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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 3.89 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 +2.76% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% 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 131,803,615 26,368,750
2099 131,145,502 26,130,374
2098 130,482,225 25,894,010
2097 129,808,066 25,660,062
2096 129,147,895 25,427,961
2095 128,473,977 25,197,670
2094 127,761,785 24,968,891
2093 127,018,448 24,741,434
2092 126,270,202 24,515,086
2091 125,508,788 24,289,496
2090 124,636,092 24,064,404
2089 123,843,293 23,839,033
2088 123,034,495 23,613,963
2087 122,147,758 23,388,786
2086 121,381,088 23,163,641
2085 120,486,343 22,938,169
2084 119,491,780 22,711,804
2083 118,631,246 22,484,154
2082 117,742,446 22,255,625
2081 116,842,143 22,026,183
2080 115,793,841 21,796,073
2079 114,630,140 21,565,118
2078 113,624,958 21,333,574
2077 112,523,374 21,101,274
2076 111,442,221 20,868,733
2075 110,399,328 20,636,203
2074 109,236,338 20,404,044
2073 107,960,305 20,171,659
2072 106,746,984 19,940,853
2071 105,568,382 19,710,934
2070 104,230,485 19,483,026
2069 102,964,062 19,256,572
2068 101,629,164 19,032,681
2067 100,380,826 18,811,331
2066 99,116,663 18,593,017
2065 97,714,113 18,377,364
2064 96,306,602 18,164,584
2063 94,949,108 17,955,352
2062 93,579,065 17,749,596
2061 92,316,077 17,547,827
2060 91,000,643 17,349,620
2059 89,717,353 17,153,273
2058 88,346,732 16,959,263
2057 86,917,997 16,767,893
2056 85,480,219 16,579,195
2055 84,074,268 16,392,558
2054 82,676,432 16,207,309
2053 81,285,014 16,024,789
2052 79,908,081 15,844,357
2051 78,643,202 15,665,362
2050 77,331,830 15,487,008
2049 75,864,863 15,309,031
2048 74,479,782 15,132,784
2047 73,119,204 14,958,209
2046 71,697,214 14,788,046
2045 70,353,118 14,620,902
2044 69,024,959 14,454,466
2043 67,657,423 14,289,021
2042 66,357,363 14,124,515
2041 64,976,778 13,961,010
2040 63,535,531 13,798,651
2039 62,129,737 13,637,499
2038 60,803,646 13,477,450
2037 59,454,331 13,319,346
2036 58,114,874 13,163,073
2035 56,804,011 13,009,160
2034 55,502,408 12,857,729
2033 54,135,876 12,709,520
2032 52,791,273 12,564,906
2031 51,433,991 12,424,286
2030 50,079,746 12,288,186
2029 48,768,949 12,148,661
2028 47,533,470 11,999,549
2027 46,310,865 11,831,082
2026 45,075,045 11,632,806
2025 43,870,455 11,367,504
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% 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 70.3% to 77,331,830 people with a rank change from 36th to 24th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 26.4M 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 2.87% 3.47%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan UAE
Current population
45409324
11686438
Population rank 36/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.14%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 3/197
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 - -44,089 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 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
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
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 (1960–2024, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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