Population growth in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population growth was 2.8% in 2024. β Volatile
Population growth in Afghanistan, 1970β2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Afghanistan is 2.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 32.8% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Afghanistan peaked at 11.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -9.8%, in 1981.
Afghanistan ranks 19th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.1% | 0.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.4% | -9.8% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.2% | 1.4% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2% | 0.8% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.5% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 1.4% | 3.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More population data for Afghanistan
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.424 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 9.03 million (2100)
- Population density 199.65 (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.424 (2100)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 4.76 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 20,866 (2024)
- Fertility vs unmet contraception 4.76 (2024)
- Fertility vs contraception 4.76 (2024)
- Natural population growth 2.96 (2023)
- Fertility rate with projections 4.84 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Afghanistan?
- Population growth in Afghanistan was 2.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.8% in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population growth?
- Afghanistan ranks 19th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release