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Demographics of Afghanistan

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This article is about the population of the country of Afghanistan. For ethnic groups, see Ethnic groups in Afghanistan.

Demographics of Afghanistan
Afghanistan population pyramid in 2020
Population41,454,761 (2023)
Growth rateIncrease +2.85% (2023)
Birth rate35.44/1000 (2023)
Death rate5.80/1000 (2023)
Life expectancyDecrease 59.1 years at birth (2021)
Fertility rate4.84 children per woman (2023)
Infant mortality rate▼44.0/1000 (2023)
Nationality
NationalityAfghan
Major ethnic
Minor ethnic
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

The population of Afghanistan is around 43.4 million as of 2024. The nation is composed of a multi-ethnic and multilingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between Central Asia, South Asia, and Western Asia. Ethnic groups in the country include Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, as well as smaller groups such as Baloch, Nuristani, Turkmen, Aimaq, Mongol and some others which are less known. Together they make up the contemporary Afghan people.

Approximately 43% of the population is under 15 years of age, and 74% of all Afghans live in rural areas. The average woman gives birth to five children during her entire life, the highest fertility rate outside of Africa. About 6.8% of all babies die in child-birth or infancy. The average life expectancy of the nation was reported in 2019 at around 63 years, and only 0.04% of the population has HIV.

Persian (Dari) and Pashto are the official languages of the country. Dari functions as the inter-ethnic lingua franca for the vast majority. Pashto is widely used in the regions south of the Hindu Kush mountains and as far as the Indus River in neighbouring Pakistan. Uzbek and Turkmen are smaller languages spoken in parts of the north. Multilingualism is common throughout the country, especially in the major cities. Successive Afghan governments have given preferential treatment to Pashto despite it being a minority language. Birth certificates, passports, and the national anthem are exclusively in Pashto to the ire of Non-Pashto speakers.

Up to 69.7% of the population practices Sunni Islam and belongs to the Hanafi Islamic law school, while 30–35% are followers of Shia Islam; the majority of whom belong to the Twelver branch, with smaller numbers of Ismailis. The remaining 0.3% practice other religions such as Sikhism and Hinduism. Excluding urban populations in the principal cities, most people are organised into tribal and other kinship-based groups, who follow their own traditional customs.

Population statistics

Further information: Afghan diaspora

Anatol Lieven of Georgetown University in Qatar wrote in 2021 that "it may be noted that in the whole of modern Afghan history there has never been a census that could be regarded as remotely reliable."

Historical

Sport fans inside the Ghazi Stadium in the capital of Kabul, which is multi-ethnic and the largest city of Afghanistan.

The first nationwide census of Afghanistan was carried out only in 1979, but previously there had been scattered attempts to conduct censuses in individual cities. According to the 1876 census, Kabul had a population of 140,700 people. In Kandahar in 1891 a population census was carried out, according to which 31,514 people lived in the city, of which 16,064 were men and 15,450 were women.

In 1979 the total population was reported to be about 15.5 million. From 1979 until the end of 1983, some 5 million people left the country to take shelter in neighbouring northwestern Pakistan and eastern Iran. This exodus was largely unchecked by any government. The Afghan government in 1983 reported a population of 15.96 million, which presumably included the exodus.

It is assumed that roughly 600,000 to as high as 2 million Afghans may have been killed during the various 1979–2001 wars. These figures are questionable and no attempt has ever been made to verify if they were actually killed or had moved to neighbouring countries as refugees.

Current and latest

Main article: List of cities in Afghanistan

As of 2021, the total population of Afghanistan is around 37,466,414, which includes the 3 million Afghan nationals living in both Pakistan and Iran. About 26% of the population is urbanite and the remaining 74% lives in rural areas.

Afghanistan's Central Statistics Organization (CSO) stated in 2011 that the total number of Afghans living inside Afghanistan was about 26 million and by 2017 it reached 29.2 million. Of this, 15 million are males and 14.2 million are females. The country's population is expected to reach 82 million by 2050.

Urban areas have experienced rapid population growth in the last decade, which is due to the return of over 5 million expats. The only city in Afghanistan with over a million residents is its capital, Kabul.

