Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 39.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan is 39.7%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan peaked at 39.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.6%, in 1950.
Afghanistan ranks 99th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.6% | — |
| 1955 | 13.6% | +17.4% |
| 1960 | 14.7% | +7.8% |
| 1965 | 17.3% | +17.9% |
| 1970 | 21.3% | +22.9% |
| 1975 | 23.9% | +12.0% |
| 1980 | 24.5% | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 25.1% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 27.9% | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 27.3% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 28.8% | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 31.9% | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 33.9% | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 36.3% | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 39.7% | +9.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.6% | 11.6% | 13.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 16.0% | 14.7% | 17.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 22.6% | 21.3% | 23.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 24.8% | 24.5% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 27.6% | 27.3% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.4% | 28.8% | 31.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 35.1% | 33.9% | 36.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.7% | 39.7% | 39.7% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Afghanistan was 39.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 39.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.6% in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Afghanistan ranks 99th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.