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Population in Afghanistan compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,682,388 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 3.84 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.68% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.7M (79.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% growth).

Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan UAE
2100 131,724,468 26,706,595
2099 131,066,750 26,465,166
2098 130,403,871 26,225,773
2097 129,730,117 25,988,828
2096 129,070,342 25,753,753
2095 128,396,829 25,520,511
2094 127,685,065 25,288,801
2093 126,942,174 25,058,430
2092 126,194,378 24,829,182
2091 125,433,421 24,600,702
2090 124,561,248 24,372,725
2089 123,768,926 24,144,467
2088 122,960,614 23,916,513
2087 122,074,409 23,688,452
2086 121,308,199 23,460,422
2085 120,413,992 23,232,061
2084 119,420,025 23,002,795
2083 118,560,008 22,772,229
2082 117,671,742 22,540,771
2081 116,771,980 22,308,390
2080 115,724,307 22,075,331
2079 114,561,305 21,841,417
2078 113,556,727 21,606,907
2077 112,455,804 21,371,631
2076 111,375,301 21,136,110
2075 110,333,033 20,900,601
2074 109,170,742 20,665,468
2073 107,895,475 20,430,105
2072 106,682,883 20,196,342
2071 105,504,989 19,963,477
2070 104,167,895 19,732,649
2069 102,902,233 19,503,294
2068 101,568,136 19,276,535
2067 100,320,548 19,052,348
2066 99,057,144 18,831,237
2065 97,655,437 18,612,821
2064 96,248,770 18,397,315
2063 94,892,092 18,185,402
2062 93,522,871 17,977,010
2061 92,260,642 17,772,656
2060 90,945,998 17,571,910
2059 89,663,478 17,373,047
2058 88,293,680 17,176,551
2057 86,865,803 16,982,730
2056 85,428,888 16,791,613
2055 84,023,782 16,602,585
2054 82,626,785 16,414,963
2053 81,236,203 16,230,105
2052 79,860,096 16,047,360
2051 78,595,977 15,866,073
2050 77,285,393 15,685,433
2049 75,819,307 15,505,176
2048 74,435,057 15,326,671
2047 73,075,297 15,149,859
2046 71,654,160 14,977,516
2045 70,310,871 14,808,230
2044 68,983,509 14,639,661
2043 67,616,795 14,472,097
2042 66,317,516 14,305,483
2041 64,937,760 14,139,883
2040 63,497,378 13,975,444
2039 62,092,429 13,812,227
2038 60,767,134 13,650,128
2037 59,418,629 13,489,998
2036 58,079,976 13,331,723
2035 56,769,901 13,175,838
2034 55,469,080 13,022,467
2033 54,103,368 12,872,359
2032 52,759,572 12,725,892
2031 51,403,105 12,583,470
2030 50,049,673 12,445,626
2029 48,739,663 12,304,314
2028 47,504,926 12,153,292
2027 46,283,055 11,982,666
2026 45,047,977 11,781,850
2025 43,844,111 11,513,149
2024 42,647,492 10,986,400
2023 41,454,761 10,483,751
2022 40,578,842 10,074,977
2021 40,000,412 9,575,152
2020 39,068,979 9,401,038
2019 37,856,121 9,445,785
2018 36,743,039 9,346,701
2017 35,688,935 9,223,225
2016 34,700,612 8,935,095
2015 33,831,764 8,505,237
2014 32,792,523 8,059,440
2013 31,622,704 7,693,031
2012 30,560,034 7,391,448
2011 29,347,708 7,104,538
2010 28,284,089 6,869,838
2009 27,466,101 6,707,058
2008 26,482,622 6,302,664
2007 25,909,852 5,624,635
2006 25,424,094 5,009,100
2005 24,404,567 4,664,790
2004 23,560,654 4,428,967
2003 22,733,049 4,192,457
2002 21,378,117 3,956,826
2001 20,284,307 3,723,590
2000 20,130,327 3,493,575
1999 19,887,785 3,266,009
1998 19,159,996 3,040,421
1997 18,452,091 2,817,410
1996 17,763,266 2,597,564
1995 17,065,836 2,434,662
1994 16,250,794 2,328,188
1993 14,943,172 2,222,093
1992 13,278,974 2,114,730