Age structure

Population pyramid 2016
Population structure of Afghanistan (2020 estimate)
Age group Percentage Male population Female population
0–14 years 40.62% 7,562,703 7,321,646
15–24 years 21.26% 3,960,044 3,828,670
25–54 years 31.44% 5,858,675 5,661,887
55–64 years 4.01% 724,597 744,910
65 years and over 2.68% 451,852 528,831

Population growth rate

The population growth rate of Afghanistan was 2.34% in 2021, ranking 39th in the world in terms of population growth.

Urbanization

Young Afghans at a music festival inside the Gardens of Babur in Kabul.

As of 2020, 26% of Afghanistan's population lived in urban areas, with an annual urbanization rate of 3.37% from 2015 to 2020.

Sex ratio

Sex ratio of Afghanistan (2020)
Age group Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
At birth 1.05 male(s)/female
0–14 years 1.03 male(s)/female
15–24 years 1.03 male(s)/female
25–54 years 1.03 male(s)/female
55–64 years 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population 1.05 male(s)/female

Vital statistics

UN estimates

Period Population Live births Deaths Rate of Natural change  % Crude Migration rate (per 1000) CBR CDR NC TFR Life expectancy (in years) IMR
1950 7,480,464 365,303 283,668   +1.09% 48.9 37.9 10.9 7.25 27.73 285.8
1951 7,571,542 372,040 282,577   +1.18% 0.2 49.1 37.3 11.8 7.26 27.96 283.6
1952 7,667,534 378,290 280,803   +1.27% -0.2 49.3 36.6 12.7 7.26 28.45 278.8
1953 7,764,549 384,933 279,684   +1.35% -1.0 49.5 36.0 13.5 7.27 28.93 273.9
1954 7,864,289 390,412 280,476   +1.40% -1.3 49.6 35.6 14.0 7.25 29.23 269.4
1955 7,971,933 397,156 277,695   +1.50% -1.5 49.8 34.8 15.0 7.26 29.92 264.1
1956 8,087,730 404,134 277,328   +1.57% -1.4 49.9 34.3 15.7 7.27 30.41 259.3
1957 8,210,207 410,977 276,560   +1.64% -1.5 50.0 33.7 16.4 7.26 30.95 254.4
1958 8,333,827 418,266 275,681   +1.71% -2.3 50.1 33.0 17.1 7.27 31.51 249.5
1959 8,468,220 425,334 274,920   +1.78% -1.9 50.2 32.5 17.8 7.28 32.04 244.9
1960 8,622,473 434,057 275,239   +1.84% -0.5 50.3 31.9 18.4 7.28 32.54 240.5
1961 8,790,140 443,319 275,508   +1.91% 0 50.4 31.3 19.1 7.28 33.07 236.2
1962 8,969,055 453,468 276,593   +1.97% 0.2 50.6 30.8 19.7 7.29 33.55 232.2
1963 9,157,463 464,225 277,961   +2.03% 0.3 50.7 30.4 20.3 7.30 34.02 228.2
1964 9,355,510 475,452 279,368   +2.10% 0.2 50.8 29.9 21.0 7.30 34.49 224.3
1965 9,565,154 486,406 281,003   +2.15% 0.4 50.9 29.4 21.5 7.31 34.95 220.6
1966 9,783,153 498,801 282,463   +2.21% 0.2 51.0 28.9 22.1 7.32 35.45 216.6
1967 10,010,037 511,245 284,203   +2.27% 0.0 51.1 28.4 22.7 7.34 35.92 212.9
1968 10,247,782 524,167 285,867   +2.33% -0.1 51.1 27.9 23.3 7.36 36.42 209.1
1969 10,494,491 537,318 287,557   +2.38% -0.3 51.2 27.4 23.8 7.39 36.91 205.3
1970 10,752,973 549,695 288,979   +2.42% -0.2 51.1 26.9 24.2 7.40 37.42 201.5
1971 11,015,853 564,040 290,646   +2.48% -0.9 51.2 26.4 24.8 7.43 37.92 197.7
1972 11,286,753 577,071 291,819   +2.53% -1.3 51.1 25.8 25.3 7.45 38.44 194.0
1973 11,575,308 591,855 292,915   +2.58% -0.9 51.1 25.3 25.8 7.49 39.00 190.1
1974 11,869,881 607,606 294,363   +2.64% -1.6 51.1 24.8 26.4 7.53 39.55 186.2
1975 12,157,390 621,494 295,301   +2.68% -3.2 51.0 24.2 26.8 7.54 40.10 182.2
1976 12,425,276 635,188 295,770   +2.72% -5.6 50.9 23.7 27.2 7.56 40.65 178.3
1977 12,687,308 648,307 295,112   +2.77% -7.0 50.9 23.2 27.7 7.59 41.23 174.2
1978 12,938,864 660,606 310,376   +2.69% -7.5 50.8 23.9 26.9 7.60 40.27 172.7
1979 12,986,378 671,213 328,042 +2.64% -22.7 50.7 24.8 25.9 7.61 39.09 171.7
