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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 7.58 times bigger than Afghanistan's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.7% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Afghanistan vs United States: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan United States
2100 131,803,615 415,429,771
2099 131,145,502 414,829,167
2098 130,482,225 414,231,720
2097 129,808,066 413,576,381
2096 129,147,895 412,927,393
2095 128,473,977 412,225,379
2094 127,761,785 411,498,749
2093 127,018,448 410,785,729
2092 126,270,202 410,051,921
2091 125,508,788 409,320,183
2090 124,636,092 408,613,732
2089 123,843,293 407,885,645
2088 123,034,495 407,129,733
2087 122,147,758 406,421,298
2086 121,381,088 405,715,343
2085 120,486,343 405,059,379
2084 119,491,780 404,343,130
2083 118,631,246 403,612,785
2082 117,742,446 402,871,293
2081 116,842,143 402,054,554
2080 115,793,841 401,319,194
2079 114,630,140 400,554,914
2078 113,624,958 399,737,968
2077 112,523,374 398,906,565
2076 111,442,221 398,035,750
2075 110,399,328 397,109,170
2074 109,236,338 396,226,412
2073 107,960,305 395,307,725
2072 106,746,984 394,393,561
2071 105,568,382 393,415,363
2070 104,230,485 392,469,727
2069 102,964,062 391,479,981
2068 101,629,164 390,517,695
2067 100,380,826 389,543,856
2066 99,116,663 388,597,719
2065 97,714,113 387,685,327
2064 96,306,602 386,805,026
2063 94,949,108 385,911,917
2062 93,579,065 385,032,627
2061 92,316,077 384,170,837
2060 91,000,643 383,361,269
2059 89,717,353 382,542,030
2058 88,346,732 381,704,804
2057 86,917,997 380,907,023
2056 85,480,219 380,159,777
2055 84,074,268 379,430,756
2054 82,676,432 378,682,851
2053 81,285,014 377,878,421
2052 79,908,081 377,073,303
2051 78,643,202 376,229,840
2050 77,331,830 375,373,155
2049 75,864,863 374,493,150
2048 74,479,782 373,590,762
2047 73,119,204 372,626,259
2046 71,697,214 371,644,809
2045 70,353,118 370,602,914
2044 69,024,959 369,518,897
2043 67,657,423 368,375,680
2042 66,357,363 367,158,772
2041 64,976,778 365,937,822
2040 63,535,531 364,671,837
2039 62,129,737 363,367,337
2038 60,803,646 361,997,023
2037 59,454,331 360,606,236
2036 58,114,874 359,193,245
2035 56,804,011 357,750,686
2034 55,502,408 356,266,726
2033 54,135,876 354,775,032
2032 52,791,273 353,259,037
2031 51,433,991 351,721,511
2030 50,079,746 350,155,042
2029 48,768,949 348,564,667
2028 47,533,470 346,906,294
2027 46,310,865 345,257,605
2026 45,075,045 343,565,426
2025 43,870,455 341,784,857
2024 42,647,492 340,110,988
2023 41,454,761 334,914,895
2022 40,578,842 333,271,411
2021 40,000,412 331,893,745
2020 39,068,979 331,526,933
2019 37,856,121 328,329,953
2018 36,743,039 326,838,199
2017 35,688,935 325,122,128
2016 34,700,612 323,071,755
2015 33,831,764 320,738,994
2014 32,792,523 318,386,329
2013 31,622,704 316,059,947
2012 30,560,034 313,877,662
2011 29,347,708 311,583,481
2010 28,284,089 309,327,143
2009 27,466,101 306,771,529
2008 26,482,622 304,093,966
2007 25,909,852 301,231,207
2006 25,424,094 298,379,912
2005 24,404,567 295,516,599
2004 23,560,654 292,805,298
2003 22,733,049 290,107,933
2002 21,378,117 287,625,193
2001 20,284,307 284,968,955
2000 20,130,327 282,162,411
1999 19,887,785 279,294,713
1998 19,159,996 276,115,288
1997 18,452,091 272,911,760
1996 17,763,266 269,667,391
1995 17,065,836 266,557,091
1994 16,250,794 263,435,673
1993 14,943,172 260,255,352
1992 13,278,974 256,894,189
1991 12,238,879 253,492,503
1990 12,045,660 250,131,894
1989 11,874,088 246,819,222
1988 11,523,298 244,499,004
