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Afghanistan

Afghanistan's population is 43,844,111 (2025) — the 36th-largest in the world and the 15th-largest in Asia, growing by about 1,196,619 people a year.

44,511,626
Population right now, ticking live from the last confirmed count.▲ growing43,844,111 (World Bank, 2025) + +1,196,619/year × elapsed time since 2025-12-31 — open formula, updates every ticksource: World Bank · indicator year: 2025 · method: estimated, annual · license: CC BY 4.0 · 1 in 187 on Earth

Afghanistan Facts at a Glance

Five numbers that summarise the country — population trend, rank, density, wealth, share of humanity.
Population2025
43,844,111
World rank
#36
of 217 tracked geographies
Density
67.2 / km²
652,230 km² land area
Share of humanity
1 in 187 people on Earth lives in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Population Growth

Yes — Afghanistan's population rose by 1,196,619 people (+2.81%) between 2024 and 2025. The fertility rate is 4.8 births per woman. Net migration was negative in the latest year on record.

You, in Afghanistan

A personal read on the numbers above — nothing is stored, it never leaves your browser.

Enter a birth year between 1960 and 2025 to see where you'd land.

Afghanistan Demographics

Every indicator has its own source and dataset year — shown honestly rather than smoothed into one.
Population density2025
67.2 people / km²
652,230 km² land area, 2025
Median age2025
18.3 years
half the population is older, half younger
Life expectancy2024
66.3 years
M 64.7 · F 67.8
Average height2019
168.5 cm (male)
female 156.1 cm
Homicide rate2021
4.0 per 100,000
#113 safest of 196
Air quality (PM2.5)2023
38.0 µg/m³
lower is cleaner
Urban population2025
25.9 %
share living in cities
Fertility rate2025
4.8 births / woman
replacement level ≈ 2.1
Net migration2025
−74,404 people
negative in latest year

Afghanistan in World Rankings

Every world ranking we publish, where this country sits in each one, and its overall percentile profile.
Population43,844,111 people
#36 / 217
→
Life expectancy66.3 years
#184 / 217
→
Average height168.5 cm (male)
#158 / 200
→
Cleanest air37.95 µg/m³ PM2.5
#175 / 200
→
Safest countries4 homicides / 100k
#113 / 196
→
Most dangerous4 homicides / 100k
#83 / 196
→
PopulationLife expectancyAverage heightCleanest airSafest countriesMost dangerous
Percentile in each ranking — further from centre is a higher rank (closer to #1).

Population, 1960 to 2025

66 years of estimates from the same source.
8,899,51717,745,27626,591,03535,436,79344,282,552196019761993200920251960: 9,035,0431965: 10,036,0081970: 11,290,1281975: 12,773,9541980: 13,169,3111985: 11,426,8521990: 12,045,6601995: 17,065,8362000: 20,130,3272005: 24,404,5672010: 28,284,0892015: 33,831,7642020: 39,068,9792025: 43,844,111
Source: World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL) · annual estimates, 1960–2025 · hover the line for any year.

Age & sex structure

17 five-year bands, male and female, 2025.
Male — 22,142,575Female — 21,701,531
0-4 · Male: 3,522,9820-4 · Female: 3,374,8500-45-9 · Male: 3,172,5125-9 · Female: 3,036,0765-910-14 · Male: 2,841,95310-14 · Female: 2,712,08410-1415-19 · Male: 2,496,38815-19 · Female: 2,375,40015-1920-24 · Male: 2,224,21420-24 · Female: 2,128,45320-2425-29 · Male: 1,886,32125-29 · Female: 1,835,98725-2930-34 · Male: 1,500,23830-34 · Female: 1,477,14930-3435-39 · Male: 1,142,59635-39 · Female: 1,128,96135-3940-44 · Male: 885,40640-44 · Female: 877,31940-4445-49 · Male: 729,16545-49 · Female: 728,39645-4950-54 · Male: 574,49650-54 · Female: 593,03850-5455-59 · Male: 422,23555-59 · Female: 466,37255-5960-64 · Male: 293,63260-64 · Female: 354,41160-6465-69 · Male: 200,95065-69 · Female: 257,90765-6970-74 · Male: 128,50770-74 · Female: 173,06070-7475-79 · Male: 73,81275-79 · Female: 109,45975-7980+ · Male: 47,16880+ · Female: 72,60980+

Largest cities

By population, GeoNames city-proper figures (not metro area).
1
Kabul
4,434,550
2
Herāt
574,300
3
Mazār-e Sharīf
523,300
4
Kandahār
523,300
5
Jalālābād
271,900
6
Kunduz
161,902
7
Ghazni
141,000
8
Balkh
114,883
9
Baghlān
108,449
10
Gardez
103,601
11
Khōst
96,123
12
Maymana
75,900

Where is Afghanistan Located?

Capital
Kabul
Currency
Afghani (AFN)
Language(s)
Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, Turkmen
Region
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Continent
48 countries in Asia →
Land area
652,230 km²
Area (GeoNames)
647,500 km²
Borders
6 countries
Shares a border with
TurkmenistanChinaIranTajikistanPakistanUzbekistan
AfghanistanAfghanistanVS
Compare →

Explore Afghanistan in Every Ranking

Jump straight to the full world table for any of these indicators.
#36
Population
43,844,111 people · of 217
#184
Life expectancy
66.3 years · of 217
#158
Average height
168.5 cm (male) · of 200
#175
Cleanest air
37.95 µg/m³ PM2.5 · of 200
#113
Safest countries
4 homicides / 100k · of 196

Frequently asked

What is the population of Afghanistan?
Afghanistan's population is 43,844,111 as of 2025 (World Bank estimate), ranking #36 of 217 countries and territories by population.
How many people live in Afghanistan?
43,844,111 people, as of the 2025 World Bank estimate — the most recent figure this page tracks.
What is Afghanistan's population density?
67.2 people per km², based on a land area of 652,230 km².
What is Afghanistan ranked in population worldwide?
#36 of 217 countries and territories by population — see the full ranking table for every country's position.
What is the life expectancy in Afghanistan?
66.3 years on average (2024) — 64.7 for men, 67.8 for women.

Sources

World Bank Open Data
CC BY 4.0 · population, GDP, life expectancy, homicide, PM2.5, vitals
data.worldbank.org →
NCD-RisC / The Lancet
CC BY 4.0 · pooled measured-height and life-expectancy studies
ncdrisc.org →
GeoNames
CC BY 4.0 · cities, geographic passport
geonames.org →