1980 12,486,640 660,892 316,937   +2.75% -67.5 50.5 24.2 26.3 7.59 39.62 167.8
1981 11,155,196 614,273 288,555   +2.92% -148.6 50.3 23.6 26.7 7.57 40.16 163.6
1982 10,088,290 520,603.03 266,040   +2.52% -131.0 50.1 25.6 24.5 7.55 37.77 165.2
1983 9,951,447 503,887 252,318   +2.50% -38.8 50.1 25.1 25.0 7.54 38.19 161.4
1984 10,243,689 506,571 302,824   +2.02% 8.3 50.2 30.0 20.2 7.51 33.33 169.7
1985 10,512,220 536,861 314,987   +2.09% 4.6 50.6 29.7 20.9 7.52 33.55 166.4
1986 10,448,447 541,017 252,810   +2.76% -33.7 50.7 23.7 27.0 7.52 39.40 150.3
1987   10,322,767 535,214 245,107   +2.81% -40.3 50.8 23.3 27.6 7.53 39.84 146.5
1988 10,383,459 531,795 208,051   +3.10% -25.2 51.0 19.9 31.0 7.53 43.96 136.0
1989 10,673,172 546,142 203,321   +3.21% -5.0 51.2 19.0 32.1 7.53 45.16 131.1
1990 10,694,804 567,256 203,514   +3.40% -32.0 51.4 18.4 33.0 7.56 45.97 127.0
1991 10,745,168 555,610 192,531   +3.38% -29.1 51.8 17.9 33.8 7.61 46.66 123.4
1992 12,057,436 578,891 191,913   +3.21% 76.7 51.9 17.2 34.7 7.66 47.60 118.3
1993 14,003,764 698,469 199,165   +3.57% 103.3 52.0 14.8 37.2 7.72 51.47 110.8
1994 15,455,560 789,282 222,214   +3.67% 57.2 52.2 14.7 37.5 7.72 51.50 107.0
1995 16,418,911 853,355 230,943   +3.80% 20.7 52.1 14.1 38.0 7.71 52.54 104.2
1996 17,106,600 886,917 232,991   +3.82% 2.0 51.9 13.6 38.2 7.71 53.24 101.2
1997 17,788,818 914,412 237,216   +3.81% 0.3 51.4 13.3 38.1 7.67 53.63 98.9
1998 18,493,134 940,233 250,677   +3.73% 0.8 50.9 13.6 37.3 7.64 52.94 97.0
1999 19,262,854 967,977" 239,604   +3.79% 2.1 50.4 12.5 37.9 7.60 54.85 93.4
2000 19,542,986 995,813 242,535   +3.76% -23.3 49.7 12.1 37.6 7.53 55.30 90.8
2001 19,688,634 969,246 231,795   +3.73% -29.9 49.0 11.7 37.3 7.45 55.80 88.4
2002 21,000,258 980,458 229,450   +3.58% 26.7 48.2 11.3 36.9 7.34 56.45 85.8
2003 22,645,136 1,063,246 240,215   +3.63% 36.3 47.4 10.7 36.7 7.22 57.34 82.6
2004 23,553,554 1,097,160 243,367   +3.61% 2.5 46.3 10.3 36.1 7.07 57.94 79.9
2005 24,411,196 1,099,366 241,454   +3.53% -0.2 45.3 9.9 35.3 6.91 58.36 77.5
2006 25,442,946 1,136,774 246,037   +3.50% 5.6 44.7 9.7 35.0 6.72 58.68 74.9
2007 25,903,306 1,156,957 246,898   +3.51% -17.3 43.9 9.4 34.5 6.53 59.11 71.9
2008 26,427,204 1,091,824 232,339   +3.27% -12.9 41.5 8.8 32.7 6.38 59.85 69.2
2009 27,385,310 1,128,666 234,065   +3.26% 2.4 41.2 8.5 32.6 6.24 60.36 67.2
2010 28,189,672 1,147,643 233,308   +3.23% -3.8 40.6 8.3 32.3 6.10 60.85 64.8
2011 29,249,156 1,157,518 230,346 +3.19% 4.3 39.9 7.9 31.9 5.96 61.42 62.3
2012 30,466,484 1,217,396 234,629   +3.23% 7.7 40.0 7.7 32.3 5.83 61.92 60.0
2013 31,541,216 1,248,455 235,744 +3.21% 2.0 39.6 7.5 32.1 5.70 62.42 57.8
2014 32,716,214 1,274,665 241,055 +3.17% 4.2 39.1 7.4 31.7 5.56 62.55 56.3
2015 33,753,500 1,315,633 248,560 +3.15% -0.8 38.8 7.3 31.5 5.41 62.66 54.5
2016 34,636,212 1,315,746 245,452 +3.09% -5.4 37.9 7.1 30.9 5.26 63.14 52.5
2017 35,643,420 1,332,116 250,677 +3.03% -2.0 37.3 7.0 30.3 5.13 63.02 49.4
2018 36,686,788 1,355,895 256,314 +2.99% -1.5 36.9 7.0 29.9 5.00 63.08 47.8
2019 37,769,496 1,377,704 256,564 +2.97% -1.0 36.5 6.8 29.7 4.87 63.57 46.7
2020 38,972,236 1,402,265 276,683 +2.89% 2.0 36.1 7.1 28.9 4.75 62.58 45.8
2021 40,099,460 1,440,941 295,236 +2.85% -0.4 35.8 7.3 28.5 4.64 61.98 44.7
2022 41,128,771 +2.82% -3.2 35.14 6.91 28.23 4.52 62.88 44.8
2023 42,239,854 4.41 64.23 37.7
CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births
Source:
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Fertility and births

