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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 2 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.82% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Afghanistan vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Zambia
2100 131,803,615 65,217,429
2099 131,145,502 64,871,545
2098 130,482,225 64,515,891
2097 129,808,066 64,148,736
2096 129,147,895 63,777,313
2095 128,473,977 63,393,169
2094 127,761,785 62,992,652
2093 127,018,448 62,590,327
2092 126,270,202 62,175,930
2091 125,508,788 61,750,591
2090 124,636,092 61,321,399
2089 123,843,293 60,880,148
2088 123,034,495 60,434,676
2087 122,147,758 59,970,107
2086 121,381,088 59,499,234
2085 120,486,343 59,023,040
2084 119,491,780 58,535,857
2083 118,631,246 58,040,512
2082 117,742,446 57,538,672
2081 116,842,143 57,027,491
2080 115,793,841 56,506,421
2079 114,630,140 55,983,242
2078 113,624,958 55,449,777
2077 112,523,374 54,906,771
2076 111,442,221 54,361,075
2075 110,399,328 53,806,856
2074 109,236,338 53,246,777
2073 107,960,305 52,677,348
2072 106,746,984 52,101,139
2071 105,568,382 51,519,691
2070 104,230,485 50,931,614
2069 102,964,062 50,334,700
2068 101,629,164 49,737,479
2067 100,380,826 49,135,488
2066 99,116,663 48,530,443
2065 97,714,113 47,918,592
2064 96,306,602 47,299,740
2063 94,949,108 46,677,439
2062 93,579,065 46,048,819
2061 92,316,077 45,416,657
2060 91,000,643 44,777,347
2059 89,717,353 44,137,306
2058 88,346,732 43,494,451
2057 86,917,997 42,851,923
2056 85,480,219 42,206,898
2055 84,074,268 41,558,284
2054 82,676,432 40,906,492
2053 81,285,014 40,255,629
2052 79,908,081 39,603,888
2051 78,643,202 38,949,958
2050 77,331,830 38,294,607
2049 75,864,863 37,634,194
2048 74,479,782 36,971,309
2047 73,119,204 36,309,749
2046 71,697,214 35,645,868
2045 70,353,118 34,981,812
2044 69,024,959 34,316,981
2043 67,657,423 33,652,420
2042 66,357,363 32,990,657
2041 64,976,778 32,329,447
2040 63,535,531 31,664,262
2039 62,129,737 31,001,305
2038 60,803,646 30,335,662
2037 59,454,331 29,668,561
2036 58,114,874 29,000,264
2035 56,804,011 28,333,498
2034 55,502,408 27,671,195
2033 54,135,876 27,011,974
2032 52,791,273 26,356,580
2031 51,433,991 25,702,812
2030 50,079,746 25,055,216
2029 48,768,949 24,414,405
2028 47,533,470 23,780,809
2027 46,310,865 23,151,479
2026 45,075,045 22,529,742
2025 43,870,455 21,918,187
2024 42,647,492 21,314,956
2023 41,454,761 20,723,965
2022 40,578,842 20,152,938
2021 40,000,412 19,603,607
2020 39,068,979 19,059,395
2019 37,856,121 18,513,839
2018 36,743,039 17,973,569
2017 35,688,935 17,441,320
2016 34,700,612 16,914,423
2015 33,831,764 16,399,089
2014 32,792,523 15,895,315
2013 31,622,704 15,398,997
2012 30,560,034 14,913,629
2011 29,347,708 14,437,796
2010 28,284,089 13,965,594
2009 27,466,101 13,490,389
2008 26,482,622 13,021,324
2007 25,909,852 12,565,085
2006 25,424,094 12,129,553
2005 24,404,567 11,718,819
2004 23,560,654 11,338,198
2003 22,733,049 10,983,595
2002 21,378,117 10,647,949
2001 20,284,307 10,325,185
2000 20,130,327 10,017,631
1999 19,887,785 9,740,005
1998 19,159,996 9,482,408
1997 18,452,091 9,237,063
1996 17,763,266 9,004,053
1995 17,065,836 8,785,763
1994 16,250,794 8,576,269
1993 14,943,172 8,373,921
