Rural population in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Rural population was 72.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Afghanistan, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Afghanistan is 72.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Afghanistan peaked at 88.4% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 72.7%, in 2024.
Afghanistan ranks 21st of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 88.4% | — |
| 1971 | 88.0% | -0.4% |
| 1972 | 87.6% | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 87.2% | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 86.8% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 86.4% | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 85.9% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 85.5% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 85.0% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 84.6% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 84.0% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 83.4% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 82.9% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 82.3% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 81.6% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 81.0% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 80.4% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 79.7% | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 79.0% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 78.9% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 78.8% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 78.7% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 78.6% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 78.6% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 78.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 78.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 78.3% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 78.2% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 78.1% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 78.0% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 77.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 77.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 77.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 77.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 77.5% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 77.3% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 77.1% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 76.9% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 76.7% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 76.5% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 76.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 76.1% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 75.8% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 75.6% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 75.4% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 75.0% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 74.8% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 74.5% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 74.2% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 74.0% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 73.7% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 73.4% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 73.1% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 72.7% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 86.5% | 84.6% | 88.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 81.3% | 78.9% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.4% | 78.0% | 78.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.3% | 76.5% | 77.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.3% | 74.2% | 76.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.4% | 72.7% | 74.0% | 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 rural population in Afghanistan?
- Rural population in Afghanistan was 72.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 88.4% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.7% in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for rural population?
- Afghanistan ranks 21st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release