Afghanistan Population Live (2026)
The live population of Afghanistan, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the most interesting countries on Earth.
Afghanistan has an estimated population of about 40.8 million people in 2026 — 0.49% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 34th largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Afghanistan's latest birth rate (34.7 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (12.4 per 1,000).
Is the population of Afghanistan growing?
Yes. Around 3,874 babies are born in Afghanistan every day — about 161 an hour — while around 1,385 people die. That leaves a natural increase of roughly 2,490 people a day, or about 908,823 a year: a growth rate of 2.23% before migration. At that pace the population would double in roughly 31 years. Afghanistan has the 7th fastest natural growth of the 72 countries we track.
A birth rate of 34.7 per 1,000 people is very high by global standards — close to double the world average of about 16.9 — and is typical of countries where families are large and the population is very young. It ranks 4th of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
Migration also plays a role. Large numbers of people from Afghanistan live and work abroad, so the real population change can be a little smaller than the natural increase shown here. Our counter shows births minus deaths only.
Births and deaths in Afghanistan
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| Per hour | 161 | 58 | 104 |
| Per day | 3,874 | 1,385 | 2,490 |
| Per week | 27,121 | 9,692 | 17,429 |
| Per year | 1,414,177 | 505,354 | 908,823 |
How crowded is Afghanistan?
With about 40.8 million people living on 652,230 km², Afghanistan has roughly 62.5 people per square kilometre. That is above the world average of about 61 per km² (49th of 72 for density).
Life expectancy in Afghanistan
A baby born in Afghanistan today can expect to live about 64.5 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is below the world average (68th of 72), mostly because more children die young and access to healthcare is more limited than in richer countries. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $358 per person (72nd of 72), Afghanistan is a lower-income country. As incomes, education and access to healthcare rise, birth rates almost always fall — which is why the UN expects growth here to slow over the coming decades.
Afghanistan at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 40,754,388 | 34 |
| Births per day | 3,874 | 17 |
| Deaths per day | 1,385 | 23 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 34.7 | 4 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 12.4 | 9 |
| Natural growth rate | 2.23% / year | 7 |
| Life expectancy | 64.5 years | 68 |
| Population density | 62.5 / km² | 49 |
| GDP per person | $358 | 72 |
| Area | 652,230 km² | — |
| Capital | Kabul | — |
| Languages | Pashto, Dari | — |
| Currency | Afghan Afghani (Af) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Afghanistan's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Afghanistan's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Afghanistan in 2026?
The population of Afghanistan in 2026 is estimated at about 40.8 million people, which is around 0.49% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Afghanistan every day?
About 3,874 babies are born in Afghanistan every day — roughly 161 per hour, or 1.4 million per year — based on a birth rate of 34.7 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Afghanistan every day?
About 1,385 people die in Afghanistan every day — roughly 58 per hour, or 505,354 per year — based on a death rate of 12.4 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Afghanistan growing or shrinking?
Growing. Births exceed deaths by about 2,490 people a day, a natural growth rate of 2.23% a year before migration.
What is the life expectancy in Afghanistan?
Life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan is about 64.5 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Afghanistan population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Afghanistan's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.