1992 13,278,974 8,176,680
1991 12,238,879 7,981,650
1990 12,045,660 7,786,169
1989 11,874,088 7,589,216
1988 11,523,298 7,391,440
1987 11,387,818 7,191,282
1986 11,420,074 6,986,471
1985 11,426,852 6,780,953
1984 11,190,221 6,580,490
1983 10,917,982 6,381,038
1982 10,991,378 6,178,637
1981 11,937,581 5,983,289
1980 13,169,311 5,802,833
1979 13,655,567 5,631,728
1978 13,611,441 5,465,374
1977 13,340,756 5,302,480
1976 13,059,851 5,143,842
1975 12,773,954 4,990,086
1974 12,469,127 4,842,746
1973 12,157,999 4,702,693
1972 11,853,696 4,569,309
1971 11,567,667 4,442,525
1970 11,290,128 4,321,718
1969 11,017,409 4,197,116
1968 10,756,922 4,065,593
1967 10,505,959 3,936,343
1966 10,266,395 3,812,003
1965 10,036,008 3,692,086
1964 9,814,318 3,577,017
1963 9,604,487 3,465,907
1962 9,404,406 3,358,099
1961 9,214,083 3,254,086
1960 9,035,043 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Zambia
2100 0.5% 0.53%
2099 0.51% 0.55%
2098 0.52% 0.57%
2097 0.51% 0.58%
2096 0.52% 0.61%
2095 0.56% 0.64%
2094 0.59% 0.64%
2093 0.59% 0.67%
2092 0.61% 0.69%
2091 0.7% 0.7%
2090 0.64% 0.72%
2089 0.66% 0.74%
2088 0.73% 0.77%
2087 0.63% 0.79%
2086 0.74% 0.81%
2085 0.83% 0.83%
2084 0.73% 0.85%
2083 0.75% 0.87%
2082 0.77% 0.9%
2081 0.91% 0.92%
2080 1.02% 0.93%
2079 0.88% 0.96%
2078 0.98% 0.99%
2077 0.97% 1%
2076 0.94% 1.03%
2075 1.06% 1.05%
2074 1.18% 1.08%
2073 1.14% 1.11%
2072 1.12% 1.13%
2071 1.28% 1.15%
2070 1.23% 1.19%
2069 1.31% 1.2%
2068 1.24% 1.23%
2067 1.28% 1.25%
2066 1.44% 1.28%
2065 1.46% 1.31%
2064 1.43% 1.33%
2063 1.46% 1.37%
2062 1.37% 1.39%
2061 1.45% 1.43%
2060 1.43% 1.45%
2059 1.55% 1.48%
2058 1.64% 1.5%
2057 1.68% 1.53%
2056 1.67% 1.56%
2055 1.69% 1.59%
2054 1.71% 1.62%
2053 1.72% 1.65%
2052 1.61% 1.68%
2051 1.7% 1.71%
2050 1.93% 1.75%
2049 1.86% 1.79%
2048 1.86% 1.82%
2047 1.98% 1.86%
2046 1.91% 1.9%
2045 1.92% 1.94%
2044 2.02% 1.97%
2043 1.96% 2.01%
2042 2.12% 2.05%
2041 2.27% 2.1%
2040 2.26% 2.14%
2039 2.18% 2.19%
2038 2.27% 2.25%
2037 2.3% 2.3%
2036 2.31% 2.35%
2035 2.35% 2.39%
2034 2.52% 2.44%
2033 2.55% 2.49%
2032 2.64% 2.54%
2031 2.7% 2.58%
2030 2.69% 2.62%
2029 2.6% 2.66%
2028 2.64% 2.72%
2027 2.74% 2.76%
2026 2.75% 2.79%
2025 2.87% 2.83%
2024 2.88% 2.85%
2023 2.16% 2.83%
2022 1.45% 2.8%
2021 2.38% 2.86%
2020 3.2% 2.95%
2019 3.03% 3.01%
2018 2.95% 3.05%
2017 2.85% 3.12%
2016 2.57% 3.14%
2015 3.17% 3.17%
2014 3.7% 3.22%
2013 3.48% 3.25%
2012 4.13% 3.3%
2011 3.76% 3.38%
2010 2.98% 3.52%
2009 3.71% 3.6%
2008 2.21% 3.63%
2007 1.91% 3.59%
2006 4.18% 3.5%
2005 3.58% 3.36%
2004 3.64% 3.23%
2003 6.34% 3.15%
2002 5.39% 3.13%
2001 0.76% 3.07%
2000 1.22% 2.85%
1999 3.8% 2.72%
1998 3.84% 2.66%
1997 3.88% 2.59%
1996 4.09% 2.48%
1995 5.02% 2.44%
1994 8.75% 2.42%
1993 12.5% 2.41%
1992 8.5% 2.44%
1991 1.6% 2.51%
1990 1.44% 2.6%
1989 3.04% 2.68%
1988 1.19% 2.78%
1987 -0.28% 2.93%
1986 -0.06% 3.03%
1985 2.11% 3.05%
1984 2.49% 3.13%
1983 -0.67% 3.28%
1982 -7.93% 3.26%
1981 -9.35% 3.11%
1980 -3.56% 3.04%
1979 0.32% 3.04%
1978 2.03% 3.07%
1977 2.15% 3.08%
1976 2.24% 3.08%
1975 2.44% 3.04%
1974 2.56% 2.98%
1973 2.57% 2.92%
1972 2.47% 2.85%
1971 2.46% 2.8%
1970 2.48% 2.97%
1969 2.42% 3.24%
1968 2.39% 3.28%
1967 2.33% 3.26%
1966 2.3% 3.25%
1965 2.26% 3.22%
1964 2.18% 3.21%
1963 2.13% 3.21%
