Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 1,044 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1,044 thousands
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
76th
of 233 countries
All-time high
1,044 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
255.37 thousands
in 1988
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Afghanistan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, population aged 65 years or older in Afghanistan stood at 1,044 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Afghanistan peaked at 1,044 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 255.37 thousands, in 1988.
Afghanistan ranks 76th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 298.72 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 304.48 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 309.91 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 315.74 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 321.97 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 328.29 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 334.43 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 340.02 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 346.16 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 350.52 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 343.19 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 319.74 thousands | -6.8% |
| 1982 | 275.57 thousands | -13.8% |
| 1983 | 265.38 thousands | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 263.78 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 267.67 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 261.65 thousands | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 258.41 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 255.37 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 261.83 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 270.81 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 269.49 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 279.32 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 316.16 thousands | +13.2% |
| 1994 | 355.41 thousands | +12.4% |
| 1995 | 377.25 thousands | +6.1% |
| 1996 | 393.94 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 410.07 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 425.76 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 441.82 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 458.22 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 452.47 thousands | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 465.18 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 502.81 thousands | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 527.79 thousands | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 541.23 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 566.62 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 588.54 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 590.99 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 618.51 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 641.38 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 663.43 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 699.56 thousands | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 729.37 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 756.75 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 788.78 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 805.84 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 828.9 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 855.42 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 884.08 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 914.96 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 937.48 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 944.58 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 966.8 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 1,004 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 1,044 thousands | +3.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 1,044 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 589.35 thousands, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 1,044 thousands is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,028 thousands, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 325.02 thousands | 298.72 thousands | 350.52 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 277.26 thousands | 255.37 thousands | 343.19 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 354 thousands | 269.49 thousands | 441.82 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 531.23 thousands | 452.47 thousands | 618.51 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 765.35 thousands | 641.38 thousands | 884.08 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 968.62 thousands | 914.96 thousands | 1,044 thousands | 6 |
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)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 199.65 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.03 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in Afghanistan?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Afghanistan was 1,044 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1,044 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 255.37 thousands in 1988.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Afghanistan ranks 76th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release