Afghanistan Population Clock
Afghanistan has an estimated population of about 43.8 million, which makes it the 36th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing rapidly, at 2.77% a year.
The capital is Kabul.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How Afghanistan's population is changing
Afghanistan records about 4,202 births and 684 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 3,518 people per day, or about 1.28 million a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 74,404 over the reported period, with more people leaving than arriving. That is equivalent to about 6% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Afghanistan would take roughly 25 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 34.7 million to 43.8 million — a gain of 9.14 million, or 26.3%.
Where people live in Afghanistan
With about 64 people per square kilometre, Afghanistan is moderately populated, close to the world average of 62. That ranks 75th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Ukraine and Mexico.
Afghanistan covers about 652,230 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 43.8 million into that density figure.
About 25.9% of people live in urban areas, making Afghanistan predominantly rural, below the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 11.4 million town and city dwellers and 32.5 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has a very young population: about 42.6% are under 15 and 2.4% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 17.5 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 4.76 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 66.3 years, roughly 7.2 years below the global average of 73.5.
Afghanistan at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 43.8 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #36 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 2.77% | 2025 |
| Population density | 64 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 652,230 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 25.9% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 66.3 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 4.76 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 42.6% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 2.4% | 2025 |
| Net migration | -74,404 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 4,202 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 684 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
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Is Afghanistan's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these Afghanistan figures come from?
Current local time in Afghanistan
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank