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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Afghanistan was 42,647,492 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Afghanistan's population is 45,409,324 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Afghanistan's population is 2.62 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Afghanistan is ranked the 36th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.76% of the world: 0.55% for Afghanistan vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Afghanistan has had an average growth rate of +2.76% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Afghanistan has increased from 25.4M people to 45.4M (78.6% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Zimbabwe
2100 131,803,615 37,483,053
2099 131,145,502 37,412,398
2098 130,482,225 37,328,255
2097 129,808,066 37,235,542
2096 129,147,895 37,142,915
2095 128,473,977 37,032,129
2094 127,761,785 36,912,747
2093 127,018,448 36,810,893
2092 126,270,202 36,688,511
2091 125,508,788 36,567,262
2090 124,636,092 36,425,606
2089 123,843,293 36,280,973
2088 123,034,495 36,141,446
2087 122,147,758 35,977,638
2086 121,381,088 35,808,135
2085 120,486,343 35,637,092
2084 119,491,780 35,456,207
2083 118,631,246 35,268,035
2082 117,742,446 35,078,904
2081 116,842,143 34,873,129
2080 115,793,841 34,658,962
2079 114,630,140 34,439,720
2078 113,624,958 34,217,295
2077 112,523,374 33,982,909
2076 111,442,221 33,739,228
2075 110,399,328 33,495,867
2074 109,236,338 33,244,838
2073 107,960,305 32,978,488
2072 106,746,984 32,706,059
2071 105,568,382 32,445,747
2070 104,230,485 32,181,119
2069 102,964,062 31,906,793
2068 101,629,164 31,631,000
2067 100,380,826 31,345,338
2066 99,116,663 31,062,884
2065 97,714,113 30,766,830
2064 96,306,602 30,479,939
2063 94,949,108 30,176,104
2062 93,579,065 29,867,679
2061 92,316,077 29,557,068
2060 91,000,643 29,252,423
2059 89,717,353 28,945,088
2058 88,346,732 28,631,679
2057 86,917,997 28,307,305
2056 85,480,219 27,990,713
2055 84,074,268 27,658,887
2054 82,676,432 27,331,920
2053 81,285,014 26,986,935
2052 79,908,081 26,643,553
2051 78,643,202 26,287,592
2050 77,331,830 25,934,893
2049 75,864,863 25,585,239
2048 74,479,782 25,228,082
2047 73,119,204 24,874,649
2046 71,697,214 24,513,443
2045 70,353,118 24,147,637
2044 69,024,959 23,783,088
2043 67,657,423 23,401,965
2042 66,357,363 23,035,288
2041 64,976,778 22,647,950
2040 63,535,531 22,273,520
2039 62,129,737 21,902,980
2038 60,803,646 21,530,130
2037 59,454,331 21,159,664
2036 58,114,874 20,791,034
2035 56,804,011 20,413,656
2034 55,502,408 20,048,019
2033 54,135,876 19,676,339
2032 52,791,273 19,311,985
2031 51,433,991 18,959,300
2030 50,079,746 18,613,738
2029 48,768,949 18,270,049
2028 47,533,470 17,933,466
2027 46,310,865 17,600,984
2026 45,075,045 17,273,208
2025 43,870,455 16,949,303
2024 42,647,492 16,634,373
2023 41,454,761 16,340,822
2022 40,578,842 16,069,056
2021 40,000,412 15,797,210
2020 39,068,979 15,526,888
2019 37,856,121 15,271,368
2018 36,743,039 15,034,452
2017 35,688,935 14,812,482
2016 34,700,612 14,600,294
2015 33,831,764 14,399,013
2014 32,792,523 14,207,359
2013 31,622,704 14,013,808
2012 30,560,034 13,817,887
2011 29,347,708 13,595,424
2010 28,284,089 13,356,548
2009 27,466,101 13,142,790
2008 26,482,622 12,959,149
2007 25,909,852 12,804,058
2006 25,424,094 12,636,445
2005 24,404,567 12,483,432
2004 23,560,654 12,365,896
2003 22,733,049 12,232,323
2002 21,378,117 12,087,653
2001 20,284,307 11,971,901
2000 20,130,327 11,892,055
1999 19,887,785 11,783,458
1998 19,159,996 11,594,297
1997 18,452,091 11,369,827
1996 17,763,266 11,158,360
1995 17,065,836 10,974,599
1994 16,250,794 10,873,148
1993 14,943,172 10,860,288
1992 13,278,974 10,702,700
1991 12,238,879 10,404,816