Afghanistan 2024 total fertility rate has been estimated at 4.4. In 2022 it was 4.5, about twice the world average rate. The rate has fallen since the early 1980s.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR), Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Wanted Fertility Rate (WFR):

year crude birth rate (CBR) total fertility rate (TFR) wanted fertility rate (WFR)
total urban rural total urban rural total urban rural
2010 35.6 34.7 35.9 5.1 4.5 5.2
2015 36.8 35.8 37.1 5.3 4.8 5.4 4.4 3.7 4.6
2022-23 36.0 32.0 38.0 5.4 4.3 5.8

Fertility data by province in 2015 DHS Survey and 2022-23 MICS Survey:

Province TFR
2015 2023
Afghanistan 5.3 5.4
Kabul 4.6 3.8
Kapisa 4.8 5.6
Parwan 5.7 5.0
Wardak 4.2 5.3
Logar 4.2 6.2
Nangarhar 6.4 5.6
Laghman 7.3 6.2
Panjshir 3.2 3.5
Baghlan 4.4 5.4
Bamyan 5.4 4.2
Ghazni 2.8 5.6
Paktika 5.3 6.3
Paktia 5.2 5.7
Khost 5.6 5.3
Kunar 6.8 6.4
Nuristan 8.9 5.6
Badakhshan 5.3 5.1
Takhar 5.7 5.9
Kunduz 4.4 6.4
Samangan 5.1 4.3
Balkh 5.5 4.9
Sar-e Pol 4.8 5.5
Ghor 5.8 4.8
Daykundi 5.2 4.8
Urozgan 8.8 5.6
Zabul 5.1 7.8
Kandahar 6.5 6.3
Jawzjan 3.9 5.5
Faryab 6.2 6.4
Helmand 4.7 7.3
Badghis 6.6 5.8
Herat 4.8 4.4
Farah 5.4 7.1
Nimruz 5.4 6.2

Structure of the population

An Afghan family from the Pashtun ethnicity in their home in Kabul

Structure of the population (2012.01.07) (Data refer to the settled population based on the 1979 Population Census and the latest household prelisting. The refugees of Afghanistan in Iran, Pakistan, and an estimated 1.5 million nomads, are not included):

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2012) (Data refer to the settled population based on the 1979 Population Census and the latest household prelisting. The refugees of Afghanistan in Iran, Pakistan, and an estimated 1.5 million nomads, are not included.):

