Population · Asia · 2025 data
Afghanistan Population
Afghanistan had a population of 43.84 million in 2025, ranking #36 of 216 countries and territories (0.54% of the world). The population grew by 29.6% over the past ten years.
Population of Afghanistan, 1960–2025
Values in millions · World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0)
Population by year (table)
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43,844,111 | +2.81% |
| 2024 | 42,647,492 | +2.88% |
| 2023 | 41,454,761 | +2.16% |
| 2022 | 40,578,842 | +1.45% |
| 2021 | 40,000,412 | +2.38% |
| 2020 | 39,068,979 | +3.20% |
| 2019 | 37,856,121 | +3.03% |
| 2018 | 36,743,039 | +2.95% |
| 2017 | 35,688,935 | +2.85% |
| 2016 | 34,700,612 | +2.57% |
| 2015 | 33,831,764 | +3.17% |
| 2014 | 32,792,523 | +3.70% |
| 2013 | 31,622,704 | +3.48% |
| 2012 | 30,560,034 | +4.13% |
| 2011 | 29,347,708 | +3.76% |
| 2010 | 28,284,089 | +2.98% |
| 2009 | 27,466,101 | +3.71% |
| 2008 | 26,482,622 | +2.21% |
| 2007 | 25,909,852 | +1.91% |
| 2006 | 25,424,094 | +4.18% |
| 2005 | 24,404,567 | +3.58% |
| 2004 | 23,560,654 | +3.64% |
| 2003 | 22,733,049 | +6.34% |
| 2002 | 21,378,117 | +5.39% |
| 2001 | 20,284,307 | +0.76% |
| 2000 | 20,130,327 | +1.22% |
| 1999 | 19,887,785 | +3.80% |
| 1998 | 19,159,996 | +3.84% |
| 1997 | 18,452,091 | +3.88% |
| 1996 | 17,763,266 | +4.09% |
| 1995 | 17,065,836 | +5.02% |
| 1994 | 16,250,794 | +8.75% |
| 1993 | 14,943,172 | +12.53% |
| 1992 | 13,278,974 | +8.50% |
| 1991 | 12,238,879 | +1.60% |
| 1990 | 12,045,660 | +1.44% |
| 1989 | 11,874,088 | +3.04% |
| 1988 | 11,523,298 | +1.19% |
| 1987 | 11,387,818 | -0.28% |
| 1986 | 11,420,074 | -0.06% |
| 1985 | 11,426,852 | +2.11% |
| 1984 | 11,190,221 | +2.49% |
| 1983 | 10,917,982 | -0.67% |
| 1982 | 10,991,378 | -7.93% |
| 1981 | 11,937,581 | -9.35% |
| 1980 | 13,169,311 | -3.56% |
| 1979 | 13,655,567 | +0.32% |
| 1978 | 13,611,441 | +2.03% |
| 1977 | 13,340,756 | +2.15% |
| 1976 | 13,059,851 | +2.24% |
| 1975 | 12,773,954 | +2.44% |
| 1974 | 12,469,127 | +2.56% |
| 1973 | 12,157,999 | +2.57% |
| 1972 | 11,853,696 | +2.47% |
| 1971 | 11,567,667 | +2.46% |
| 1970 | 11,290,128 | +2.48% |
| 1969 | 11,017,409 | +2.42% |
| 1968 | 10,756,922 | +2.39% |
| 1967 | 10,505,959 | +2.33% |
| 1966 | 10,266,395 | +2.30% |
| 1965 | 10,036,008 | +2.26% |
| 1964 | 9,814,318 | +2.18% |
| 1963 | 9,604,487 | +2.13% |
| 1962 | 9,404,406 | +2.07% |
| 1961 | 9,214,083 | +1.98% |
| 1960 | 9,035,043 | — |
Demographics of Afghanistan
Ethnic groups
current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups
Languages
Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.)
Religions
Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
Where people live
Urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023).
Largest cities
Afghanistan and its neighbours
Frequently asked questions about the population of Afghanistan
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Is the population of Afghanistan growing?
How has the population of Afghanistan changed since 1960?
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Population and demographics: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Cities, ethnic groups, languages and religions: CIA World Factbook (public domain).