Total population (thousands) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Total population (thousands) was 43,250 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
43,250 thousands
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
36th
of 233 countries
All-time high
43,250 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
10,872 thousands
in 1983
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Afghanistan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Afghanistan stood at 43,250 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Afghanistan peaked at 43,250 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10,872 thousands, in 1983.
Afghanistan ranks 36th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,150 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 11,430 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 11,705 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 12,002 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 12,314 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 12,624 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 12,924 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 13,196 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 13,486 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 13,737 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 13,574 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 12,765 thousands | -6.0% |
| 1982 | 11,110 thousands | -13.0% |
| 1983 | 10,872 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 10,964 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 11,417 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 11,437 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 11,403 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 11,372 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 11,674 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 12,074 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 12,018 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 12,460 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 14,098 thousands | +13.1% |
| 1994 | 15,789 thousands | +12.0% |
| 1995 | 16,713 thousands | +5.9% |
| 1996 | 17,419 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 18,108 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 18,796 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 19,524 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 20,252 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 20,009 thousands | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 20,560 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 22,196 thousands | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 23,270 thousands | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 23,852 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 24,958 thousands | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 25,891 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 25,929 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 27,036 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 27,896 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 28,672 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 30,023 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 31,097 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 32,149 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 33,436 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 34,227 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 35,174 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 36,204 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 37,282 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 38,430 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 39,708 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 40,293 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 40,865 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 42,045 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 43,250 thousands | +2.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 43,250 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 43,250 thousands is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,575 thousands, 3.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12,457 thousands | 11,150 thousands | 13,737 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,659 thousands | 10,872 thousands | 13,574 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 15,700 thousands | 12,018 thousands | 19,524 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,395 thousands | 20,009 thousands | 27,036 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 32,616 thousands | 27,896 thousands | 37,282 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,765 thousands | 38,430 thousands | 43,250 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Afghanistan?
- Total population in Afghanistan was 43,250 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 43,250 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,872 thousands in 1983.
- How does Afghanistan rank for total population?
- Afghanistan ranks 36th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release