Urban population growth in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Urban population growth was 3.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Afghanistan, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Afghanistan stood at 3.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Afghanistan peaked at 12.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -8.4%, in 1981.
Afghanistan ranks 27th of 217 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.2% | — |
| 1962 | 5.2% | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 5.3% | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 5.3% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 5.4% | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 5.5% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 5.5% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 5.6% | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 5.7% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 5.9% | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 6.2% | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 6.6% | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 6.8% | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 6.7% | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 6.4% | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 5.8% | -8.5% |
| 1977 | 5.3% | -9.2% |
| 1978 | 4.6% | -12.6% |
| 1979 | 2.3% | -50.1% |
| 1980 | -2.1% | -189.0% |
| 1981 | -8.4% | +307.9% |
| 1982 | -7.0% | -16.9% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -106.9% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | +630.5% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | -13.2% |
| 1986 | 0.8% | -73.4% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | -35.9% |
| 1988 | 1.9% | +271.6% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | +91.9% |
| 1990 | 2.1% | -43.1% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 8.8% | +292.4% |
| 1993 | 12.4% | +41.5% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | -27.4% |
| 1995 | 5.6% | -38.4% |
| 1996 | 4.7% | -15.4% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 4.6% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -53.6% |
| 2001 | 1.7% | -17.8% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | +262.1% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | +15.5% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | -34.0% |
| 2005 | 5.1% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | +20.4% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -30.6% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +32.4% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | -11.8% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 5.4% | -14.7% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | -18.8% |
| 2016 | 3.3% | -21.7% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -25.6% |
| 2022 | 1.6% | -40.0% |
| 2023 | 2.4% | +51.3% |
| 2024 | 3.7% | +52.3% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.7% | 2.3% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.3% | -8.4% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.9% | 2.1% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 1.7% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 3.3% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 1.6% | 3.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More climate change data for Afghanistan
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23,854 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,965 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 17,889 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 22.51 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 638.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,345 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,090 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,255 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 44.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Afghanistan?
- Urban population growth in Afghanistan was 3.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.4% in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for urban population growth?
- Afghanistan ranks 27th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.