Share of population living in the capital city in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Share of population living in the capital city was 13.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in Afghanistan, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 13.4% for share of population living in the capital city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Afghanistan peaked at 15.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1950.
Afghanistan ranks 111th of 170 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 the capital city in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.4% | — |
| 1955 | 3.8% | +11.6% |
| 1960 | 4.3% | +13.2% |
| 1965 | 4.7% | +10.6% |
| 1970 | 5.2% | +9.2% |
| 1975 | 6.0% | +15.6% |
| 1980 | 8.5% | +43.0% |
| 1985 | 12.8% | +50.3% |
| 1990 | 15.7% | +22.6% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | -18.4% |
| 2000 | 13.5% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 13.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 13.3% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 12.7% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 13.4% | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 10.7% | 8.5% | 12.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.3% | 12.9% | 15.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.5% | 13.4% | 13.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.0% | 12.7% | 13.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 108 Burkina Faso 13.7% compare
- 109 Namibia 13.4% compare
- 110 Tajikistan 13.4% compare
- 112 Cambodia 13.3% compare
- 113 Lesotho 12.4% compare
- 114 Madagascar 12.2% compare
More population data for Afghanistan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2115 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 9.03 million people (2100)
- Population density 199.65 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2522 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in Afghanistan?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Afghanistan was 13.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1950.
- How does Afghanistan rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Afghanistan ranks 111th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. 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 minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.