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 13,044,400 12,455,700 25,500,100 100
0–4 2,422,244 2,556,304 4,978,548 19.52
5–9 1,941,363 1,880,407 3,821,770 14.99
10–14 1,556,158 1,401,695 2,957,853 11.60
15–19 1,276,563 1,140,810 2,417,373 9.48
20–24 1,059,939 1,009,807 2,069,746 8.12
25–29 843 967 864 738 1,708,705 6.70
30–34 678 577 745 534 1,424,111 5.58
35–39 598 045 652 326 1,250,371 4.90
40–44 546 102 533 524 1,079,626 4.23
45–49 495 190 440 789 935 979 3.67
50–54 435 143 354 633 789 776 3.10
55–59 360 394 275 468 635 862 2.49
60–64 281 627 209 152 490 779 1.92
65–69 204 376 150 137 354 513 1.39
70–74 141 729 102 048 243 777 0.96
75–79 91 164 64 658 155 822 0.61
80–84 55 446 38 699 94 145 0.37
85+ 56 373 34 971 91 344 0.36
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0-14 5,919,765 5,838,406 11,758,171 46.11
15–64 6,575,547 6,226,781 12,802,328 50.21
65+ 549 088 390 513 939 601 3.68

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data refer to the settled population based on the 1979 Population Census and the latest household prelisting. The refugees of Afghanistan in Iran, Pakistan, and an estimated 1.5 million nomads, are not included.):

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 15,981,303 15,408,868 31,390,171 100
0–4 2,853,288 2,743,103 5,596,391 17.83
5–9 2,542,405 2,379,618 4,922,023 15.68
10–14 2,220,065 2,026,796 4,246,861 13.53
15–19 1,840,432 1,727,287 3,567,719 11.37
20–24 1,371,188 1,463,797 2,834,985 9.03
25–29 1,079,117 1,177,555 2,256,672 7.19
30–34 828 055 818 313 1,646,368 5.24
35–39 674 920 661 949 1,336,869 4.26
40–44 577 135 611 016 1,188,151 3.79
45–49 480 700 511 608 992 308 3.16
50–54 381 772 396 026 777 798 2.48
55–59 320 024 308 966 628 990 2.00
60–64 286 732 229 605 516 337 1.64
65-69 222 590 161 851 384 441 1.22
70-74 150 436 99 412 249 848 0.80
75-79 70 271 42 288 112 559 0.36
80-84 48 540 26 549 75 089 0.24
85+ 33 633 23 129 56 762 0.18
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 7,615,758 7,149,517 14,765,275 47.04
15–64 7,840,075 7,906,122 15,746,197 50.16
65+ 525 470 353 229 878 699 2.80

Life expectancy (2023)

Source:

  • total: 54.1 years (lowest in the world)
  • male: 52.5 years (lowest in the world)
  • female: 55.7 years (lowest in the world)
Life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan
Period Life expectancy in
Years 		Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 28.6 1985–1990 47.7
1955–1960 31.1 1990–1995 51.7
1960–1965 33.4 1995–2000 54.2
1965–1970 35.6 2000–2005 56.9
1970–1975 37.8 2005–2010 60.0
1975–1980 40.4 2010–2015 62.3
1980–1985 43.6 2015-2020 63.2

Source: UN World Population Prospects

Development and health indicators

Main articles: Health in Afghanistan, Healthcare in Afghanistan, and Education in Afghanistan
Gathering of students in 2006 at a school in Nangarhar Province.

Literacy

Definition: People over the age of 15 that can read and write
Total population: 43% (2018)
Male: 55.5%
Female: 29.8%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male: 13 years
female: 8 years (2018)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.04% (2015)

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

Up to 6,900 (2015 estimate)

In 2008, health officials in Afghanistan reported 504 cases of people living with HIV but by the end of 2012 the numbers reached 1,327. The nation's health ministry stated that most of the HIV patients were among intravenous drug users and that 70% of them were men, 25% women, and the remaining 5% children. They belonged to Kabul, Kandahar and Herat, the provinces from where people make the most trips to neighbouring and foreign countries. Regarding Kandahar, 22 cases were reported in 2012. "AIDS Prevention department head Dr Hamayoun Rehman said 1,320 blood samples were examined and 21 were positive. Among the 21 patients, 18 were males and three were females who contracted the deadly virus from their husbands. He said four people had reached a critical stage while three had died. The main source of the disease was the use of syringes used by drug addicts." There are approximately 23,000 addicts in the country who inject drugs into their bodies using syringes
country comparison to the world: 168

HIV/AIDS – deaths

Up to 300 (2015 estimate)

Major infectious diseases

Degree of risk: high

  • Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  • Vector-borne diseases: malaria
  • Animal contact diseases: rabies

Note: WH5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk as of 2009.

