Population in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population was 41.45 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
41.45 million people
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
37th
of 239 countries
All-time high
41.45 million people
in 2023
All-time low
1.75 million people
in 1300
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Afghanistan, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Afghanistan stood at 41.45 million people. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Afghanistan peaked at 41.45 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.75 million people, in 1300.
That places Afghanistan 37th out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.25 million people | — |
| 1100 | 2.38 million people | +5.6% |
| 1200 | 2.50 million people | +5.3% |
| 1300 | 1.75 million people | -30.0% |
| 1400 | 1.88 million people | +7.1% |
| 1500 | 2.00 million people | +6.7% |
| 1600 | 2.50 million people | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 2.50 million people | +0.0% |
| 1710 | 2.56 million people | +2.5% |
| 1720 | 2.62 million people | +2.3% |
| 1730 | 2.68 million people | +2.3% |
| 1740 | 2.74 million people | +2.3% |
| 1750 | 2.80 million people | +2.3% |
| 1760 | 2.87 million people | +2.3% |
| 1770 | 2.93 million people | +2.3% |
| 1780 | 3.00 million people | +2.3% |
| 1790 | 3.07 million people | +2.3% |
| 1800 | 3.28 million people | +7.0% |
| 1801 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 3.28 million people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 3.28 million people | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 3.29 million people | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 3.30 million people | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 3.31 million people | +0.4% |
| 1823 | 3.32 million people | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 3.34 million people | +0.4% |
| 1825 | 3.35 million people | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 3.37 million people | +0.4% |
| 1827 | 3.38 million people | +0.4% |
| 1828 | 3.40 million people | +0.4% |
| 1829 | 3.41 million people | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 3.43 million people | +0.4% |
| 1831 | 3.45 million people | +0.4% |
| 1832 | 3.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 1833 | 3.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 1834 | 3.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1835 | 3.51 million people | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 3.52 million people | +0.4% |
| 1837 | 3.54 million people | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 3.55 million people | +0.4% |
| 1839 | 3.57 million people | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 3.59 million people | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 3.60 million people | +0.4% |
| 1842 | 3.62 million people | +0.4% |
| 1843 | 3.63 million people | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 3.65 million people | +0.4% |
| 1845 | 3.67 million people | +0.4% |
| 1846 | 3.68 million people | +0.4% |
| 1847 | 3.70 million people | +0.4% |
| 1848 | 3.72 million people | +0.4% |
| 1849 | 3.73 million people | +0.5% |
| 1850 | 3.75 million people | +0.5% |
| 1851 | 3.77 million people | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 3.78 million people | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 3.80 million people | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 3.82 million people | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 3.84 million people | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 3.85 million people | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 3.87 million people | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 3.89 million people | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 3.90 million people | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 3.92 million people | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 3.94 million people | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 3.96 million people | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 3.98 million people | +0.4% |
| 1864 | 3.99 million people | +0.4% |
| 1865 | 4.01 million people | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 4.03 million people | +0.4% |
| 1867 | 4.05 million people | +0.4% |
| 1868 | 4.06 million people | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 4.08 million people | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 4.10 million people | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 4.12 million people | +0.4% |
| 1872 | 4.14 million people | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 4.16 million people | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 4.17 million people | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 4.19 million people | +0.4% |
| 1876 | 4.21 million people | +0.4% |
| 1877 | 4.23 million people | +0.4% |
| 1878 | 4.25 million people | +0.4% |
| 1879 | 4.27 million people | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 4.29 million people | +0.4% |
| 1881 | 4.31 million people | +0.4% |
| 1882 | 4.33 million people | +0.4% |
| 1883 | 4.35 million people | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 4.36 million people | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 4.38 million people | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 4.40 million people | +0.4% |
| 1887 | 4.42 million people | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 4.44 million people | +0.4% |
| 1889 | 4.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 1890 | 4.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 1891 | 4.50 million people | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 4.52 million people | +0.4% |
| 1893 | 4.54 million people | +0.4% |
| 1894 | 4.56 million people | +0.4% |
| 1895 | 4.58 million people | +0.4% |
| 1896 | 4.60 million people | +0.4% |
| 1897 | 4.62 million people | +0.4% |
| 1898 | 4.64 million people | +0.4% |
| 1899 | 4.67 million people | +0.6% |
| 1900 | 4.71 million people | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 4.75 million people | +0.9% |
| 1902 | 4.80 million people | +1.1% |
| 1903 | 4.86 million people | +1.2% |
| 1904 | 4.92 million people | +1.2% |
| 1905 | 4.98 million people | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 5.04 million people | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 5.11 million people | +1.2% |
| 1908 | 5.17 million people | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 5.30 million people | +2.5% |
| 1910 | 5.50 million people | +3.8% |
| 1911 | 5.79 million people | +5.2% |
| 1912 | 6.16 million people | +6.4% |
| 1913 | 6.62 million people | +7.5% |
| 1914 | 7.12 million people | +7.5% |
| 1915 | 7.65 million people | +7.5% |
| 1916 | 8.23 million people | +7.5% |
| 1917 | 8.85 million people | +7.5% |
| 1918 | 9.53 million people | +7.7% |
| 1919 | 9.98 million people | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 10.19 million people | +2.1% |
| 1921 | 10.16 million people | -0.3% |
| 1922 | 9.89 million people | -2.7% |
| 1923 | 9.37 million people | -5.2% |
| 1924 | 8.88 million people | -5.2% |
| 1925 | 8.42 million people | -5.2% |
| 1926 | 7.97 million people | -5.2% |
| 1927 | 7.56 million people | -5.2% |
| 1928 | 7.16 million people | -5.2% |
| 1929 | 6.85 million people | -4.3% |
| 1930 | 6.63 million people | -3.3% |
| 1931 | 6.48 million people | -2.2% |
| 1932 | 6.41 million people | -1.1% |
| 1933 | 6.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 6.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 6.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 6.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 6.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 6.41 million people | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 6.43 million people | +0.3% |
| 1940 | 6.47 million people | +0.6% |
| 1941 | 6.53 million people | +0.9% |
| 1942 | 6.61 million people | +1.2% |
| 1943 | 6.71 million people | +1.5% |
| 1944 | 6.81 million people | +1.5% |
| 1945 | 6.92 million people | +1.5% |
| 1946 | 7.02 million people | +1.5% |
| 1947 | 7.13 million people | +1.5% |
| 1948 | 7.24 million people | +1.5% |
| 1949 | 7.36 million people | +1.6% |
| 1950 | 7.78 million people | +5.7% |
| 1951 | 7.88 million people | +1.3% |
