Annual population growth in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Annual population growth was 875,915 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
875,915
Change on year
up 51.4%
World rank
22nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.66 million
in 1993
All-time low
-1.23 million
in 1981
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Afghanistan, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in Afghanistan stood at 875,915.
That represents a change of up 51.4% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Afghanistan peaked at 1.66 million in 1993 and was at its lowest, -1.23 million, in 1981.
That places Afghanistan 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 103,163 | — |
| 1952 | 108,441 | +5.1% |
| 1953 | 108,919 | +0.4% |
| 1954 | 111,251 | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 119,027 | +7.0% |
| 1956 | 127,322 | +7.0% |
| 1957 | 134,037 | +5.3% |
| 1958 | 135,072 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 145,858 | +8.0% |
| 1960 | 165,778 | +13.7% |
| 1961 | 179,034 | +8.0% |
| 1962 | 190,328 | +6.3% |
| 1963 | 200,081 | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 209,826 | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 221,686 | +5.7% |
| 1966 | 230,394 | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 239,564 | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 250,963 | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 260,493 | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 272,717 | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 277,538 | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 286,026 | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 304,302 | +6.4% |
| 1974 | 311,127 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 304,839 | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 285,895 | -6.2% |
| 1977 | 280,897 | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 270,686 | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 44,131 | -83.7% |
| 1980 | -486,262 | -1201.9% |
| 1981 | -1.23 million | +153.3% |
| 1982 | -946,206 | -23.2% |
| 1983 | -73,395 | -92.2% |
| 1984 | 272,237 | -470.9% |
| 1985 | 236,633 | -13.1% |
| 1986 | -6,781 | -102.9% |
| 1987 | -32,252 | +375.6% |
| 1988 | 135,477 | -520.1% |
| 1989 | 350,790 | +158.9% |
| 1990 | 171,575 | -51.1% |
| 1991 | 193,215 | +12.6% |
| 1992 | 1.04 million | +438.3% |
| 1993 | 1.66 million | +60.0% |
| 1994 | 1.31 million | -21.4% |
| 1995 | 815,037 | -37.7% |
| 1996 | 697,429 | -14.4% |
| 1997 | 688,834 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 707,896 | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 727,796 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 242,542 | -66.7% |
| 2001 | 153,969 | -36.5% |
| 2002 | 1.09 million | +610.4% |
| 2003 | 1.35 million | +23.9% |
| 2004 | 827,603 | -38.9% |
| 2005 | 843,919 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 1.02 million | +20.8% |
| 2007 | 485,752 | -52.4% |
| 2008 | 572,779 | +17.9% |
| 2009 | 983,471 | +71.7% |
| 2010 | 817,986 | -16.8% |
| 2011 | 1.06 million | +30.0% |
| 2012 | 1.21 million | +14.0% |
| 2013 | 1.06 million | -12.3% |
| 2014 | 1.17 million | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 1.04 million | -11.2% |
| 2016 | 868,846 | -16.4% |
| 2017 | 988,328 | +13.8% |
| 2018 | 1.05 million | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 1.11 million | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 1.21 million | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 931,433 | -23.2% |
| 2022 | 578,437 | -37.9% |
| 2023 | 875,915 | +51.4% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 875,915 is above the median for low income countries, which is 556,727, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 875,915 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 319,038, 2.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -1201.9% | 44,131 | -486,262 |
| 2002 | +610.4% | 153,969 | 1.09 million |
| 1988 | +520.1% | -32,252 | 135,477 |
| 1984 | +470.9% | -73,395 | 272,237 |
| 1992 | +438.3% | 193,215 | 1.04 million |
| 1987 | -375.6% | -6,781 | -32,252 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 121,454 | 103,163 | 145,858 | 9 |
| 1960s | 214,815 | 165,778 | 260,493 | 10 |
| 1970s | 263,816 | 44,131 | 311,127 | 10 |
| 1980s | -178,149 | -1.23 million | 350,790 | 10 |
| 1990s | 801,369 | 171,575 | 1.66 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 757,830 | 153,969 | 1.35 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.04 million | 817,986 | 1.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 899,659 | 578,437 | 1.21 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More population data for Afghanistan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2412 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,075 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Population density 199.65 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.03 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Afghanistan?
- Annual population growth in Afghanistan was 875,915 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.66 million in 1993.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.23 million in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for annual population growth?
- Afghanistan ranks 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).