Ethnic groups

Further information: Ethnic groups in Afghanistan

An approximate distribution of the ethnolinguistic groups are listed in the chart below:

A CIA map showing the various Afghan tribal territories in 2005
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan in 2001
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan in 1982
Population of Afghanistan by Ethnic Group (%) and Total Population of Afghanistan (1950-2023)
Year Total Population Pashtuns (%) Tajiks (%) Hazaras (%) Uzbeks (%) Aimaks (%) Turkmens (%) Baloch (%) Nuristanis (%) Pamiris (%) Others (%)
1950 7,480,460 35.94% 32.87% 15.67% 10.02% 1.51% 1.05% 0.82% 0.61% 0.71% 0.80%
1960 8,622,466 41.21% 29.96% 13.29% 10.04% 1.71% 1.12% 0.91% 0.63% 0.83% 0.30%
1970 10,752,971 39.11% 29.07% 12.72% 10.03% 1.82% 1.23% 1.02% 0.71% 0.91% 3.38%
1980 12,486,631 38.53% 28.47% 13.12% 10.04% 1.93% 1.31% 1.11% 0.73% 1.06% 3.70%
1990 10,694,796 36.43% 27.28% 13.31% 9.71% 2.03% 1.41% 1.23% 0.75% 1.05% 6.80%
2000 19,542,982 35.63% 26.68% 13.28% 8.91% 2.08% 1.42% 1.21% 0.74% 1.05% 9.00%
2011 29,249,157 41.35% 27.56% 13.79% 8.64% 2.11% 1.54% 1.32% 0.83% 1.06% 1.80%
2013 31,541,209 41.97% 26.96% 14.02% 8.51% 2.13% 1.55% 1.35% 0.82% 1.09% 1.60%
2023 42,239,854 39.97% 25.96% 14.98% 8.02% 2.13% 1.52% 1.29% 0.81% 1.32% 4.00%
Population of Afghanistan by Ethnic Group (1950-2023)
Year Total Population Pashtuns Tajiks Hazaras Uzbeks Aimaks Turkmens Baloch Nuristanis Pamiris Others
1950 7,480,460 2,686,898 2,458,171 1,172,403 749,747 112,943 78,545 61,341 45,631 53,108 59,844
1960 8,622,466 3,552,209 2,583,639 1,145,145 865,740 147,448 96,574 78,466 54,324 71,566 25,867
1970 10,752,971 4,204,300 3,125,342 1,367,907 1,078,161 195,714 132,258 109,674 76,347 97,851 363,417
1980 12,486,631 4,808,617 3,553,701 1,637,724 1,253,735 240,982 163,573 138,602 91,153 132,360 461,184
1990 10,694,796 3,895,053 2,915,145 1,422,465 1,038,408 217,108 150,797 131,555 80,211 112,295 727,759
2000 19,542,982 6,960,338 5,214,158 2,594,898 1,741,306 406,497 277,507 236,466 144,621 205,202 1,758,868
2011 29,249,157 12,095,608 8,067,136 4,033,665 2,526,132 617,164 450,437 386,089 242,767 310,040 526,118
2013 31,541,209 13,230,634 8,493,515 4,417,161 2,681,228 671,559 489,198 426,037 259,025 344,158 504,659
2023 42,239,854 16,886,189 10,957,637 6,321,916 3,386,262 899,473 641,740 545,694 342,319 557,047 1,689,594
Fertility Rate in Afghanistan by Ethnic Group (1950-2023)
Year Afghanistan (overall) Pashtuns Tajiks Hazaras Uzbeks Turkmens Localized Arabs Indo-Aryans (Pashayis, Nuristanis, etc.) Localized Soviets Others
1950 7.25 8.30 7.55 7.85 7.70 7.65 6.80 7.40 - 4.10
1960 7.28 8.28 7.48 7.72 7.64 7.62 6.75 7.35 - 4.00
1970 7.40 8.25 7.52 7.81 7.68 7.66 6.80 7.42 - 3.95
1980 7.64 8.35 7.60 7.88 7.74 7.73 6.90 7.50 - 3.85
1990 7.58 8.20 7.58 7.72 7.66 7.69 6.82 7.45 2.30 3.80
1995 7.77 8.32 7.66 7.85 7.75 7.78 6.88 7.58 2.95 3.77
2000 7.57 7.95 7.38 7.50 7.40 7.36 6.65 7.32 3.25 3.62
2010 5.54 5.60 5.10 5.25 5.30 5.25 4.80 5.20 3.10 3.30
2021 4.89 4.95 4.52 4.70 4.85 4.90 4.30 4.65 2.90 2.80
2023 4.84 4.90 4.49 4.68 4.82 4.87 4.28 4.62 2.85 2.77