1962 2.07% 3.2%
1961 1.98% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Zambia
Current population
45409324
22697916
Population rank 36/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.27%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
21.5 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 21/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -74,404 +6,562
Net migration rank 179/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - 6,562
2024 - -44,089 - 7,381
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 577,660 9,521
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 563,456 -8,566
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 535,629 8,143
2020 1,134,407 143,634 536,484 8,156
2019 1,138,485 9,159 528,089 18,385
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 515,644 18,431
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 504,630 25,789
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 497,521 25,860
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 491,021 16,261
2014 1,053,788 233,913 483,663 16,574
2013 1,033,778 18,119 476,846 15,542
2012 1,004,814 68,628 469,406 8,958
2011 966,743 384,486 459,743 13,569
2010 943,473 -167,460 448,337 22,761
2009 920,581 -60,602 434,458 44,867
2008 891,246 215,753 419,560 39,249
2007 889,848 -851,298 403,729 49,945
2006 875,301 57,673 387,891 29,517
2005 855,112 250,971 368,756 35,316
2004 850,940 -269,194 349,352 7,819
2003 826,165 247,317 331,189 20,845
2002 776,048 860,349 316,041 3,206
2001 764,090 -212,872 302,682 23,582
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 293,186 -4,338
1999 760,727 -32,400 283,297 -16,888
1998 719,860 7,380 275,568 -26,796
1997 709,778 -21,215 268,198 -26,276
1996 685,005 4,072 262,468 -38,358
1995 653,280 52,505 257,897 -45,423
1994 609,096 315,206 252,023 -45,504
1993 541,257 1,149,684 245,917 -47,739
1992 440,132 1,197,329 239,953 -43,656
1991 409,954 32,782 237,957 -44,203
1990 402,433 -458,737 235,835 -38,619
1989 381,158 18,296 233,429 -36,736
1988 358,397 -56,263 230,118 -31,270
1987 314,361 -345,535 227,813 -26,338
1986 310,066 -343,397 224,768 -16,610
1985 228,469 -208,685 221,351 -18,474
1984 205,262 248,224 216,695 -18,652
1983 263,778 -172,797 212,712 -11,849
1982 263,210 -500,998 207,621 -3,676
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 202,822 -16,072
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 198,817 -24,664
1979 361,750 -525,413 197,578 -29,515
1978 369,101 -117,186 194,933 -30,284
1977 372,567 -83,115 191,557 -30,423
1976 357,775 -85,430 186,762 -30,612
1975 343,850 -44,418 182,258 -30,886
1974 330,232 -20,009 174,484 -31,178
1973 315,062 -3,030 168,258 -31,472
1972 300,633 -4,050 161,648 -31,672
1971 288,267 -12,801 155,249 -31,651
1970 275,129 4,458 149,380 -31,370
1969 263,823 2,029 142,660 -11,469
1968 251,798 3,333 137,315 -5,447
1967 239,967 6,824 131,938 -5,298
1966 228,786 3,563 127,164 -5,129
1965 217,741 10,695 122,814 -5,023
1964 207,867 7,079 117,197 -4,851
1963 198,035 6,681 114,555 -4,676
1962 188,427 7,016 110,173 -4,428
1961 179,094 6,109 106,318 -4,043
1960 170,257 2,606 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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