Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 4.88 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan stood at 4.88 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan peaked at 4.88 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 285,352, in 1960.
That places Afghanistan 54th out of 121 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 285,352 | — |
| 1961 | 300,359 | +5.3% |
| 1962 | 316,177 | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 332,829 | +5.3% |
| 1964 | 350,382 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 368,809 | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 388,232 | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 408,087 | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 428,363 | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 449,585 | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 471,891 | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 495,303 | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 528,508 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 573,161 | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 621,656 | +8.5% |
| 1975 | 674,254 | +8.5% |
| 1976 | 731,385 | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 793,178 | +8.4% |
| 1978 | 860,289 | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 932,388 | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 977,824 | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 1.03 million | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 1.08 million | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 1.13 million | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 1.18 million | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 1.24 million | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 1.30 million | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 1.36 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 1.42 million | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 1.48 million | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 1.55 million | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 1.62 million | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 1.69 million | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 1.77 million | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.85 million | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 1.93 million | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 2.02 million | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 2.11 million | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 2.20 million | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 2.30 million | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.40 million | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 2.51 million | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 2.62 million | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 2.74 million | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 2.83 million | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 2.91 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 2.98 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 3.05 million | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 3.13 million | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 3.21 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 3.29 million | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 3.37 million | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 3.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 3.63 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 3.72 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 3.82 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 3.91 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.01 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 4.11 million | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 4.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 4.34 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 4.46 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 4.59 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 4.73 million | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 4.88 million | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 362,818 | 285,352 | 449,585 | 10 |
| 1970s | 668,201 | 471,891 | 932,388 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.22 million | 977,824 | 1.48 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.90 million | 1.55 million | 2.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.84 million | 2.40 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.69 million | 3.29 million | 4.11 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.53 million | 4.22 million | 4.88 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More urban development data for Afghanistan
- Population in the largest city 42.9% (2025)
- Population density 63.56 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Afghanistan was 4.88 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.88 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 285,352 in 1960.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Afghanistan ranks 54th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.