The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- Afghanistan's population is 48,514 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
Afghanistan vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Afghanistan
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 131,803,615 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 131,145,502 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 130,482,225 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 129,808,066 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 129,147,895 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 128,473,977 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 127,761,785 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 127,018,448 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 126,270,202 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 125,508,788 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 124,636,092 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 123,843,293 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 123,034,495 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 122,147,758 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 121,381,088 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 120,486,343 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 119,491,780 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 118,631,246 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 117,742,446 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 116,842,143 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 115,793,841 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 114,630,140 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 113,624,958 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 112,523,374 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 111,442,221 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 110,399,328 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 109,236,338 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 107,960,305 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 106,746,984 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 105,568,382 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 104,230,485 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 102,964,062 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 101,629,164 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 100,380,826 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 99,116,663 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 97,714,113 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 96,306,602 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 94,949,108 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 93,579,065 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 92,316,077 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 91,000,643 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 89,717,353 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 88,346,732 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 86,917,997 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 85,480,219 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 84,074,268 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 82,676,432 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 81,285,014 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 79,908,081 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 78,643,202 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 77,331,830 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 75,864,863 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 74,479,782 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 73,119,204 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 71,697,214 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 70,353,118 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 69,024,959 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 67,657,423 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 66,357,363 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 64,976,778 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 63,535,531 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 62,129,737 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 60,803,646 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 59,454,331 | 996 |
| 2036 | 58,114,874 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 56,804,011 | 988 |
| 2034 | 55,502,408 | 988 |
| 2033 | 54,135,876 | 974 |
| 2032 | 52,791,273 | 964 |
| 2031 | 51,433,991 | 977 |
| 2030 | 50,079,746 | 979 |
| 2029 | 48,768,949 | 985 |
| 2028 | 47,533,470 | 983 |
| 2027 | 46,310,865 | 946 |
| 2026 | 45,075,045 | 933 |
| 2025 | 43,870,455 | 927 |
| 2024 | 42,647,492 | 910 |
| 2023 | 41,454,761 | 927 |
| 2022 | 40,578,842 | 951 |
| 2021 | 40,000,412 | 972 |
| 2020 | 39,068,979 | 987 |
| 2019 | 37,856,121 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 36,743,039 | - |
| 2017 | 35,688,935 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 34,700,612 | - |
| 2015 | 33,831,764 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 32,792,523 | 842 |
| 2013 | 31,622,704 | 839 |
| 2012 | 30,560,034 | 836 |
| 2011 | 29,347,708 | 832 |
| 2010 | 28,284,089 | 829 |
| 2009 | 27,466,101 | 826 |
| 2008 | 26,482,622 | 824 |
| 2007 | 25,909,852 | 821 |
| 2006 | 25,424,094 | 932 |
| 2005 | 24,404,567 | 921 |
| 2004 | 23,560,654 | 921 |
| 2003 | 22,733,049 | 911 |
| 2002 | 21,378,117 | 900 |
| 2001 | 20,284,307 | 890 |
| 2000 | 20,130,327 | 880 |
| 1999 | 19,887,785 | - |
| 1998 | 19,159,996 | - |
| 1997 | 18,452,091 | - |
| 1996 | 17,763,266 | - |
| 1995 | 17,065,836 | - |
| 1994 | 16,250,794 | - |
| 1993 | 14,943,172 | - |
| 1992 | 13,278,974 | - |
| 1991 | 12,238,879 | - |
