Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 65.39 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
65.39 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
140th
of 216 countries
All-time high
65.39 people per sq. km of land area
in 2024
All-time low
14.13 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Population density in Afghanistan, 1961–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 65.39 people per sq. km of land area for population density in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Afghanistan peaked at 65.39 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.13 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Afghanistan ranks 140th of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 14.13 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 14.42 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 14.73 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 15.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 15.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 15.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 16.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 16.49 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 16.89 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 17.31 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 17.74 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 18.17 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 18.64 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 19.12 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 19.59 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 20.02 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 20.45 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 20.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 20.94 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 20.19 people per sq. km of land area | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 18.3 people per sq. km of land area | -9.4% |
| 1982 | 16.85 people per sq. km of land area | -7.9% |
| 1983 | 16.74 people per sq. km of land area | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 17.16 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 17.52 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 17.51 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 17.46 people per sq. km of land area | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 17.67 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 18.21 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 18.47 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 18.76 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 20.36 people per sq. km of land area | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 22.91 people per sq. km of land area | +12.5% |
| 1994 | 24.92 people per sq. km of land area | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 26.17 people per sq. km of land area | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 27.23 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 28.29 people per sq. km of land area | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 29.38 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 30.49 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 30.86 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 31.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 32.78 people per sq. km of land area | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 34.85 people per sq. km of land area | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 36.12 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 37.42 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 38.98 people per sq. km of land area | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 39.73 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 40.6 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 42.11 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 43.37 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 45 people per sq. km of land area | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 46.85 people per sq. km of land area | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 48.48 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 50.28 people per sq. km of land area | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 51.87 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 53.2 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 54.72 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 56.33 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 58.04 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 59.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 61.33 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 62.22 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 63.56 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 65.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 65.39 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.39 people per sq. km of land area, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 65.39 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 117.07 people per sq. km of land area, 56% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.44 people per sq. km of land area | 14.13 people per sq. km of land area | 16.89 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 19.28 people per sq. km of land area | 17.31 people per sq. km of land area | 20.94 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.76 people per sq. km of land area | 16.74 people per sq. km of land area | 20.19 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.7 people per sq. km of land area | 18.47 people per sq. km of land area | 30.49 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.46 people per sq. km of land area | 30.86 people per sq. km of land area | 42.11 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.81 people per sq. km of land area | 43.37 people per sq. km of land area | 58.04 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.48 people per sq. km of land area | 59.9 people per sq. km of land area | 65.39 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 137 Equatorial Guinea 67.47 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 138 Mexico 67.32 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 139 Georgia 66.7 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 141 Ukraine 65.34 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 142 Bosnia and Herzegovina 61.8 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 143 Cameroon 61.61 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Afghanistan
- Population in the largest city 42.9% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1112 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.88 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 7.04 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 4.88 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 73.42 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Afghanistan?
- Population density in Afghanistan was 65.39 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 65.39 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.13 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population density?
- Afghanistan ranks 140th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.