Population growth rates in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population growth rates was 2.85 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.85
Change on year
up 101.8%
World rank
18th
of 236 countries
All-time high
12.35
in 1992
All-time low
-13.88
in 1981
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rates in Afghanistan, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rates in Afghanistan is 2.85, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 101.8% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rates in Afghanistan peaked at 12.35 in 1992 and was at its lowest, -13.88, in 1981.
Afghanistan ranks 18th of 236 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 rates in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.27 | — |
| 1951 | 1.36 | +6.7% |
| 1952 | 1.37 | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 1.33 | -2.8% |
| 1954 | 1.39 | +4.4% |
| 1955 | 1.49 | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 1.55 | +4.4% |
| 1957 | 1.6 | +3.0% |
| 1958 | 1.52 | -4.4% |
| 1959 | 1.79 | +17.3% |
| 1960 | 1.91 | +6.9% |
| 1961 | 2.01 | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 2.08 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2.13 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 2.19 | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 2.28 | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 2.26 | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 2.35 | +3.8% |
| 1968 | 2.37 | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 2.41 | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 2.48 | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 2.38 | -3.8% |
| 1972 | 2.5 | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 2.57 | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.49 | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 2.34 | -5.8% |
| 1976 | 2.09 | -11.0% |
| 1977 | 2.17 | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 1.85 | -14.7% |
| 1979 | -1.2 | -164.8% |
| 1980 | -6.14 | +412.4% |
| 1981 | -13.88 | +126.0% |
| 1982 | -2.16 | -84.4% |
| 1983 | 0.833 | -138.5% |
| 1984 | 4.05 | +386.6% |
| 1985 | 0.173 | -95.7% |
| 1986 | -0.292 | -268.8% |
| 1987 | -0.274 | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 2.62 | -1056.9% |
| 1989 | 3.36 | +28.3% |
| 1990 | -0.467 | -113.9% |
| 1991 | 3.62 | -874.7% |
| 1992 | 12.35 | +241.3% |
| 1993 | 11.33 | -8.3% |
| 1994 | 5.69 | -49.8% |
| 1995 | 4.14 | -27.3% |
| 1996 | 3.88 | -6.2% |
| 1997 | 3.73 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 3.8 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.66 | -3.5% |
| 2000 | -1.21 | -133.0% |
| 2001 | 2.72 | -325.0% |
| 2002 | 7.66 | +181.8% |
| 2003 | 4.72 | -38.3% |
| 2004 | 2.47 | -47.7% |
| 2005 | 4.53 | +83.6% |
| 2006 | 3.67 | -19.0% |
| 2007 | 0.149 | -95.9% |
| 2008 | 4.18 | +2706.0% |
| 2009 | 3.13 | -25.1% |
| 2010 | 2.74 | -12.4% |
| 2011 | 4.61 | +67.8% |
| 2012 | 3.51 | -23.7% |
| 2013 | 3.33 | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 3.93 | +18.0% |
| 2015 | 2.34 | -40.5% |
| 2016 | 2.73 | +16.8% |
| 2017 | 2.88 | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 2.94 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.03 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 3.27 | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 1.46 | -55.3% |
| 2022 | 1.41 | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 2.85 | +101.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 2.85 is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.71, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 2.85 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.6, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rates 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +2706.0% | 0.149 | 4.18 |
| 1988 | +1056.9% | -0.274 | 2.62 |
| 1991 | +874.7% | -0.467 | 3.62 |
| 1980 | -412.4% | -1.2 | -6.14 |
| 1984 | +386.6% | 0.833 | 4.05 |
| 2001 | +325.0% | -1.21 | 2.72 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.47 | 1.27 | 1.79 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.2 | 1.91 | 2.41 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.97 | -1.2 | 2.57 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.17 | -13.88 | 4.05 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.17 | -0.467 | 12.35 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.2 | -1.21 | 7.66 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2 | 2.34 | 4.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.25 | 1.41 | 3.27 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 15 Mauritania 2.95 compare
- 16 Mozambique 2.94 compare
- 17 Tanzania 2.88 compare
- 18 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 2.85 compare
- 20 Zambia 2.83 compare
- 21 Armenia 2.79 compare
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 rates in Afghanistan?
- Population growth rates in Afghanistan was 2.85 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.35 in 1992.
- What is the lowest population growth rates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.88 in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population growth rates?
- Afghanistan ranks 18th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rates rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. 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 Population growth rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).