1987 11,387,818 242,288,936
1986 11,420,074 240,132,831
1985 11,426,852 237,923,734
1984 11,190,221 235,824,908
1983 10,917,982 233,792,014
1982 10,991,378 231,664,432
1981 11,937,581 229,465,744
1980 13,169,311 226,542,250
1979 13,655,567 225,055,487
1978 13,611,441 222,584,545
1977 13,340,756 220,239,425
1976 13,059,851 218,035,164
1975 12,773,954 215,973,199
1974 12,469,127 213,853,928
1973 12,157,999 211,908,788
1972 11,853,696 209,896,021
1971 11,567,667 207,660,677
1970 11,290,128 205,052,174
1969 11,017,409 202,676,946
1968 10,756,922 200,706,052
1967 10,505,959 198,712,056
1966 10,266,395 196,560,338
1965 10,036,008 194,302,963
1964 9,814,318 191,888,791
1963 9,604,487 189,241,798
1962 9,404,406 186,537,737
1961 9,214,083 183,691,481
1960 9,035,043 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan United States
2100 0.5% 0.14%
2099 0.51% 0.14%
2098 0.52% 0.16%
2097 0.51% 0.16%
2096 0.52% 0.17%
2095 0.56% 0.18%
2094 0.59% 0.17%
2093 0.59% 0.18%
2092 0.61% 0.18%
2091 0.7% 0.17%
2090 0.64% 0.18%
2089 0.66% 0.19%
2088 0.73% 0.17%
2087 0.63% 0.17%
2086 0.74% 0.16%
2085 0.83% 0.18%
2084 0.73% 0.18%
2083 0.75% 0.18%
2082 0.77% 0.2%
2081 0.91% 0.18%
2080 1.02% 0.19%
2079 0.88% 0.2%
2078 0.98% 0.21%
2077 0.97% 0.22%
2076 0.94% 0.23%
2075 1.06% 0.22%
2074 1.18% 0.23%
2073 1.14% 0.23%
2072 1.12% 0.25%
2071 1.28% 0.24%
2070 1.23% 0.25%
2069 1.31% 0.25%
2068 1.24% 0.25%
2067 1.28% 0.24%
2066 1.44% 0.24%
2065 1.46% 0.23%
2064 1.43% 0.23%
2063 1.46% 0.23%
2062 1.37% 0.22%
2061 1.45% 0.21%
2060 1.43% 0.21%
2059 1.55% 0.22%
2058 1.64% 0.21%
2057 1.68% 0.2%
2056 1.67% 0.19%
2055 1.69% 0.2%
2054 1.71% 0.21%
2053 1.72% 0.21%
2052 1.61% 0.22%
2051 1.7% 0.23%
2050 1.93% 0.23%
2049 1.86% 0.24%
2048 1.86% 0.26%
2047 1.98% 0.26%
2046 1.91% 0.28%
2045 1.92% 0.29%
2044 2.02% 0.31%
2043 1.96% 0.33%
2042 2.12% 0.33%
2041 2.27% 0.35%
2040 2.26% 0.36%
2039 2.18% 0.38%
2038 2.27% 0.39%
2037 2.3% 0.39%
2036 2.31% 0.4%
2035 2.35% 0.42%
2034 2.52% 0.42%
2033 2.55% 0.43%
2032 2.64% 0.44%
2031 2.7% 0.45%
2030 2.69% 0.46%
2029 2.6% 0.48%
2028 2.64% 0.48%
2027 2.74% 0.49%
2026 2.75% 0.52%
2025 2.87% 0.49%
2024 2.88% 1.55%
2023 2.16% 0.49%
2022 1.45% 0.42%
2021 2.38% 0.11%
2020 3.2% 0.97%
2019 3.03% 0.46%
2018 2.95% 0.53%
2017 2.85% 0.63%
2016 2.57% 0.73%
2015 3.17% 0.74%
2014 3.7% 0.74%
2013 3.48% 0.7%
2012 4.13% 0.74%
2011 3.76% 0.73%
2010 2.98% 0.83%
2009 3.71% 0.88%
2008 2.21% 0.95%
2007 1.91% 0.96%
2006 4.18% 0.97%
2005 3.58% 0.93%
2004 3.64% 0.93%
2003 6.34% 0.86%
2002 5.39% 0.93%
2001 0.76% 0.99%
2000 1.22% 1.03%
1999 3.8% 1.15%
1998 3.84% 1.17%
1997 3.88% 1.2%
1996 4.09% 1.17%
1995 5.02% 1.18%
1994 8.75% 1.22%
1993 12.5% 1.31%
1992 8.5% 1.34%
1991 1.6% 1.34%
1990 1.44% 1.34%
1989 3.04% 0.95%
1988 1.19% 0.91%
1987 -0.28% 0.9%
1986 -0.06% 0.93%
1985 2.11% 0.89%
1984 2.49% 0.87%
1983 -0.67% 0.92%
1982 -7.93% 0.96%
1981 -9.35% 1.29%
1980 -3.56% 0.66%
1979 0.32% 1.11%
1978 2.03% 1.06%
1977 2.15% 1.01%
1976 2.24% 0.95%
1975 2.44% 0.99%
1974 2.56% 0.92%
1973 2.57% 0.96%
1972 2.47% 1.08%
1971 2.46% 1.27%
1970 2.48% 1.17%
1969 2.42% 0.98%
1968 2.39% 1%
1967 2.33% 1.09%
1966 2.3% 1.16%
1965 2.26% 1.26%
1964 2.18% 1.4%
1963 2.13% 1.45%
1962 2.07% 1.55%
1961 1.98% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan United States
Current population
45409324
344023146
Population rank 36/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 4.15%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
8.8 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 134/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -74,404 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 179/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 1,230,663
2024 - -44,089 - 1,286,132
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 502,372 1,322,668
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 399,926 1,319,009
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 199,137 674,787
2020 1,134,407 143,634 208,862 329,769
2019 1,138,485 9,159 887,476 1,774,500
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 955,022 1,764,961
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 1,053,788 233,913 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 1,033,778 18,119 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 1,004,814 68,628 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 966,743 384,486 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 943,473 -167,460 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 920,581 -60,602 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 891,246 215,753 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 889,848 -851,298 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 875,301 57,673 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 855,112 250,971 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 850,940 -269,194 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 826,165 247,317 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 776,048 860,349 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 764,090 -212,872 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 760,727 -32,400 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 719,860 7,380 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 709,778 -21,215 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 685,005 4,072 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 653,280 52,505 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 609,096 315,206 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 541,257 1,149,684 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 440,132 1,197,329 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 409,954 32,782 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 402,433 -458,737 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 381,158 18,296 1,875,826 400,998
1988 358,397 -56,263 1,735,943 460,778
1987 314,361 -345,535 1,720,252 480,815
1986 310,066 -343,397 1,656,917 493,082
1985 228,469 -208,685 1,689,258 598,777
1984 205,262 248,224 1,627,192 622,793
1983 263,778 -172,797 1,636,544 662,840
1982 263,210 -500,998 1,714,317 600,149
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 1,652,153 583,070
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 1,608,450 595,916
1979 361,750 -525,413 1,597,894 503,559
1978 369,101 -117,186 1,402,283 556,521
1977 372,567 -83,115 1,431,556 577,060
1976 357,775 -85,430 1,264,604 635,590
1975 343,850 -44,418 1,252,644 655,078
1974 330,232 -20,009 1,218,968 706,978
1973 315,062 -3,030 1,165,499 783,163
1972 300,633 -4,050 1,301,355 833,543
1971 288,267 -12,801 1,640,519 833,549
1970 275,129 4,458 1,824,965 744,902
1969 263,823 2,029 1,702,487 523,740
1968 251,798 3,333 1,565,507 594,514
1967 239,967 6,824 1,669,181 585,410
1966 228,786 3,563 1,749,387 637,692
1965 217,741 10,695 1,943,030 644,902
1964 207,867 7,079 2,245,099 618,635
1963 198,035 6,681 2,289,826 639,495
1962 188,427 7,016 2,406,337 625,617
1961 179,094 6,109 2,571,681 580,333
1960 170,257 2,606 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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