Afghanistan Population

Afghanistan has one of the highest fertility rates in Asia and an extremely young population, growing rapidly despite decades of war and poverty. Restrictions on women's education and work under Taliban rule add deep uncertainty to its demographic future. For now the country is defined by a vast and fast-expanding generation of young people with limited prospects.

Afghanistan is home to about 44.4 million people in 2026, the 36th largest population of any country. Set in Southern Asia, its demographic path this century turns on the balance of births, deaths and migration. Population density stands at about 69 people for every square kilometre of land.

The defining marker in Afghanistan's future is its peak, expected around 2100 at about 130 million. After that the population eases back toward 130 million by 2100, having passed through 76.2 million at mid-century. The 100 million threshold is reached around 2068.

Half of Afghanistan is currently younger than about 17, but by 2100 the median age is projected to reach around 35, while life expectancy, near 66 years, keeps rising. For now it remains one of the world's youngest populations, with a large generation about to reach working age. That ageing slowly changes everything from the size of the workforce to the cost of care and pensions.

With about 4.76 births per woman, Afghanistan still has one of the higher fertility rates in the world, driving fast expansion. Emigration adds a further drag, as departures outnumber arrivals year to year.

The trajectory above is the UN's medium scenario. Wars, policy shifts, economic change and migration can all move the numbers, but the broad shape, growth followed by an eventual peak, is robust across the main variants.