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Demographics of Afghanistan

May 04, 2023

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

The population of Afghanistan is around 41 million as of 2023.[1] 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, Uzbeks, Nuristanis, Aimaq, Turkmen, Baloch and some others which are less known.[6][7][8] Together they make up the contemporary Afghan people.

Demographics of Afghanistan
Afghanistan population pyramid in 2023
Population41,403,465 (2023)[1]
Growth rate2.34% (2016)
Birth rate38.3 births/1,000 population (2016)
Death rate13.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016)
Life expectancy63.2 years (2019)[2][3]
 • male63.3 years
 • female63.2 years
Fertility rate5.33 children born/woman (2015)
Infant mortality rate66.3 deaths/1,000 live births[4]
Age structure
0–14 years42.3% (male 6,464,070/female 6,149,468)
15–64 years55.3% (male 8,460,486/female 8,031,968)
65 and over2.4% (male 349,349/female 380,051)
Sex ratio
At birth1.05 male/female
Under 151.03 male/female
15–64 years1.04 male/female
65 and over0.87 male/female
Nationality
Nationalitynoun: Afghan(s)
Major ethnicPashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek and others
Language
OfficialPersian (Dari)[5] and Pashto
SpokenPersian (Dari), Pashto , Uzbeki and other
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

Approximately 46% of the population is under 15 years of age, and 74% of all Afghans live in rural areas.[4] 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.[4] The average life expectancy of the nation was reported in 2019 at around 63 years,[2][3] and only 0.04% of the population has HIV.[7]

Persian(Dari) and Pashto are both the official languages of the country.[5] 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.[7] Multilingualism is common throughout the country, especially in the major cities.

Up to 89.7% of the population practices Sunni Islam and belongs to the Hanafi Islamic law school, while 10–15% are followers of Shia Islam;[7][9] 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."[10]

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.[11] According to the 1876 census, Kabul had a population of 140,700 people.[12] 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.[13]

In 1979 the total population was reported to be about 15.5 million.[14][15] 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.[16]

It is assumed that roughly 600,000 to as high as 2 million Afghans may have been killed during the various 1979–2001 wars.[17] 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.[16]

Current and latest

Main article: List of cities in Afghanistan

As of 2021, the total population of Afghanistan is around 37,466,414,[7][18] which includes the 3 million Afghan nationals living in both Pakistan and Iran.[19] About 26% of the population is urbanite and the remaining 74% lives in rural areas.[7]

Afghanistan's Central Statistics Organization (CSO) stated in 2011 that the total number of Afghans living inside Afghanistan was about 26 million[19] and by 2017 it reached 29.2 million. Of this, 15 million are males and 14.2 million are females.[20] The country's population is expected to reach 82 million by 2050.[21]

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

0–14 years: 40.62% (male 7,562,703/female 7,321,646)
15-24 years: 21.26% (male 3,960,044/female 3,828,670)
25-54 years: 31.44% (male 5,858,675/female 5,661,887)
55-64 years: 4.01% (male 724,597/female 744,910)
65 years and over: 2.68% (male 451,852/female 528,831) (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

2.34% (2021)[7]
country comparison to the world: 39

Urbanization

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

urbanisation population: 26% of the total population (2020)
rate of urbanisation: 3.37% annual rate of change (2015–20)

Sex ratio

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 (2020)

