The population of Afghanistan is expected to grow by 868,000 in 2025 and reach 43,254,000 in 2026. Migration (including immigration and emigration) decreases population by 60,000 people yearly. On average there are 1,169,994 births and 244,452 deaths in Afghanistan per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 2.18 percent per year. The population density of Afghanistan has changed from 20.3 in 1980 to 62.3 in 2023.
| Current population | 42,575,436 people at present (Thursday 20th of March 2025) | |
| Median Age | 23.8 years |
| Life expectancy | 66.6 years | |
| Population density | 64.9 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42,388,000 | 868,000 (2.1%) | -60,000 | 23.8 | 3.43 | 65 | 13,303,000 (31.4%) |
| 2024 | 41,520,000 | 871,000 (2.1%) | -60,000 | 23.5 | 64 | 12,821,000 (30.9%) | |
| 2023 | 40,649,000 | 870,000 (2.1%) | -60,000 | 23.3 | 62 | 12,350,000 (30.4%) | |
| 2022 | 39,779,000 | 865,000 (2.2%) | -60,000 | 23.1 | 61 | 11,890,000 (29.9%) | |
| 2021 | 38,914,000 | 859,000 (2.2%) | -60,000 | 22.8 | 60 | 11,445,000 (29.4%) | |
| 2020 | 38,055,000 | 846,000 (2.2%) | -60,000 | 22.7 | 4.04 | 58 | 11,012,000 (28.9%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -60,000 | 22.4 | 4.19 | 57 | 10,595,000 (28.5%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -60,000 | 22.3 | 4.34 | 56 | 10,191,000 (28.0%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -60,000 | 22.1 | 4.50 | 54 | 9,796,000 (27.6%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -60,000 | 21.9 | 4.65 | 53 | 9,402,875 (27.1%) |
| 2015 | 33,736,494 | 978,474 (2.9%) | -60,000 | 21.7 | 4.80 | 52 | 9,008,656 (26.7%) |
| 2010 | 28,803,167 | 798,836 (2.8%) | 89,601 | 20.9 | 5.82 | 44 | 7,111,214 (24.7%) |
| 2005 | 25,070,798 | 951,819 (3.8%) | -155,499 | 20.6 | 6.83 | 38 | 5,739,959 (22.9%) |
| 2000 | 20,093,756 | 690,080 (3.4%) | 185,824 | 20.5 | 7.49 | 31 | 4,276,353 (21.3%) |
| 1995 | 17,099,541 | 926,822 (5.4%) | -75,895 | 20.8 | 7.61 | 26 | 3,378,356 (19.8%) |
| 1990 | 12,249,114 | 471,505 (3.9%) | 465,495 | 20.6 | 7.47 | 19 | 2,243,548 (18.3%) |
| 1985 | 11,783,050 | -264,065 (-2.2%) | -296,837 | 20.9 | 7.46 | 18 | 1,998,170 (17.0%) |
| 1980 | 13,248,370 | -58,325 (-0.4%) | -663,660 | 21.6 | 7.45 | 20 | 2,077,477 (15.7%) |
| 1975 | 12,590,286 | 268,745 (2.1%) | -218,492 | 22.0 | 7.45 | 19 | 1,710,139 (13.6%) |
| 1970 | 11,126,123 | 271,695 (2.4%) | -4,000 | 22.3 | 7.45 | 17 | 1,282,731 (11.5%) |
| 1965 | 9,938,414 | 207,053 (2.1%) | -4,000 | 22.7 | 7.45 | 15 | 968,995 (9.8%) |
| 1960 | 8,996,351 | 170,413 (1.9%) | -4,000 | 23.0 | 7.45 | 14 | 739,590 (8.2%) |
In 2024 the population of Afghanistan was 41,520,000 and the average age increased from 23.0 in 1960 to 23.5. Urban population has increased from 4,276,353 (21.3%) in 2000 to 13,303,000 (31.4%) in the current year. The population density of Afghanistan has changed from 20.3 in 1980 to 62.3 in 2023.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -60,000 | 22.7 | 4.04 | 58 | 11,012,000 (28.9%) |
| 2025 | 42,388,000 | 868,000 (2.1%) | -60,000 | 23.8 | 3.43 | 65 | 13,303,000 (31.4%) |
| 2030 | 46,700,000 | 857,000 (1.8%) | -60,000 | 25.0 | 2.98 | 72 | 15,876,000 (34.0%) |
| 2035 | 50,908,000 | 829,000 (1.6%) | -60,000 | 26.3 | 2.68 | 78 | 18,693,000 (36.7%) |
| 2040 | 54,914,000 | 780,000 (1.4%) | -60,000 | 27.7 | 2.45 | 84 | 21,707,000 (39.5%) |
| 2045 | 58,614,000 | 711,000 (1.2%) | -60,000 | 29.2 | 2.27 | 90 | 24,858,000 (42.4%) |
| 2050 | 61,928,000 | 631,000 (1.0%) | -60,000 | 30.8 | 2.13 | 95 | 28,080,000 (45.3%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 71.3 (69.3 years for male and 73.5 years for females). Population density will go up to 94.9 people per square kilometer.
The demographics of Afghanistan constitutes of 20,611,000 women and 21,777,000 men, which means there are 1,057 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 49.7% of population (21,075,314) is 19 or younger, 47.4% of population (20,083,434) is between age 20 and 64 and 2.9% of population (1,229,252) is over 65.