1991 12,238,879 2,006,626
1990 12,045,660 1,898,220
1989 11,874,088 1,789,851
1988 11,523,298 1,681,788
1987 11,387,818 1,574,244
1986 11,420,074 1,467,383
1985 11,426,852 1,377,911
1984 11,190,221 1,305,996
1983 10,917,982 1,235,305
1982 10,991,378 1,166,370
1981 11,937,581 1,099,855
1980 13,169,311 1,015,700
1979 13,655,567 912,010
1978 13,611,441 809,274
1977 13,340,756 710,209
1976 13,059,851 615,866
1975 12,773,954 542,856
1974 12,469,127 489,087
1973 12,157,999 436,399
1972 11,853,696 385,014
1971 11,567,667 335,027
1970 11,290,128 286,536
1969 11,017,409 239,660
1968 10,756,922 199,416
1967 10,505,959 179,700
1966 10,266,395 173,976
1965 10,036,008 167,103
1964 9,814,318 159,692
1963 9,604,487 152,211
1962 9,404,406 144,946
1961 9,214,083 137,989
1960 9,035,043 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,981,776 people (a 31.6% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 26.7M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan UAE
2100 0.5% 0.91%
2099 0.51% 0.91%
2098 0.52% 0.91%
2097 0.51% 0.91%
2096 0.52% 0.91%
2095 0.56% 0.92%
2094 0.59% 0.92%
2093 0.59% 0.92%
2092 0.61% 0.93%
2091 0.7% 0.94%
2090 0.64% 0.95%
2089 0.66% 0.95%
2088 0.73% 0.96%
2087 0.63% 0.97%
2086 0.74% 0.98%
2085 0.83% 1%
2084 0.73% 1.01%
2083 0.75% 1.03%
2082 0.77% 1.04%
2081 0.91% 1.06%
2080 1.02% 1.07%
2079 0.88% 1.09%
2078 0.98% 1.1%
2077 0.97% 1.11%
2076 0.94% 1.13%
2075 1.06% 1.14%
2074 1.18% 1.15%
2073 1.14% 1.16%
2072 1.12% 1.17%
2071 1.28% 1.17%
2070 1.23% 1.18%
2069 1.31% 1.18%
2068 1.24% 1.18%
2067 1.28% 1.17%
2066 1.44% 1.17%
2065 1.46% 1.17%
2064 1.43% 1.17%
2063 1.46% 1.16%
2062 1.37% 1.15%
2061 1.45% 1.14%
2060 1.43% 1.14%
2059 1.55% 1.14%
2058 1.64% 1.14%
2057 1.68% 1.14%
2056 1.67% 1.14%
2055 1.69% 1.14%
2054 1.71% 1.14%
2053 1.72% 1.14%
2052 1.61% 1.14%
2051 1.7% 1.15%
2050 1.93% 1.16%
2049 1.86% 1.16%
2048 1.86% 1.17%
2047 1.98% 1.15%
2046 1.91% 1.14%
2045 1.92% 1.15%
2044 2.02% 1.16%
2043 1.96% 1.16%
2042 2.12% 1.17%
2041 2.27% 1.18%
2040 2.26% 1.18%
2039 2.18% 1.19%
2038 2.27% 1.19%
2037 2.3% 1.19%
2036 2.31% 1.18%
2035 2.35% 1.18%
2034 2.52% 1.17%
2033 2.55% 1.15%
2032 2.64% 1.13%
2031 2.7% 1.11%
2030 2.69% 1.15%
2029 2.6% 1.24%
2028 2.64% 1.42%
2027 2.74% 1.7%
2026 2.75% 2.33%
2025 2.81% 4.79%
2024 2.88% 4.79%
2023 2.16% 4.06%
2022 1.45% 5.22%
2021 2.38% 1.85%
2020 3.2% -0.47%
2019 3.03% 1.06%
2018 2.95% 1.34%
2017 2.85% 3.22%
2016 2.57% 5.05%
2015 3.17% 5.53%
2014 3.7% 4.76%
2013 3.48% 4.08%
2012 4.13% 4.04%
2011 3.76% 3.42%
2010 2.98% 2.43%
2009 3.71% 6.42%
2008 2.21% 12.1%
2007 1.91% 12.3%
2006 4.18% 7.38%
2005 3.58% 5.32%
2004 3.64% 5.64%
2003 6.34% 5.96%
2002 5.39% 6.26%
2001 0.76% 6.58%
2000 1.22% 6.97%
1999 3.8% 7.42%
1998 3.84% 7.92%
1997 3.88% 8.46%
1996 4.09% 6.69%
1995 5.02% 4.57%
1994 8.75% 4.77%
1993 12.5% 5.08%
1992 8.5% 5.39%
1991 1.6% 5.71%
1990 1.44% 6.05%
1989 3.04% 6.43%
1988 1.19% 6.83%
1987 -0.28% 7.28%
1986 -0.06% 6.49%
1985 2.11% 5.51%
1984 2.49% 5.72%
1983 -0.67% 5.91%
1982 -7.93% 6.05%
1981 -9.35% 8.29%
1980 -3.56% 11.4%
1979 0.32% 12.7%
1978 2.03% 13.9%
1977 2.15% 15.3%
1976 2.24% 13.4%
1975 2.44% 11%
1974 2.56% 12.1%
1973 2.57% 13.3%
1972 2.47% 14.9%
1971 2.46% 16.9%
1970 2.48% 19.6%
1969 2.42% 20.2%
1968 2.39% 11%
1967 2.33% 3.29%
1966 2.3% 4.11%
1965 2.26% 4.64%
1964 2.18% 4.91%
1963 2.13% 5.01%
1962 2.07% 5.04%
