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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 85,518,661 people in Turkey in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 86,002,379 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 1.89 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.59% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.06% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86M (22.8% growth).

Afghanistan vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Turkey
2100 131,803,615 64,274,243
2099 131,145,502 64,924,706
2098 130,482,225 65,567,989
2097 129,808,066 66,219,045
2096 129,147,895 66,865,890
2095 128,473,977 67,516,190
2094 127,761,785 68,169,346
2093 127,018,448 68,835,313
2092 126,270,202 69,496,264
2091 125,508,788 70,159,325
2090 124,636,092 70,828,304
2089 123,843,293 71,490,133
2088 123,034,495 72,146,464
2087 122,147,758 72,792,552
2086 121,381,088 73,439,558
2085 120,486,343 74,085,313
2084 119,491,780 74,713,882
2083 118,631,246 75,342,464
2082 117,742,446 75,969,760
2081 116,842,143 76,583,769
2080 115,793,841 77,195,480
2079 114,630,140 77,793,711
2078 113,624,958 78,386,293
2077 112,523,374 78,973,194
2076 111,442,221 79,556,991
2075 110,399,328 80,128,010
2074 109,236,338 80,697,544
2073 107,960,305 81,244,619
2072 106,746,984 81,785,452
2071 105,568,382 82,311,503
2070 104,230,485 82,827,402
2069 102,964,062 83,324,862
2068 101,629,164 83,806,741
2067 100,380,826 84,270,976
2066 99,116,663 84,728,547
2065 97,714,113 85,177,268
2064 96,306,602 85,611,517
2063 94,949,108 86,026,471
2062 93,579,065 86,425,827
2061 92,316,077 86,800,591
2060 91,000,643 87,156,663
2059 89,717,353 87,500,101
2058 88,346,732 87,809,920
2057 86,917,997 88,100,397
2056 85,480,219 88,369,840
2055 84,074,268 88,598,739
2054 82,676,432 88,806,632
2053 81,285,014 88,985,609
2052 79,908,081 89,144,425
2051 78,643,202 89,270,515
2050 77,331,830 89,374,730
2049 75,864,863 89,447,182
2048 74,479,782 89,484,074
2047 73,119,204 89,492,406
2046 71,697,214 89,467,391
2045 70,353,118 89,441,098
2044 69,024,959 89,390,601
2043 67,657,423 89,326,342
2042 66,357,363 89,237,658
2041 64,976,778 89,137,199
2040 63,535,531 89,021,820
2039 62,129,737 88,885,792
2038 60,803,646 88,736,121
2037 59,454,331 88,562,197
2036 58,114,874 88,373,007
2035 56,804,011 88,178,595
2034 55,502,408 87,975,336
2033 54,135,876 87,754,631
2032 52,791,273 87,524,158
2031 51,433,991 87,274,280
2030 50,079,746 87,004,538
2029 48,768,949 86,741,614
2028 47,533,470 86,466,107
2027 46,310,865 86,189,693
2026 45,075,045 85,932,926
2025 43,870,455 85,718,588
2024 42,647,492 85,518,661
2023 41,454,761 85,325,965
2022 40,578,842 84,979,913
2021 40,000,412 84,147,318
2020 39,068,979 83,384,680
2019 37,856,121 82,579,440
2018 36,743,039 81,407,204
2017 35,688,935 80,312,698
2016 34,700,612 79,277,962
2015 33,831,764 78,218,479
2014 32,792,523 77,181,884
2013 31,622,704 76,147,624
2012 30,560,034 75,175,827
2011 29,347,708 74,223,629
2010 28,284,089 73,142,150
2009 27,466,101 72,039,206
2008 26,482,622 71,051,678
2007 25,909,852 70,158,112
2006 25,424,094 70,045,349
2005 24,404,567 69,329,557
2004 23,560,654 68,592,617
2003 22,733,049 67,831,730
2002 21,378,117 67,048,795
2001 20,284,307 66,245,128
2000 20,130,327 65,425,961
1999 19,887,785 64,591,923
1998 19,159,996 63,734,383
1997 18,452,091 62,852,966
1996 17,763,266 61,951,134
1995 17,065,836 61,024,503
1994 16,250,794 60,033,836
1993 14,943,172 58,999,167
1992 13,278,974 57,990,118
1991 12,238,879 57,009,887
1990 12,045,660 56,015,628
1989 11,874,088 54,976,723
1988 11,523,298 53,909,626
1987 11,387,818 52,843,670
1986 11,420,074 51,777,772
1985 11,426,852 50,687,115
1984 11,190,221 49,574,069
1983 10,917,982 48,447,410
1982 10,991,378 47,322,096
1981 11,937,581 46,321,190
1980 13,169,311 45,408,815
1979 13,655,567 44,510,429
1978 13,611,441 43,645,306
1977 13,340,756 42,773,298
1976 13,059,851 41,899,984
1975 12,773,954 41,053,126
1974 12,469,127 40,210,234
