The population of Afghanistan is expected to grow by 1,202,958 in 2026 and reach 46,258,906 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 53,884 people yearly. On average there are 1,524,348 births and 249,771 deaths in Afghanistan per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.83 percent per year. The population density of Afghanistan has changed from 20.2 in 1980 to 65.4 in 2024.
| Current population | 46,089,581 people at present (Tuesday 10th of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 22.3 years |
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | |
| Population density | 69.4 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 45,047,069 | 1,202,958 (2.7%) | -53,884 | 22.3 | 4.58 | 69 | 11,807,012 (26.2%) |
| 2025 | 43,844,111 | 1,196,619 (2.7%) | -74,404 | 22.1 | 4.67 | 68 | 11,373,235 (25.9%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -44,089 | 22.0 | 4.76 | 65 | 10,960,719 (25.7%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -48,958 | 21.8 | 4.84 | 64 | 10,559,793 (25.5%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -647,402 | 21.7 | 4.93 | 62 | 10,304,561 (25.4%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -548,784 | 21.6 | 5.04 | 61 | 10,139,249 (25.3%) |
| 2020 | 39,068,979 | 1,212,858 (3.1%) | 143,634 | 21.5 | 5.15 | 60 | 9,869,688 (25.3%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 9,159 | 21.3 | 5.24 | 58 | 9,518,439 (25.1%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -36,753 | 21.2 | 5.33 | 56 | 9,185,453 (25.0%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -71,491 | 21.1 | 5.43 | 55 | 8,863,448 (24.8%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -143,049 | 21.0 | 5.54 | 53 | 8,556,767 (24.7%) |
| 2015 | 33,831,764 | 1,039,241 (3.1%) | -286,314 | 20.9 | 5.65 | 52 | 8,276,911 (24.5%) |
| 2010 | 28,284,089 | 817,988 (2.9%) | -167,460 | 20.4 | 6.20 | 43 | 6,296,457 (22.3%) |
| 2005 | 24,404,567 | 843,913 (3.5%) | 250,971 | 20.1 | 6.86 | 37 | 4,809,142 (19.7%) |
| 2000 | 20,130,327 | 242,542 (1.2%) | -1,025,973 | 20.1 | 7.57 | 31 | 3,735,826 (18.6%) |
| 1995 | 17,065,836 | 815,042 (4.8%) | 52,505 | 20.4 | 7.77 | 26 | 3,043,587 (17.8%) |
| 1990 | 12,045,660 | 171,572 (1.4%) | -458,737 | 20.8 | 7.58 | 18 | 2,079,567 (17.3%) |
| 1985 | 11,426,852 | 236,631 (2.1%) | -208,685 | 21.2 | 7.55 | 18 | 1,899,310 (16.6%) |
| 1980 | 13,169,311 | -486,256 (-3.7%) | -1,174,239 | 21.7 | 7.64 | 20 | 2,065,080 (15.7%) |
| 1975 | 12,773,954 | 304,827 (2.4%) | -44,418 | 22.1 | 7.54 | 20 | 1,759,081 (13.8%) |
| 1970 | 11,290,128 | 272,719 (2.4%) | 4,458 | 22.5 | 7.40 | 17 | 1,267,855 (11.2%) |
| 1965 | 10,036,008 | 221,690 (2.2%) | 10,695 | 22.8 | 7.31 | 15 | 956,366 (9.5%) |
| 1960 | 9,035,043 | 179,040 (1.9%) | 2,606 | 23.1 | 7.28 | 14 | 733,876 (8.1%) |
In 2025 the population of Afghanistan was 43,844,111 and the average age decreased from 23.1 in 1960 to 22.1. Urban population has increased from 3,735,826 (18.6%) in 2000 to 11,807,012 (26.2%) in the current year. The population density of Afghanistan has changed from 20.2 in 1980 to 65.4 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 143,634 | 21.5 | 5.15 | 60 | 9,869,688 (25.3%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -74,404 | 22.1 | 4.67 | 68 | 11,373,235 (25.9%) |
| 2030 | 50,039,402 | 1,313,685 (2.6%) | 20,392 | 22.9 | 4.22 | 77 | 13,807,611 (27.6%) |
| 2035 | 56,647,232 | 1,287,768 (2.3%) | -79,582 | 23.9 | 3.89 | 87 | 16,983,153 (30.0%) |
| 2040 | 63,347,870 | 1,403,398 (2.2%) | 33,259 | 24.9 | 3.56 | 98 | 20,946,113 (33.1%) |
| 2045 | 70,021,200 | 1,317,242 (1.9%) | -76,758 | 26.0 | 3.30 | 108 | 25,775,718 (36.8%) |
| 2050 | 76,885,135 | 1,369,533 (1.8%) | -123,627 | 27.2 | 3.09 | 118 | 31,663,293 (41.2%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 70.9 (69.0 years for male and 72.9 years for females). Population density will go up to 118.4 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 2.74% (1,196,619 residents, including 243,176 deaths). The demographics of Afghanistan constitutes of 22,291,409 women and 22,755,660 men, which means there are 1,021 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 53.3% of population (24,005,583) is 19 or younger, 44.3% of population (19,937,833) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.5% of population (1,108,158) is over 65.