Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Afghanistan, 1970–2024
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 20th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.4% | — |
| 1971 | 2.4% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 2.5% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 2.4% | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | -8.4% |
| 1977 | 2.1% | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 2.0% | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -83.9% |
| 1980 | -3.6% | -1220.3% |
| 1981 | -9.8% | +170.8% |
| 1982 | -8.3% | -15.9% |
| 1983 | -0.7% | -91.9% |
| 1984 | 2.5% | -467.6% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | -15.0% |
| 1986 | -0.1% | -102.8% |
| 1987 | -0.3% | +376.7% |
| 1988 | 1.2% | -518.1% |
| 1989 | 3.0% | +153.6% |
| 1990 | 1.4% | -52.2% |
| 1991 | 1.6% | +10.9% |
| 1992 | 8.2% | +412.6% |
| 1993 | 11.8% | +44.8% |
| 1994 | 8.4% | -29.0% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -41.7% |
| 1996 | 4.0% | -18.2% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | -67.5% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | -37.1% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | +589.2% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | +17.0% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | -41.8% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 4.1% | +16.3% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -53.8% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +66.8% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -19.5% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | +25.8% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | -15.6% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | -14.1% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -18.7% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 2.4% | -25.3% |
| 2022 | 1.4% | -39.1% |
| 2023 | 2.1% | +48.7% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +32.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 2.8% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 2.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 | -1220.3% | 0.3% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | +589.2% | 0.8% | 5.3% |
| 1988 | +518.1% | -0.3% | 1.2% |
| 1984 | +467.6% | -0.7% | 2.5% |
| 1992 | +412.6% | 1.6% | 8.2% |
| 1987 | -376.7% | -0.1% | -0.3% |
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 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 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 20th out of 215 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 · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release