%
2081 0.91% -0.77%
2080 1.02% -0.77%
2079 0.88% -0.77%
2078 0.98% -0.76%
2077 0.97% -0.76%
2076 0.94% -0.76%
2075 1.06% -0.77%
2074 1.18% -0.77%
2073 1.14% -0.77%
2072 1.12% -0.76%
2071 1.28% -0.77%
2070 1.23% -0.77%
2069 1.31% -0.77%
2068 1.24% -0.76%
2067 1.28% -0.76%
2066 1.44% -0.77%
2065 1.46% -0.76%
2064 1.43% -0.76%
2063 1.46% -0.76%
2062 1.37% -0.75%
2061 1.45% -0.75%
2060 1.43% -0.74%
2059 1.55% -0.73%
2058 1.64% -0.72%
2057 1.68% -0.71%
2056 1.67% -0.69%
2055 1.69% -0.68%
2054 1.71% -0.65%
2053 1.72% -0.64%
2052 1.61% -0.61%
2051 1.7% -0.59%
2050 1.93% -0.57%
2049 1.86% -0.53%
2048 1.86% -0.51%
2047 1.98% -0.49%
2046 1.91% -0.46%
2045 1.92% -0.43%
2044 2.02% -0.41%
2043 1.96% -0.39%
2042 2.12% -0.37%
2041 2.27% -0.34%
2040 2.26% -0.32%
2039 2.18% -0.3%
2038 2.27% -0.28%
2037 2.3% -0.25%
2036 2.31% -0.24%
2035 2.35% -0.21%
2034 2.52% -0.2%
2033 2.55% -0.18%
2032 2.64% -0.16%
2031 2.7% -0.15%
2030 2.69% -0.13%
2029 2.6% -0.12%
2028 2.64% -0.11%
2027 2.74% -0.09%
2026 2.75% -0.08%
2025 2.81% -0.07%
2024 2.88% -0.05%
2023 2.16% -0.05%
2022 1.45% 0.01%
2021 2.38% 0.12%
2020 3.2% 0.17%
2019 3.03% 0.2%
2018 2.95% 0.3%
2017 2.85% 0.42%
2016 2.57% 0.45%
2015 3.17% 0.46%
2014 3.7% 0.53%
2013 3.48% 0.59%
2012 4.13% 0.62%
2011 3.76% 0.62%
2010 2.98% 0.67%
2009 3.71% 0.74%
2008 2.21% 0.77%
2007 1.91% 0.8%
2006 4.18% 0.83%
2005 3.58% 0.86%
2004 3.64% 0.9%
2003 6.34% 0.94%
2002 5.39% 0.97%
2001 0.76% 1.02%
2000 1.22% 1.14%
1999 3.8% 1.26%
1998 3.84% 1.31%
1997 3.88% 1.34%
1996 4.09% 1.39%
1995 5.02% 1.44%
1994 8.75% 1.49%
1993 12.5% 1.56%
1992 8.5% 1.6%
1991 1.6% 1.64%
1990 1.44% 1.65%
1989 3.04% 1.66%
1988 1.19% 1.72%
1987 -0.28% 1.75%
1986 -0.06% 1.8%
1985 2.11% 1.86%
1984 2.49% 1.92%
1983 -0.67% 1.96%
1982 -7.93% 1.97%
1981 -9.35% 2.03%
1980 -3.56% 2.08%
1979 0.32% 2.12%
1978 2.03% 2.21%
1977 2.15% 2.26%
1976 2.24% 2.34%
1975 2.44% 2.47%
1974 2.56% 2.58%
1973 2.57% 2.67%
1972 2.47% 2.7%
1971 2.46% 2.73%
1970 2.48% 2.8%
1969 2.42% 2.86%
1968 2.39% 2.92%
1967 2.33% 2.97%
1966 2.3% 3.01%
1965 2.26% 3.03%
1964 2.18% 3.03%
1963 2.13% 3.02%
1962 2.07% 3%
1961 1.98% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Thailand
Current population
45682388
71565981
Population rank 36/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.86%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
10.9 minutes
One birth every
21.1 seconds
54.2 seconds
One death every
2.16 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,278 -132
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 164/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +27,509
Net migration rank 179/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 27,509
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 -65,720 23,321
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 -46,105 19,648
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 -61,046 21,683
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 57,382 -2,093
2020 1,134,407 143,634 84,107 32,277
2019 1,138,485 9,159 116,867 5,221
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 159,383 10,984
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 194,695 66,805
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 226,255 112,978
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 266,362 32,500
2014 1,053,788 233,913 294,628 55,358
2013 1,033,778 18,119 325,059 67,452
2012 1,004,814 68,628 351,485 74,033
2011 966,743 384,486 365,670 66,607
2010 943,473 -167,460 370,466 52,791
2009 920,581 -60,602 382,636 110,883
2008 891,246 215,753 401,730 107,333
2007 889,848 -851,298 425,362 100,486
2006 875,301 57,673 441,211 102,362
2005 855,112 250,971 456,378 100,542
2004 850,940 -269,194 466,542 107,199
2003 826,165 247,317 488,003 105,917
2002 776,048 860,349 504,299 105,215
2001 764,090 -212,872 524,230 96,817
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 543,884 121,640
1999 760,727 -32,400 578,073 173,924
1998 719,860 7,380 617,318 183,471
1997 709,778 -21,215 644,834 150,411
1996 685,005 4,072 661,397 152,397
1995 653,280 52,505 682,703 147,226
1994 609,096 315,206 712,589 132,271
1993 541,257 1,149,684 737,696 122,746
1992 440,132 1,197,329 754,999 143,318
1991 409,954 32,782 760,508 124,034
1990 402,433 -458,737 760,808 152,916
1989 381,158 18,296 774,563 90,497
1988 358,397 -56,263 765,252 128,469
1987 314,361 -345,535 774,498 122,791
1986 310,066 -343,397 783,430 111,820
1985 228,469 -208,685 776,935 141,963
1984 205,262 248,224 779,856 139,345
1983 263,778 -172,797 794,239 143,393
1982 263,210 -500,998 817,951 101,885
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 839,297 78,337
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 845,575 88,478
1979 361,750 -525,413 843,434 85,693
1978 369,101 -117,186 847,799 82,011
1977 372,567 -83,115 871,232 88,937
1976 357,775 -85,430 894,072 40,656
1975 343,850 -44,418 911,980 66,306
1974 330,232 -20,009 923,151 72,801
1973 315,062 -3,030 933,540 80,704
1972 300,633 -4,050 940,420 73,082
1971 288,267 -12,801 936,215 43,400
1970 275,129 4,458 937,116 49,221
1969 263,823 2,029 948,314 26,551
1968 251,798 3,333 953,806 13,718
1967 239,967 6,824 944,980 17,005
1966 228,786 3,563 929,469 12,016
1965 217,741 10,695 909,000 22,995
1964 207,867 7,079 885,137 17,249
1963 198,035 6,681 860,728 16,494
1962 188,427 7,016 828,741 16,605
1961 179,094 6,109 801,140 14,968
1960 170,257 2,606 774,190 6,886

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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