1973 12,157,999 39,329,533
1972 11,853,696 38,430,221
1971 11,567,667 37,518,611
1970 11,290,128 36,638,465
1969 11,017,409 35,787,774
1968 10,756,922 34,921,684
1967 10,505,959 34,050,421
1966 10,266,395 33,177,672
1965 10,036,008 32,345,220
1964 9,814,318 31,543,072
1963 9,604,487 30,726,841
1962 9,404,406 29,916,147
1961 9,214,083 29,119,238
1960 9,035,043 28,329,898

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/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,724,417 people (a 8.48% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th 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 Turkey will increase by 3.92% to 89,374,730 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 89.5M people in 2047 for Turkey.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Turkey
2100 0.5% -1%
2099 0.51% -0.98%
2098 0.52% -0.98%
2097 0.51% -0.97%
2096 0.52% -0.96%
2095 0.56% -0.96%
2094 0.59% -0.97%
2093 0.59% -0.95%
2092 0.61% -0.95%
2091 0.7% -0.94%
2090 0.64% -0.93%
2089 0.66% -0.91%
2088 0.73% -0.89%
2087 0.63% -0.88%
2086 0.74% -0.87%
2085 0.83% -0.84%
2084 0.73% -0.83%
2083 0.75% -0.83%
2082 0.77% -0.8%
2081 0.91% -0.79%
2080 1.02% -0.77%
2079 0.88% -0.76%
2078 0.98% -0.74%
2077 0.97% -0.73%
2076 0.94% -0.71%
2075 1.06% -0.71%
2074 1.18% -0.67%
2073 1.14% -0.66%
2072 1.12% -0.64%
2071 1.28% -0.62%
2070 1.23% -0.6%
2069 1.31% -0.57%
2068 1.24% -0.55%
2067 1.28% -0.54%
2066 1.44% -0.53%
2065 1.46% -0.51%
2064 1.43% -0.48%
2063 1.46% -0.46%
2062 1.37% -0.43%
2061 1.45% -0.41%
2060 1.43% -0.39%
2059 1.55% -0.35%
2058 1.64% -0.33%
2057 1.68% -0.3%
2056 1.67% -0.26%
2055 1.69% -0.23%
2054 1.71% -0.2%
2053 1.72% -0.18%
2052 1.61% -0.14%
2051 1.7% -0.12%
2050 1.93% -0.08%
2049 1.86% -0.04%
2048 1.86% -0.009%
2047 1.98% 0.03%
2046 1.91% 0.03%
2045 1.92% 0.06%
2044 2.02% 0.07%
2043 1.96% 0.1%
2042 2.12% 0.11%
2041 2.27% 0.13%
2040 2.26% 0.15%
2039 2.18% 0.17%
2038 2.27% 0.2%
2037 2.3% 0.21%
2036 2.31% 0.22%
2035 2.35% 0.23%
2034 2.52% 0.25%
2033 2.55% 0.26%
2032 2.64% 0.29%
2031 2.7% 0.31%
2030 2.69% 0.3%
2029 2.6% 0.32%
2028 2.64% 0.32%
2027 2.74% 0.3%
2026 2.75% 0.25%
2025 2.87% 0.23%
2024 2.88% 0.23%
2023 2.16% 0.41%
2022 1.45% 0.99%
2021 2.38% 0.91%
2020 3.2% 0.98%
2019 3.03% 1.44%
2018 2.95% 1.36%
2017 2.85% 1.31%
2016 2.57% 1.35%
2015 3.17% 1.34%
2014 3.7% 1.36%
2013 3.48% 1.29%
2012 4.13% 1.28%
2011 3.76% 1.48%
2010 2.98% 1.53%
2009 3.71% 1.39%
2008 2.21% 1.27%
2007 1.91% 0.16%
2006 4.18% 1.03%
2005 3.58% 1.07%
2004 3.64% 1.12%
2003 6.34% 1.17%
2002 5.39% 1.21%
2001 0.76% 1.25%
2000 1.22% 1.29%
1999 3.8% 1.35%
1998 3.84% 1.4%
1997 3.88% 1.46%
1996 4.09% 1.52%
1995 5.02% 1.65%
1994 8.75% 1.75%
1993 12.5% 1.74%
1992 8.5% 1.72%
1991 1.6% 1.77%
1990 1.44% 1.89%
1989 3.04% 1.98%
1988 1.19% 2.02%
1987 -0.28% 2.06%
1986 -0.06% 2.15%
1985 2.11% 2.25%
1984 2.49% 2.33%
1983 -0.67% 2.38%
1982 -7.93% 2.16%
1981 -9.35% 2.01%
1980 -3.56% 2.02%
1979 0.32% 1.98%
1978 2.03% 2.04%
1977 2.15% 2.08%
1976 2.24% 2.06%
1975 2.44% 2.1%
1974 2.56% 2.24%
1973 2.57% 2.34%
1972 2.47% 2.43%
1971 2.46% 2.4%
1970 2.48% 2.38%
1969 2.42% 2.48%
1968 2.39% 2.56%
1967 2.33% 2.63%
1966 2.3% 2.57%
1965 2.26% 2.54%
1964 2.18% 2.66%
1963 2.13% 2.71%
1962 2.07% 2.74%
1961 1.98% 2.79%

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/turkey | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.23%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Turkey
Current population
45409324
86002379
Population rank 36/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 1.04%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
2.73 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
33 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
59.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +528
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +192,696
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.23%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 154/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -258,205