Pie Chart

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (1950)

  Pashtuns (35.94%)  Tajiks (32.87%)  Hazaras (15.67%)  Uzbeks (10.02%)  Aimaks (1.51%)  Turkmens (1.05%)  Baloch (0.82%)  Nuristanis (0.61%)  Pamiris (0.71%)  Others (0.80%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (1960)

  Pashtuns (41.21%)  Tajiks (29.96%)  Hazaras (13.29%)  Uzbeks (10.04%)  Aimaks (1.71%)  Turkmens (1.12%)  Baloch (0.91%)  Nuristanis (0.63%)  Pamiris (0.83%)  Others (0.30%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (1970)

  Pashtuns (39.11%)  Tajiks (29.07%)  Hazaras (12.72%)  Uzbeks (10.03%)  Aimaks (1.82%)  Turkmens (1.23%)  Baloch (1.02%)  Nuristanis (0.71%)  Pamiris (0.91%)  Others (3.38%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (1980)

  Pashtuns (38.53%)  Tajiks (28.47%)  Hazaras (13.12%)  Uzbeks (10.04%)  Aimaks (1.93%)  Turkmens (1.31%)  Baloch (1.11%)  Nuristanis (0.73%)  Pamiris (1.06%)  Others (3.70%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (1990)

  Pashtuns (36.43%)  Tajiks (27.28%)  Hazaras (13.31%)  Uzbeks (9.71%)  Aimaks (2.03%)  Turkmens (1.41%)  Baloch (1.23%)  Nuristanis (0.75%)  Pamiris (1.05%)  Others (6.80%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (2000)

  Pashtuns (35.63%)  Tajiks (26.68%)  Hazaras (13.28%)  Uzbeks (8.91%)  Aimaks (2.08%)  Turkmens (1.42%)  Baloch (1.21%)  Nuristanis (0.74%)  Pamiris (1.05%)  Others (9.00%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (2011)

  Pashtuns (41.35%)  Tajiks (27.56%)  Hazaras (13.79%)  Uzbeks (8.64%)  Aimaks (2.11%)  Turkmens (1.54%)  Baloch (1.32%)  Nuristanis (0.83%)  Pamiris (1.06%)  Others (1.80%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (2013)

  Pashtuns (41.97%)  Tajiks (26.96%)  Hazaras (14.02%)  Uzbeks (8.51%)  Aimaks (2.13%)  Turkmens (1.55%)  Baloch (1.35%)  Nuristanis (0.82%)  Pamiris (1.09%)  Others (1.60%)

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan (2023)

  Pashtuns (39.97%)  Tajiks (25.96%)  Hazaras (14.98%)  Uzbeks (8.02%)  Aimaks (2.13%)  Turkmens (1.52%)  Baloch (1.29%)  Nuristanis (0.81%)  Pamiris (1.32%)  Others (4.00%)

Alternative Estimates for Afghanistan's Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Afghanistan based on alternative estimates
Ethnic group Image 2023 estimate based on native mother tongue 2013 estimate Pre-2004 estimates
Pashtun Children in Khost province 45% 42% 38–50%
Tajik Tajik children in Khowahan district of Badakhshan 33% 27% 20–25.3%
Hazara Hazaras on the anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari's death in 2021 in Kabul 9% 12–19%
Uzbek Uzbek looking boy in northern Afghanistan 7% 9% 6–8%
Aimak – 4% –
Turkmen 3% 3% 2.5%
Baloch Camera focusing on Baloch 1% 2% –
Others (Pashai, Nuristani, Arab, Brahui, Qizilbash, Pamiri, etc.) Young Pashai man 11% 4% 1–12%
  1. This number represents Dari Persian native speakers including Tajiks, Hazaras, Aimaks, Qizilbash and other smaller ethnicities.