| 1952 | 7.99 million people | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 8.10 million people | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 8.21 million people | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 8.33 million people | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 8.45 million people | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 8.59 million people | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 8.72 million people | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 8.87 million people | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 9.04 million people | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 9.21 million people | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 9.40 million people | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 9.60 million people | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 9.81 million people | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 10.04 million people | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 10.27 million people | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 10.51 million people | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 10.76 million people | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 11.02 million people | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 11.29 million people | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 11.57 million people | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 11.85 million people | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 12.16 million people | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 12.47 million people | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 12.77 million people | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 13.06 million people | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 13.34 million people | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 13.61 million people | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 13.66 million people | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 13.17 million people | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 11.94 million people | -9.4% |
| 1982 | 10.99 million people | -7.9% |
| 1983 | 10.92 million people | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 11.19 million people | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 11.43 million people | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 11.42 million people | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 11.39 million people | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 11.52 million people | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 11.87 million people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 12.05 million people | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 12.24 million people | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 13.28 million people | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 14.94 million people | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 16.25 million people | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 17.07 million people | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 17.76 million people | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 18.45 million people | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 19.16 million people | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 19.89 million people | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 20.13 million people | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 20.28 million people | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 21.38 million people | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 22.73 million people | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 23.56 million people | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 24.40 million people | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 25.42 million people | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 25.91 million people | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 26.48 million people | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 27.47 million people | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 28.28 million people | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 29.35 million people | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 30.56 million people | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 31.62 million people | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 32.79 million people | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 33.83 million people | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 34.70 million people | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 35.69 million people | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 36.74 million people | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 37.86 million people | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 39.07 million people | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 40.00 million people | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 40.58 million people | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 41.45 million people | +2.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 41.45 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 41.45 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.44 million people, 3.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | -30.0% | 2.50 million people | 1.75 million people |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 2.00 million people | 2.50 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.25 million people | 2.25 million people | 2.25 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 2.38 million people | 2.38 million people | 2.38 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.50 million people | 2.50 million people | 2.50 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.75 million people | 1.75 million people | 1.75 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.00 million people | 2.00 million people | 2.00 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.50 million people | 2.50 million people | 2.50 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.50 million people | 2.50 million people | 2.50 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.56 million people | 2.56 million people | 2.56 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.62 million people | 2.62 million people | 2.62 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.68 million people | 2.68 million people | 2.68 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.74 million people | 2.74 million people | 2.74 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.80 million people | 2.80 million people | 2.80 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.87 million people | 2.87 million people | 2.87 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.93 million people | 2.93 million people | 2.93 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.00 million people | 3.00 million people | 3.00 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.07 million people | 3.07 million people | 3.07 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.28 million people | 3.28 million people | 3.28 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 3.28 million people | 3.28 million people | 3.28 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 3.35 million people | 3.29 million people | 3.41 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 3.50 million people | 3.43 million people | 3.57 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 3.66 million people | 3.59 million people | 3.73 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 3.83 million people | 3.75 million people | 3.90 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.00 million people | 3.92 million people | 4.08 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.18 million people | 4.10 million people | 4.27 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 4.37 million people | 4.29 million people | 4.46 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.57 million people | 4.48 million people | 4.67 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.96 million people | 4.71 million people | 5.30 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 7.54 million people | 5.50 million people | 9.98 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 8.65 million people | 6.85 million people | 10.19 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 6.44 million people | 6.41 million people | 6.63 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.88 million people | 6.47 million people | 7.36 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 8.29 million people | 7.78 million people | 8.87 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.97 million people | 9.04 million people | 11.02 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.58 million people | 11.29 million people | 13.66 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.58 million people | 10.92 million people | 13.17 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.11 million people | 12.05 million people | 19.89 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.78 million people | 20.13 million people | 27.47 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.14 million people | 28.28 million people | 37.86 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.28 million people | 39.07 million people | 41.45 million 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 population in Afghanistan?
- Population in Afghanistan was 41.45 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 41.45 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.75 million people in 1300.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population?
- Afghanistan ranks 37th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.