| 1990 | 12,045,660 | - |
| 1989 | 11,874,088 | - |
| 1988 | 11,523,298 | - |
| 1987 | 11,387,818 | - |
| 1986 | 11,420,074 | - |
| 1985 | 11,426,852 | - |
| 1984 | 11,190,221 | - |
| 1983 | 10,917,982 | - |
| 1982 | 10,991,378 | - |
| 1981 | 11,937,581 | - |
| 1980 | 13,169,311 | - |
| 1979 | 13,655,567 | - |
| 1978 | 13,611,441 | - |
| 1977 | 13,340,756 | - |
| 1976 | 13,059,851 | - |
| 1975 | 12,773,954 | - |
| 1974 | 12,469,127 | - |
| 1973 | 12,157,999 | - |
| 1972 | 11,853,696 | - |
| 1971 | 11,567,667 | - |
| 1970 | 11,290,128 | - |
| 1969 | 11,017,409 | - |
| 1968 | 10,756,922 | - |
| 1967 | 10,505,959 | - |
| 1966 | 10,266,395 | - |
| 1965 | 10,036,008 | - |
| 1964 | 9,814,318 | - |
| 1963 | 9,604,487 | - |
| 1962 | 9,404,406 | - |
| 1961 | 9,214,083 | - |
| 1960 | 9,035,043 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 0.5% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | 0.51% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | 0.52% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | 0.51% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | 0.52% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | 0.56% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | 0.59% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | 0.59% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | 0.61% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | 0.7% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | 0.64% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | 0.66% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | 0.73% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | 0.63% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | 0.74% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | 0.83% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | 0.73% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | 0.75% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | 0.77% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | 0.91% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | 1.02% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | 0.88% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | 0.98% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | 0.97% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | 0.94% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | 1.06% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | 1.18% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | 1.14% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | 1.12% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | 1.28% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | 1.23% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | 1.31% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | 1.24% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | 1.28% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | 1.44% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | 1.46% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | 1.43% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | 1.46% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | 1.37% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | 1.45% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | 1.43% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | 1.55% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | 1.64% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 1.68% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | 1.67% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | 1.69% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | 1.71% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | 1.72% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | 1.61% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | 1.7% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | 1.93% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | 1.86% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | 1.86% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | 1.98% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | 1.91% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | 1.92% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | 2.02% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | 1.96% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | 2.12% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | 2.27% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | 2.26% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | 2.18% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | 2.27% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | 2.3% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | 2.31% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | 2.35% | 0% |
| 2034 | 2.52% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | 2.55% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 2.64% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 2.7% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 2.69% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 2.6% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 2.64% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 2.74% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 2.75% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 2.87% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 2.88% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.16% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | 1.45% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 2.38% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.03% | 0% |
| 2018 | 2.95% | 0% |
| 2017 | 2.85% | 0% |
| 2016 | 2.57% | 0% |