1961 1.98% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.81%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan UAE
Current population
45682388
11885001
Population rank 36/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.14%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1 minute
One birth every
21.1 seconds
4.87 minutes
One death every
2.16 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,278 +1,443
Annual growth/decline +1,196,619 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate +2.81% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 1/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 +158,634
Net migration rank 179/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 158,634
2024 1,249,785 -44,089 97,197 278,439
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 92,698 300,004
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 81,758 322,773
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 76,802 421,663
2020 1,134,407 143,634 87,871 92,541
2019 1,138,485 9,159 86,296 -125,186
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 86,840 14,611
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 89,382 34,155
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 87,028 195,317
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 85,044 342,468
2014 1,053,788 233,913 84,277 360,174
2013 1,033,778 18,119 82,977 279,269
2012 1,004,814 68,628 78,682 225,921
2011 966,743 384,486 73,496 215,183
2010 943,473 -167,460 69,907 161,842
2009 920,581 -60,602 66,521 163,643
2008 891,246 215,753 55,426 523,207
2007 889,848 -851,298 55,048 722,380
2006 875,301 57,673 54,338 399,306
2005 855,112 250,971 60,046 174,926
2004 850,940 -269,194 60,344 176,319
2003 826,165 247,317 59,118 177,237
2002 776,048 860,349 55,922 178,988
2001 764,090 -212,872 52,789 178,779
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 49,993 178,469
1999 760,727 -32,400 46,198 180,469
1998 719,860 7,380 41,176 183,329
1997 709,778 -21,215 38,207 183,310
1996 685,005 4,072 37,886 180,296
1995 653,280 52,505 38,685 68,938
1994 609,096 315,206 42,976 62,352
1993 541,257 1,149,684 41,324 65,545
1992 440,132 1,197,329 42,119 65,739
1991 409,954 32,782 41,409 66,943
1990 402,433 -458,737 41,339 67,118
1989 381,158 18,296 40,148 68,132
1988 358,397 -56,263 38,861 68,991
1987 314,361 -345,535 37,741 69,493
1986 310,066 -343,397 36,829 69,655
1985 228,469 -208,685 34,855 37,605
1984 205,262 248,224 33,250 38,124
1983 263,778 -172,797 31,480 38,536
1982 263,210 -500,998 29,585 38,276
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 27,560 37,600
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 25,005 78,148
1979 361,750 -525,413 21,987 82,238
1978 369,101 -117,186 18,879 82,359
1977 372,567 -83,115 15,787 81,111
1976 357,775 -85,430 12,876 78,903
1975 343,850 -44,418 11,859 42,380
1974 330,232 -20,009 10,835 42,474
1973 315,062 -3,030 9,822 42,243
1972 300,633 -4,050 8,818 41,888
1971 288,267 -12,801 7,839 41,425
1970 275,129 4,458 6,922 40,792
1969 263,823 2,029 6,138 39,902
1968 251,798 3,333 5,588 28,866
1967 239,967 6,824 5,264 -283
1966 228,786 3,563 4,955 1,516
1965 217,741 10,695 4,675 2,598
1964 207,867 7,079 4,410 3,126
1963 198,035 6,681 4,157 3,264
1962 188,427 7,016 3,901 3,212
1961 179,094 6,109 3,657 3,141
1960 170,257 2,606 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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