1990 12,045,660 10,137,281
1989 11,874,088 9,864,798
1988 11,523,298 9,583,094
1987 11,387,818 9,284,644
1986 11,420,074 8,982,578
1985 11,426,852 8,686,813
1984 11,190,221 8,391,488
1983 10,917,982 8,098,404
1982 10,991,378 7,796,496
1981 11,937,581 7,498,635
1980 13,169,311 7,041,303
1979 13,655,567 6,647,556
1978 13,611,441 6,543,575
1977 13,340,756 6,449,512
1976 13,059,851 6,287,105
1975 12,773,954 6,098,658
1974 12,469,127 5,908,328
1973 12,157,999 5,720,404
1972 11,853,696 5,542,445
1971 11,567,667 5,374,712
1970 11,290,128 5,215,918
1969 11,017,409 5,058,181
1968 10,756,922 4,900,440
1967 10,505,959 4,748,307
1966 10,266,395 4,601,217
1965 10,036,008 4,458,462
1964 9,814,318 4,320,006
1963 9,604,487 4,185,877
1962 9,404,406 4,055,959
1961 9,214,083 3,930,401
1960 9,035,043 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Afghanistan increased by 9,276,518 people (a 36.5% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Afghanistan gained 10,708,712 people (a 30.9% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Afghanistan was ranked 45th most populous country in 2006 and is 36th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Afghanistan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 132M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Afghanistan
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Afghanistan Zimbabwe
2100 0.5% 0.19%
2099 0.51% 0.23%
2098 0.52% 0.25%
2097 0.51% 0.25%
2096 0.52% 0.3%
2095 0.56% 0.32%
2094 0.59% 0.28%
2093 0.59% 0.33%
2092 0.61% 0.33%
2091 0.7% 0.39%
2090 0.64% 0.4%
2089 0.66% 0.39%
2088 0.73% 0.46%
2087 0.63% 0.47%
2086 0.74% 0.48%
2085 0.83% 0.51%
2084 0.73% 0.53%
2083 0.75% 0.54%
2082 0.77% 0.59%
2081 0.91% 0.62%
2080 1.02% 0.64%
2079 0.88% 0.65%
2078 0.98% 0.69%
2077 0.97% 0.72%
2076 0.94% 0.73%
2075 1.06% 0.76%
2074 1.18% 0.81%
2073 1.14% 0.83%
2072 1.12% 0.8%
2071 1.28% 0.82%
2070 1.23% 0.86%
2069 1.31% 0.87%
2068 1.24% 0.91%
2067 1.28% 0.91%
2066 1.44% 0.96%
2065 1.46% 0.94%
2064 1.43% 1.01%
2063 1.46% 1.03%
2062 1.37% 1.05%
2061 1.45% 1.04%
2060 1.43% 1.06%
2059 1.55% 1.09%
2058 1.64% 1.15%
2057 1.68% 1.13%
2056 1.67% 1.2%
2055 1.69% 1.2%
2054 1.71% 1.28%
2053 1.72% 1.29%
2052 1.61% 1.35%
2051 1.7% 1.36%
2050 1.93% 1.37%
2049 1.86% 1.42%
2048 1.86% 1.42%
2047 1.98% 1.47%
2046 1.91% 1.51%
2045 1.92% 1.53%
2044 2.02% 1.63%
2043 1.96% 1.59%
2042 2.12% 1.71%
2041 2.27% 1.68%
2040 2.26% 1.69%
2039 2.18% 1.73%
2038 2.27% 1.75%
2037 2.3% 1.77%
2036 2.31% 1.85%
2035 2.35% 1.82%
2034 2.52% 1.89%
2033 2.55% 1.89%
2032 2.64% 1.86%
2031 2.7% 1.86%
2030 2.69% 1.88%
2029 2.6% 1.88%
2028 2.64% 1.89%
2027 2.74% 1.9%
2026 2.75% 1.91%
2025 2.87% 1.89%
2024 2.88% 1.8%
2023 2.16% 1.69%
2022 1.45% 1.72%
2021 2.38% 1.74%
2020 3.2% 1.67%
2019 3.03% 1.58%
2018 2.95% 1.5%
2017 2.85% 1.45%
2016 2.57% 1.4%
2015 3.17% 1.35%
2014 3.7% 1.38%
2013 3.48% 1.42%
2012 4.13% 1.64%
2011 3.76% 1.79%
2010 2.98% 1.63%
2009 3.71% 1.42%
2008 2.21% 1.21%
2007 1.91% 1.33%
2006 4.18% 1.23%
2005 3.58% 0.95%
2004 3.64% 1.09%
2003 6.34% 1.2%
2002 5.39% 0.97%
2001 0.76% 0.67%
2000 1.22% 0.92%
1999 3.8% 1.63%
1998 3.84% 1.97%
1997 3.88% 1.9%
1996 4.09% 1.67%
1995 5.02% 0.93%
1994 8.75% 0.12%
1993 12.5% 1.47%
1992 8.5% 2.86%
1991 1.6% 2.64%
1990 1.44% 2.76%
1989 3.04% 2.94%
1988 1.19% 3.21%
1987 -0.28% 3.36%
1986 -0.06% 3.4%
1985 2.11% 3.52%
1984 2.49% 3.62%
1983 -0.67% 3.87%
1982 -7.93% 3.97%
1981 -9.35% 6.49%
1980 -3.56% 5.92%
1979 0.32% 1.59%
1978 2.03% 1.46%
1977 2.15% 2.58%
1976 2.24% 3.09%
1975 2.44% 3.22%
1974 2.56% 3.29%
1973 2.57% 3.21%
1972 2.47% 3.12%
1971 2.46% 3.04%
1970 2.48% 3.12%
1969 2.42% 3.22%
1968 2.39% 3.2%
1967 2.33% 3.2%
1966 2.3% 3.2%
1965 2.26% 3.2%
1964 2.18% 3.2%
1963 2.13% 3.2%