The recent estimate in the above chart is somewhat supported by the below national opinion polls, which were aimed at knowing how a group of about 804 to 8,706 local residents in Afghanistan felt about the current war, political situation, as well as the economic and social issues affecting their daily lives. Ten surveys were conducted between 2004 and 2015 by the Asia Foundation (a sample is shown in the table below; the survey in 2015 did not contain information on the ethnicity of the participants) and one between 2004 and 2009 by a combined effort of the broadcasting companies NBC News, BBC, and ARD.

Answers regarding ethnicity provided by 804 to 13,943 Afghans in national opinion polls
Ethnic group "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2004)
"A survey of the Afghan people" (2004) 		"Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2005) "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2006) "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2007) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2007) "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2009) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2012) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2014) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2018) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2019)
Pashtun 46% 40% 42% 38% 40.1% 40% 40% 40% 37% 39%
Tajik 39% 37% 37% 38% 35.1% 37% 33% 36% 37% 37%
Hazara 6% 13% 12% 6% 10.0% 11% 11% 10% 10% 11%
Uzbek 6% 6% 5% 6% 8.1% 7% 9% 8% 9% 8%
Aimak 0% 0% 0% 0% 0.8% 0% 1% 1% 1% <0.5%
Turkmen 1% 1% 3% 2% 3.1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Baloch 0% 0% 0% 3% 0.7% 1% 1% 1% 1% <0.5%
Others (Pashayi, Nuristani, Kurdish, Arab, Qizilbash.) 3% 3% 1% 5% 2.1% 3% 3% 2% 2% 3%
Don't know -% -% -% -% -% -% -% -% 1% -%

Languages

Dari and Pashto are both official languages of Afghanistan.

Uzbek and Turkmen are spoken as native languages in northern provinces, mainly among the Uzbeks and Turkmens. Smaller number of Afghans are also fluent in English, Urdu, Balochi, Arabic and other languages. An approximate distribution of languages spoken in the country is shown in the chart below:

Languages of Afghanistan
Language Recent estimate including both L1 and L2 speakers Pre-1992 estimates including both L1 and L2 speakers
Dari Persian (incl. Eastern, Hazaragi & Aimaqi) 48% 37-47% (incl. 25-50% Eastern, 9% Hazaragi & 3% Aimaqi)
Pashto (incl. Northern and Southern) 78% 78-90%
Uzbek 11% 9%
English 6%
Turkmen 3% 500,000 speakers
Urdu 3%
Pashayi 1%
Nuristani 1%
Arabic 1%
Balochi 1% 200,000
note: data represent most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because there is much bilingualism in the country and because respondents were allowed to select more than one language
note: the Turkic languages Uzbek and Turkmen, as well as Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks them

Based on information from the latest national opinion polls, up to 51% stated that they can speak or understand Pashto and up to 79% stated that they can speak or understand Dari. Uzbek was spoken or understood by up to 11% and Turkmen by up to 7%. Other languages that can be spoken are Arabic (4%) and Balochi (2%).

Religion

Main article: Religion in Afghanistan
Religion in Afghanistan (2015)
Religion Percent
Sunni Islam   89.7%
Shia Islam   10%
others   0.3%
Afghan politicians and foreign diplomats praying at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

Almost the entire Afghan population is Muslim, with less than 1% being non-Muslim. Despite attempts to secularise Afghan society, Islamic practices pervade all aspects of life. Likewise, Islamic religious tradition and codes, together with traditional practices, provide the principal means of controlling personal conduct and settling legal disputes. Islam was used as the main basis for expressing opposition to the progressive reforms of Afghanistan by King Amanullah in the 1920s.

The members of Sikh and Hindu communities are mostly concentrated in urban areas. They numbered hundreds of thousands in the 1970s but over 90% have since fled due to the Afghan wars and persecution.

National opinion polls (religion)
Religion "A survey of the Afghan people" (2004) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2006) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2007) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2008) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2009) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2010) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2011) "A survey of the Afghan people" (2012)
Sunni Islam 92% " 87.3% " " " " "
Shia Islam 7% " 12.3% " " " " "
Ismailism 1% " 0.4% " " " " "
Hinduism 0% " 0.1% " " " " "
Buddhism 0% " 0% " " " " "
Sikhism 0% " 0% " " " " "

See also

References

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Further reading

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