Net migration rank 179/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -258,205
2024 - -44,089 - -275,952
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 426,630 -318,070
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 535,373 -301,544
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 521,713 20,283
2020 1,134,407 143,634 608,708 37,934
2019 1,138,485 9,159 751,472 -15,690
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 830,353 187,570
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 875,408 659,846
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 895,841 352,063
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 930,799 1,063,140
2014 1,053,788 233,913 957,055 1,033,384
2013 1,033,778 18,119 921,386 438,618
2012 1,004,814 68,628 917,145 258,623
2011 966,743 384,486 875,839 68,849
2010 943,473 -167,460 892,334 55,532
2009 920,581 -60,602 900,491 24,276
2008 891,246 215,753 868,749 47,915
2007 889,848 -851,298 876,626 -186,402
2006 875,301 57,673 897,351 -190,194
2005 855,112 250,971 898,650 -174,177
2004 850,940 -269,194 896,025 -146,574
2003 826,165 247,317 893,683 -121,383
2002 776,048 860,349 922,927 -129,444
2001 764,090 -212,872 980,560 -166,759
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 760,727 -32,400 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 719,860 7,380 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 709,778 -21,215 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 685,005 4,072 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 653,280 52,505 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 609,096 315,206 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 541,257 1,149,684 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 440,132 1,197,329 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 409,954 32,782 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 402,433 -458,737 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 381,158 18,296 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 358,397 -56,263 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 314,361 -345,535 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 310,066 -343,397 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 228,469 -208,685 1,098,846 8,960
1984 205,262 248,224 1,096,529 21,787
1983 263,778 -172,797 1,095,106 39,871
1982 263,210 -500,998 1,091,863 23,728
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 361,750 -525,413 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 369,101 -117,186 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 372,567 -83,115 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 357,775 -85,430 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 343,850 -44,418 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 330,232 -20,009 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 315,062 -3,030 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 300,633 -4,050 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 288,267 -12,801 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 275,129 4,458 991,950 -150,924
1969 263,823 2,029 970,958 -110,578
1968 251,798 3,333 950,778 -78,973
1967 239,967 6,824 936,727 -65,993
1966 228,786 3,563 925,790 -50,999
1965 217,741 10,695 904,016 -113,911
1964 207,867 7,079 884,152 -69,978
1963 198,035 6,681 862,626 -44,317
1962 188,427 7,016 837,473 -34,353
1961 179,094 6,109 816,911 -26,187
1960 170,257 2,606 773,009 14,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/turkey | 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 Turkey 73% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,333,352 people) and 27% is from migration (a gain of 2,718,916 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

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
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/turkey | 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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