Vital statistics

UN estimates

Period Population (thousands) Live births (thousands) Deaths (thousands) Natural change (thousands) CBR1 CDR1 NC1 TFR1 Life expectancy (in years) IMR1
1950 7 480   365   284   82 48.9 37.9 10.9 7.25 27.73 285.8
1951   7 572   372   283   89 49.1 37.3 11.8 7.26 27.96 283.6
1952   7 668   378   281   97 49.3 36.6 12.7 7.26 28.45 278.8
1953   7 765   385   280   105 49.5 36.0 13.5 7.27 28.93 273.9
1954   7 864   390   280   110 49.6 35.6 14.0 7.25 29.23 269.4
1955   7 972   397   278   119 49.8 34.8 15.0 7.26 29.92 264.1
1956   8 088   404   277   127 49.9 34.3 15.7 7.27 30.41 259.3
1957   8 210   411   277   134 50.0 33.7 16.4 7.26 30.95 254.4
1958   8 334   418   276   143 50.1 33.0 17.1 7.27 31.51 249.5
1959   8 468   425   275   150 50.2 32.5 17.8 7.28 32.04 244.9
1960   8 622   434   275   159 50.3 31.9 18.4 7.28 32.54 240.5
1961   8 790   443   276   168 50.4 31.3 19.1 7.28 33.07 236.2
1962   8 969   453   277   177 50.6 30.8 19.7 7.29 33.55 232.2
1963   9 157   464   278   186 50.7 30.4 20.3 7.30 34.02 228.2
1964   9 356   475   279   196 50.8 29.9 21.0 7.30 34.49 224.3
1965   9 565   486   281   205 50.9 29.4 21.5 7.31 34.95 220.6
1966   9 783   499   282   216 51.0 28.9 22.1 7.32 35.45 216.6
1967   10 010   511   284   227 51.1 28.4 22.7 7.34 35.92 212.9
1968   10 248   524   286   238 51.1 27.9 23.3 7.36 36.42 209.1
1969   10 494   537   288   250 51.2 27.4 23.8 7.39 36.91 205.3
1970   10 753   550   289   261 51.1 26.9 24.2 7.40 37.42 201.5
1971   11 016   564   291   273 51.2 26.4 24.8 7.43 37.92 197.7
1972   11 287   577   292   285 51.1 25.8 25.3 7.45 38.44 194.0
1973   11 575   592   293   299 51.1 25.3 25.8 7.49 39.00 190.1
1974   11 870   608   294   313 51.1 24.8 26.4 7.53 39.55 186.2
1975   12 157   621   295   326 51.0 24.2 26.8 7.54 40.10 182.2
1976   12 425   635   296   339 50.9 23.7 27.2 7.56 40.65 178.3
1977   12 687   648   295   353 50.9 23.2 27.7 7.59 41.23 174.2
1978   12 939   661   310   350 50.8 23.9 26.9 7.60 40.27 172.7
1979   12 986   671   328   343 50.7 24.8 25.9 7.61 39.09 171.7
1980   12 487   661   317   344 50.5 24.2 26.3 7.59 39.62 167.8
1981   11 155   614   289   326 50.3 23.6 26.7 7.57 40.16 163.6
1982   10 088   521   266   255 50.1 25.6 24.5 7.55 37.77 165.2
1983   9 951   504   252   252 50.1 25.1 25.0 7.54 38.19 161.4
1984   10 244   507   303   204 50.2 30.0 20.2 7.51 33.33 169.7
1985   10 512   537   315   222 50.6 29.7 20.9 7.52 33.55 166.4
1986   10 448   541   253   288 50.7 23.7 27.0 7.52 39.40 150.3
1987   10 323   535   245   290 50.8 23.3 27.6 7.53 39.84 146.5
1988   10 383   532   208   324 51.0 19.9 31.0 7.53 43.96 136.0
1989   10 673   546   203   343 51.2 19.0 32.1 7.53 45.16 131.1
1990   10 695   567   204   364 51.4 18.4 33.0 7.57 45.97 127.0
1991   10 745   556   193   363 51.8 17.9 33.8 7.61 46.66 123.4
1992   12 057   579   192   387 51.9 17.2 34.7 7.67 47.60 118.3
1993   14 004   698   199   499 52.0 14.8 37.2 7.72 51.47 110.8
1994   15 456   789   222   567 52.2 14.7 37.5 7.72 51.50 107.0
1995   16 419   853   231   622 52.1 14.1 38.0 7.71 52.54 104.2
1996   17 107   887   233   654 51.9 13.6 38.2 7.71 53.24 101.2
1997   17 789   914   237   677 51.4 13.3 38.1 7.67 53.63 98.9
1998   18 493   940   251   690 50.9 13.6 37.3 7.64 52.94 97.0
1999   19 263   968   240   728 50.4 12.5 37.9 7.60 54.85 93.4
2000   19 543   996   243   753 49.7 12.1 37.6 7.53 55.30 90.8
2001   19 689   969   232   737 49.0 11.7 37.3 7.45 55.80 88.4
2002   21 000   980   229   751 48.2 11.3 36.9 7.34 56.45 85.8
2003   22 645   1 063   240   823 47.4 10.7 36.7 7.22 57.34 82.6
2004   23 554   1 097   243   854 46.3 10.3 36.1 7.07 57.94 79.9
2005   24 411   1 099   241   858 45.3 9.9 35.3 6.91 58.36 77.5
2006   25 443   1 137   246   891 44.7 9.7 35.0 6.72 58.68 74.9
2007   25 903   1 157   247   910 43.9 9.4 34.5 6.53 59.11 71.9
2008   26 427   1 092   232   859 41.5 8.8 32.7 6.38 59.85 69.2
2009   27 385   1 129   234   895 41.2 8.5 32.6 6.24 60.36 67.2
2010   28 190   1 148   233   914 40.6 8.3 32.3 6.10 60.85 64.8
2011   29 249   1 158   230   927 39.9 7.9 31.9 5.96 61.42 62.3
2012   30 466   1 217   235   983 40.0 7.7 32.3 5.83 61.92 60.0
2013   31 541   1 248   236   1 013 39.6 7.5 32.1 5.70 62.42 57.8
2014   32 716   1 275   241   1 034 39.1 7.4 31.7 5.56 62.55 56.3
2015   33 753   1 316   249   1 067 38.8 7.3 31.5 5.41 62.66 54.5
2016   34 636   1 316   245   1 070 37.9 7.1 30.9 5.26 63.14 52.5
2017   35 643   1 332   251   1 081 37.3 7.0 30.3 5.13 63.02 49.4
2018   36 687   1 356   256   1 100 36.9 7.0 29.9 5.00 63.08 47.8
2019   37 769   1 378   257   1 121 36.5 6.8 29.7 4.87 63.57 46.7
2020   38 972   1 402   277   1 126 36.1 7.1 28.9 4.75 62.58 45.8
2021   40 099   1 441   295   1 146 35.8 7.3 28.5 4.64 61.98 44.7
1 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:[22]

