The total population in Afghanistan was estimated at 35.7 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Afghanistan Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This timeline shows the total population of Afghanistan from 2010 to 2023. In 2023, Afghanistan's total population amounted to an estimated 42.17 million inhabitants. Population of Afghanistan Afghanistan is a country constantly plagued by war and terrorism. A direct result of war in Afghanistan is a low life expectancy. Even though the life expectancy at birth from 2001 to 2012 has increased, the number still remains relatively low in comparison to other countries in the world. Another direct cause for this low life expectancy is probably terrorism. The number of deaths in Afghanistan due to terrorism between has increased dramatically until 2013. Additionally, insurgents were to blame for the majority of the civilian deaths in Afghanistan in 2010. War, the increase in civilian deaths in Afghanistan as well as a drop in the fertility rate in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2012 have resulted in a steep drop in population growth when compared to the previous year. However, despite of the slower population growth in recent years, the total population in Afghanistan in the past decade has increased by about 9 million inhabitants.

Actual value and historical data chart for Afghanistan Population Male Percent Of Total

Afghanistan Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data was reported at 10.139 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.127 % for 2022. Afghanistan Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 8.678 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.139 % in 2023 and a record low of 8.276 % in 1974. Afghanistan Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total male population.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;;

This timeline shows the age structure in Afghanistan from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, approximately 42.89 percent of Afghanistan's population was aged 0 to 14 years, 54.71 percent was aged between 15 and 64, and 2.4 percent of people were 65 years and older.

Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) in Afghanistan was reported at 42.89 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Population ages 0-14 (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Actual value and historical data chart for Afghanistan Population Female Percent Of Total

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Afghanistan Population, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2024-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Complete population data for Afghanistan showing how many people live in Afghanistan from 1960 to 2024

Time series data for the statistic Population growth (annual %) and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.The indicator "Population growth (annual %)" stands at 2.84 as of 12/31/2024, the highest value since 12/31/2021. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 0.701 compared to the value the year prior.The Serie's long term average value is 2.42. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.412 higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1981, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +12.66 .The Serie's change from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1993, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -8.97 .

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 25-29, female (% of female population) and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Female population between the ages 25 to 29 as a percentage of the total female population.The indicator "Population ages 25-29, female (% of female population)" stands at 8.41 as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 0.8305 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 0.8305.The 3 year change in percent is 3.65.The 5 year change in percent is 7.83.The 10 year change in percent is 18.74.The Serie's long term average value is 7.25. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 16.05 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2009, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +24.84%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 65 and above (% of total population) and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.The indicator "Population ages 65 and above (% of total population)" stands at 2.40 as of 12/31/2024, the highest value since 12/31/1984. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 0.9856 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 0.9856.The 3 year change in percent is 2.06.The 5 year change in percent is 1.04.The 10 year change in percent is 1.89.The Serie's long term average value is 2.43. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 1.09 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1991, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +7.09%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -14.96%.

Actual value and historical data chart for Afghanistan Population Growth Annual Percent

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 15-19, female (% of female population) and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Female population between the ages 15 to 19 as a percentage of the total female population.The indicator "Population ages 15-19, female (% of female population)" stands at 11.02 as of 12/31/2024, the lowest value since 12/31/2010. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.8788 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.8788.The 3 year change in percent is -3.03.The 5 year change in percent is -4.60.The 10 year change in percent is -5.17.The Serie's long term average value is 10.57. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 4.27 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2000, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +11.61%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2016, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -5.53%.

Afghanistan: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 2.4 percent, an increase from 2.38 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 10.43 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Afghanistan from 1960 to 2024 is 2.43 percent. The minimum value, 2.24 percent, was reached in 1988 while the maximum of 2.82 percent was recorded in 1960.

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 55-59, male (% of male population) and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Male population between the ages 55 to 59 as a percentage of the total male population.The indicator "Population ages 55-59, male (% of male population)" stands at 1.86 as of 12/31/2024, the highest value since 12/31/1998. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 2.40 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 2.40.The 3 year change in percent is 6.81.The 5 year change in percent is 9.67.The 10 year change in percent is 14.09.The Serie's long term average value is 2.05. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 8.93 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2010, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +15.05%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -29.94%.

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 05-09, female (% of female population) and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Female population between the ages 5 to 9 as a percentage of the total female population.The indicator "Population ages 05-09, female (% of female population)" stands at 14.10 as of 12/31/2024, the lowest value since 12/31/1969. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.8149 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -0.8149.The 3 year change in percent is -2.25.The 5 year change in percent is -3.28.The 10 year change in percent is -6.54.The Serie's long term average value is 14.92. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 5.50 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +4.83%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2004, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is -14.40%.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Afghanistan (POPTOTAFA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Afghanistan and population.

Time series data for the statistic Population ages 0-14, total and country Afghanistan. Indicator Definition:Total population between the ages 0 to 14. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.The indicator "Population ages 0-14, total" stands at 18.29 Million as of 12/31/2024, the highest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 2.07 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 2.07.The 3 year change in percent is 4.14.The 5 year change in percent is 8.39.The 10 year change in percent is 19.40.The Serie's long term average value is 9.12 Million. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 100.54 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is +382.61%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2024, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2024, is 0.0%.

From 1800 until the late twentieth century, there was a steady increase in Afghanistan's population. Throughout the nineteenth century, Afghanistan became a battleground for the British Empire, who tried to control the area in order to prevent Russian expansion towards the British Raj. Despite resisting the British invasion in the first Anglo-Afghan War, (where the British Army was almost completely wiped out), the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1880 saw Britain seize control of the region. In contrast to the neighboring colonies on the Indian subcontinent, Britain did not colonize Afghanistan for economic purposes, therefore they did not invest in agriculture or infrastructure, nor introduce medicine in the same way they did in the Raj, and focused only on Afghanistan's international affairs. Independence and progress The Third Anglo-Afghan War, where Afghan forces invaded British India in 1919, resulted in Afghanistan's independence finally being declared after two months of conflict. The next decade saw some major reforms that attempted to modernize Afghan society, (notable progress was made for women's rights and education) however this alienated many conservative and religious tribes, and a civil war broke out in 1928. After the war (and brief usurpation) the new King of Afghanistan, Nadir Khan, consolidated power, and also moved to modernize the country, but more gradually than his predecessors in order to avoid further alienation and conflict. Khan's approach remained in place until the 1970s, when a bloodless coup established a republic. The republic never achieved political stability, and the Sauri Revolution of 1978 resulted in the formation of the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Continuous war Despite some progressive reforms, such as banning forced marriages and opening a space for women in politics, the determination to promote state atheism combined with the country's economic dependence on the Soviet Union led to serious opposition from Afghan people, particularly in rural areas. On December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union (backed by the Afghan government) invaded the country, and the ensuing decade-long guerilla war resulted in as many as two million fatalities and three million wounded, as well as two million internally displaced persons and five million refugees abroad. Soviet withdrawal was seen as a western victory, as they had supported the Taliban in their fight against the Soviets, however a decade later the Taliban refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda suspects to the US, following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. This led to US and British forces launching Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001, and an intensive bombing campaign followed, destroying many major cities in the country. The Taliban government was toppled in December 2001, and in 2002 a western-led rebuilding of the country began. Over the past two decades, many displaced Afghans have returned home, leading to some economic growth, however guerilla fighting continues and there is a strong military presence in the country (including many Taliban controlled areas). In 2020, Afghanistan remains one of the poorest and most politically unstable countries in the world, however the rapid population growth experienced in recent decades is expected to continue well into the future, as improvements in medical care and humanitarian aid become more widespread across the country.