| 2015 | 3.17% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 3.48% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 4.13% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 3.76% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 2.98% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 3.71% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 2.21% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 1.91% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 4.18% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 3.58% | 0% |
| 2004 | 3.64% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 6.34% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 5.39% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 0.76% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 1.22% | - |
| 1999 | 3.8% | - |
| 1998 | 3.84% | - |
| 1997 | 3.88% | - |
| 1996 | 4.09% | - |
| 1995 | 5.02% | - |
| 1994 | 8.75% | - |
| 1993 | 12.5% | - |
| 1992 | 8.5% | - |
| 1991 | 1.6% | - |
| 1990 | 1.44% | - |
| 1989 | 3.04% | - |
| 1988 | 1.19% | - |
| 1987 | -0.28% | - |
| 1986 | -0.06% | - |
| 1985 | 2.11% | - |
| 1984 | 2.49% | - |
| 1983 | -0.67% | - |
| 1982 | -7.93% | - |
| 1981 | -9.35% | - |
| 1980 | -3.56% | - |
| 1979 | 0.32% | - |
| 1978 | 2.03% | - |
| 1977 | 2.15% | - |
| 1976 | 2.24% | - |
| 1975 | 2.44% | - |
| 1974 | 2.56% | - |
| 1973 | 2.57% | - |
| 1972 | 2.47% | - |
| 1971 | 2.46% | - |
| 1970 | 2.48% | - |
| 1969 | 2.42% | - |
| 1968 | 2.39% | - |
| 1967 | 2.33% | - |
| 1966 | 2.3% | - |
| 1965 | 2.26% | - |
| 1964 | 2.18% | - |
| 1963 | 2.13% | - |
| 1962 | 2.07% | - |
| 1961 | 1.98% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
Afghanistan
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
45409324
|
936
|
| Population rank | 36/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.55% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
26.4 seconds
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
21.5 seconds
|
n/a |
| One death every |
2.19 minutes
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +3,268 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +1,192,731 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +2.88% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 20/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
7.08 minutes
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | -74,404 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 179/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,110 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 131/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 0.2% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 186/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -74,404 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | -44,089 | - | - |
| 2023 | 1,228,719 | -48,958 | - | - |
| 2022 | 1,219,475 | -647,402 | - | - |
| 2021 | 1,133,611 | -548,784 | - | - |
| 2020 | 1,134,407 | 143,634 | - | - |
| 2019 | 1,138,485 | 9,159 | - | - |
| 2018 | 1,115,262 | -36,753 | - | - |
| 2017 | 1,101,218 | -71,491 | - | - |
| 2016 | 1,090,016 | -143,049 | - | - |
| 2015 | 1,077,068 | -286,314 | - | - |
| 2014 | 1,053,788 | 233,913 | - | - |
| 2013 | 1,033,778 | 18,119 | - | - |
| 2012 | 1,004,814 | 68,628 | - | - |
| 2011 | 966,743 | 384,486 | - | - |
| 2010 | 943,473 | -167,460 | - | - |
| 2009 | 920,581 | -60,602 | - | - |
| 2008 | 891,246 | 215,753 | - | - |
| 2007 | 889,848 | -851,298 | - | - |
| 2006 | 875,301 | 57,673 | - | - |
| 2005 | 855,112 | 250,971 | - | - |
| 2004 | 850,940 | -269,194 | - | - |
| 2003 | 826,165 | 247,317 | - | - |
| 2002 | 776,048 | 860,349 | - | - |
| 2001 | 764,090 | -212,872 | - | - |
| 2000 | 782,727 | -1,025,973 | - | - |
| 1999 | 760,727 | -32,400 | - | - |
| 1998 | 719,860 | 7,380 | - | - |
| 1997 | 709,778 | -21,215 | - | - |
| 1996 | 685,005 | 4,072 | - | - |
| 1995 | 653,280 | 52,505 | - | - |
| 1994 | 609,096 | 315,206 | - | - |
| 1993 | 541,257 | 1,149,684 | - | - |
| 1992 | 440,132 | 1,197,329 | - | - |
| 1991 | 409,954 | 32,782 | - | - |
| 1990 | 402,433 | -458,737 | - | - |
| 1989 | 381,158 | 18,296 | - | - |
| 1988 | 358,397 | -56,263 | - | - |
| 1987 | 314,361 | -345,535 | - | - |
| 1986 | 310,066 | -343,397 | - | - |
| 1985 | 228,469 | -208,685 | - | - |
| 1984 | 205,262 | 248,224 | - | - |
| 1983 | 263,778 | -172,797 | - | - |
| 1982 | 263,210 | -500,998 | - | - |
| 1981 | 343,468 | -1,998,086 | - | - |
| 1980 | 365,396 | -1,174,239 | - | - |
| 1979 | 361,750 | -525,413 | - | - |
| 1978 | 369,101 | -117,186 | - | - |
| 1977 | 372,567 | -83,115 | - | - |
| 1976 | 357,775 | -85,430 | - | - |
| 1975 | 343,850 | -44,418 | - | - |
| 1974 | 330,232 | -20,009 | - | - |
| 1973 | 315,062 | -3,030 | - | - |
| 1972 | 300,633 | -4,050 | - | - |
| 1971 | 288,267 | -12,801 | - | - |
| 1970 | 275,129 | 4,458 | - | - |
| 1969 | 263,823 | 2,029 | - | - |
| 1968 | 251,798 | 3,333 | - | - |
| 1967 | 239,967 | 6,824 | - | - |
| 1966 | 228,786 | 3,563 | - | - |
| 1965 | 217,741 | 10,695 | - | - |
| 1964 | 207,867 | 7,079 | - | - |
| 1963 | 198,035 | 6,681 | - | - |
| 1962 | 188,427 | 7,016 | - | - |
| 1961 | 179,094 | 6,109 | - | - |
| 1960 | 170,257 | 2,606 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/vatican | CC BY
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 |
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vatican City | 882 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Afghanistan and the Vatican
|
Afghanistan
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 66.8 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 22.1 years | n/a |
| Median age | 18.2 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.5:49.5 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 4.84 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 179 ppl/mi² | 5,493 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vatican | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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