1962 2.07% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Afghanistan grew by 2.88%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Afghanistan Zimbabwe
Current population
45409324
17361868
Population rank 36/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.55% 0.21%
One net population change
26.4 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
21.5 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.19 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,268 +804
Annual growth/decline +1,192,731 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.88% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 20/197 60/197
One migration net change every
7.08 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -74,404 -54,555
Net migration rank 179/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 98,110 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 131/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 186/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Afghanistan
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Afghanistan Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -74,404 - -54,555
2024 - -44,089 - -60,528
2023 1,228,719 -48,958 372,505 -97,380
2022 1,219,475 -647,402 371,243 -102,828
2021 1,133,611 -548,784 349,908 -74,623
2020 1,134,407 143,634 354,790 -89,440
2019 1,138,485 9,159 348,798 -103,107
2018 1,115,262 -36,753 345,883 -117,758
2017 1,101,218 -71,491 344,035 -128,241
2016 1,090,016 -143,049 348,772 -140,181
2015 1,077,068 -286,314 356,203 -162,220
2014 1,053,788 233,913 366,350 -177,029
2013 1,033,778 18,119 374,757 -176,972
2012 1,004,814 68,628 371,135 -177,061
2011 966,743 384,486 359,572 -108,714
2010 943,473 -167,460 335,570 -108,671
2009 920,581 -60,602 309,316 -108,689
2008 891,246 215,753 280,527 -113,858
2007 889,848 -851,298 261,805 -118,299
2006 875,301 57,673 248,963 -57,257
2005 855,112 250,971 248,545 -134,212
2004 850,940 -269,194 248,307 -127,550
2003 826,165 247,317 243,057 -96,667
2002 776,048 860,349 244,170 -101,212
2001 764,090 -212,872 227,909 -139,361
2000 782,727 -1,025,973 236,343 -165,181
1999 760,727 -32,400 232,393 -86,343
1998 719,860 7,380 225,614 6,645
1997 709,778 -21,215 216,288 395
1996 685,005 4,072 205,269 978
1995 653,280 52,505 206,695 -45,428
1994 609,096 315,206 216,343 -174,723
1993 541,257 1,149,684 228,045 -243,947
1992 440,132 1,197,329 255,291 75,788
1991 409,954 32,782 260,943 3,749
1990 402,433 -458,737 265,444 4,948
1989 381,158 18,296 270,838 3,736
1988 358,397 -56,263 277,498 11,327
1987 314,361 -345,535 286,766 21,308
1986 310,066 -343,397 289,894 6,154
1985 228,469 -208,685 290,756 4,718
1984 205,262 248,224 290,052 5,124
1983 263,778 -172,797 286,545 4,456
1982 263,210 -500,998 279,934 32,899
1981 343,468 -1,998,086 271,361 11,523
1980 365,396 -1,174,239 241,179 390,593
1979 361,750 -525,413 223,657 -67,937
1978 369,101 -117,186 222,979 -170,727
1977 372,567 -83,115 225,139 -89,270
1976 357,775 -85,430 221,419 -32,495
1975 343,850 -44,418 216,947 -28,988
1974 330,232 -20,009 208,806 -16,105
1973 315,062 -3,030 201,885 -18,733
1972 300,633 -4,050 193,725 -20,959
1971 288,267 -12,801 185,427 -22,719
1970 275,129 4,458 178,979 -24,102
1969 263,823 2,029 172,626 -12,028
1968 251,798 3,333 166,865 -11,997
1967 239,967 6,824 161,205 -11,814
1966 228,786 3,563 156,014 -11,211
1965 217,741 10,695 151,164 -10,465
1964 207,867 7,079 145,848 -9,631
1963 198,035 6,681 140,984 -8,936
1962 188,427 7,016 136,317 -8,529
1961 179,094 6,109 131,531 -8,204
1960 170,257 2,606 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/afghanistan/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 98,110 residents or 0.2% of the population were not native-born in Afghanistan, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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