Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of children, working-age adults, and older people was 985,584 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
985,584 people
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
79th
of 236 countries
All-time high
985,584 people
in 2023
All-time low
221,587 people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan stood at 985,584 people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan peaked at 985,584 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 221,587 people, in 1950.
That places Afghanistan 79th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 221,587 people | — |
| 1951 | 225,330 people | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 228,860 people | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 232,109 people | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 235,141 people | +1.3% |
| 1955 | 238,210 people | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 241,417 people | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 244,781 people | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 248,079 people | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 251,434 people | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 255,097 people | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 258,855 people | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 262,658 people | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 266,535 people | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 270,662 people | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 275,153 people | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 279,946 people | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 285,055 people | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 290,466 people | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 295,965 people | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 301,602 people | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 307,201 people | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 312,829 people | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 318,856 people | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 325,124 people | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 331,364 people | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 337,231 people | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 343,089 people | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 348,340 people | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 346,854 people | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 331,466 people | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 297,658 people | -10.2% |
| 1982 | 270,475 people | -9.1% |
| 1983 | 264,584 people | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 265,723 people | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 264,663 people | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 260,035 people | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 256,892 people | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 258,602 people | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 266,321 people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 270,155 people | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 274,405 people | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 297,746 people | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 335,789 people | +12.8% |
| 1994 | 366,336 people | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 385,598 people | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 402,004 people | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 417,919 people | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 433,795 people | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 450,020 people | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 455,343 people | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 458,817 people | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 483,992 people | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 515,291 people | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 534,500 people | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 553,917 people | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 577,570 people | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 589,754 people | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 604,740 people | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 629,932 people | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 652,394 people | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 681,479 people | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 714,450 people | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 743,044 people | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 772,749 people | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 797,292 people | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 817,349 people | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 842,143 people | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 869,729 people | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 899,496 people | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 926,198 people | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 941,008 people | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 955,675 people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 985,584 people | +3.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 985,584 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 571,728 people, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 985,584 people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 937,639 people, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 236,695 people | 221,587 people | 251,434 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 274,039 people | 255,097 people | 295,965 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 327,249 people | 301,602 people | 348,340 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 273,642 people | 256,892 people | 331,466 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 363,377 people | 270,155 people | 450,020 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 540,386 people | 455,343 people | 629,932 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 779,012 people | 652,394 people | 899,496 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 952,116 people | 926,198 people | 985,584 people | 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)
- 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 number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan?
- Number of children, working-age adults, and older people in Afghanistan was 985,584 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 985,584 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of children, working-age adults, and older people recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 221,587 people in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of children, working-age adults, and older people?
- Afghanistan ranks 79th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of children, working-age adults, and older people rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children, working-age adults, and older people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.