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[23]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
2010 35.6 5.1 34.7 4.5 35.9 5.2
2015 36.8 5.3 (4.4) 35.8 4.8 (3.7) 37.1 5.4 (4.6)

Fertility data by province (DHS Program):[24]

Province Total fertility rate
(2015)
Kabul 4.6
Kapisa 4.8
Parwan 5.7
Wardak 4.2
Logar 4.2
Nangarhar 6.4
Laghman 7.3
Panjshir 3.2
Baghlan 4.4
Bamyan 5.4
Ghazni 2.8
Paktika 5.3
Paktia 5.2
Khost 5.6
Kunar 6.8
Nuristan 8.9
Badakhshan 5.3
Takhar 5.7
Kunduz 4.4
Samangan 5.1
Balkh 5.5
Sar-e Pol 4.8
Ghor 5.8
Daykundi 5.2
Urozgan 8.8
Zabul 5.1
Kandahar 6.5
Jawzjan 3.9
Faryab 6.2
Helmand 4.7
Badghis 6.6
Herat 4.8
Farah 5.4
Nimruz 5.4

Structure of the population

 
An Afghan family from the Pashtun tribe 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):[25]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group 2012:

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):[26]

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

total population: 63.2 years (2019)[2][3][27]
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 63.3 years (2019)[2]
female: 63.2 years (2019)[2]

 
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[28]

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)[7]
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)[7]

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

Up to 6,900 (2015 estimate)[7][29]

In 2008, health officials in Afghanistan reported 504[30] 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.[31] 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."[32] 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)[7]

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.[citation needed]

Ethnic groups

Further information: Ethnic groups in Afghanistan

In recent years, a nationwide distribution of Afghan e-ID cards (e-Tazkiras) began. The ethnicity of each citizen is provided in the application. This process is expected to reveal the exact figures about the size and composition of the country's ethnic groups.[33] Article Four of the Afghan Constitution mentions 14 ethnic groups by names but some Afghans belong to other such groups.[6] 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
Ethnic groups in Afghanistan
Ethnic group Image Estimate based on the ethnicity of Afghan MPs in 2010 2013 estimate[34] Pre-2004 estimates[35][36][37]
Pashtun   38.5% 42% 38-44%
Tajik/Qizilbash   21.3% 27% 25–26.3% (of this 1% is Qizilbash)
Hazara/Sayyid   24.5% (figure includes Sayyids) 9% 12-19%
Uzbek   6% 9% 6-8%
Aimak 3.2% 4% 500,000-800,000 individuals
Turkmen 1.2% 3% 2.5%
Baloch   0.5% 2% 100,000 individuals
Others (Pashai, Nuristani, Arab, Brahui, Kurds, Pamiri, Gujjar, etc.)   4.9% 4% 6.9%

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.[38][39]

Answers regarding ethnicity provided by 804 to 13,943 Afghans in national opinion polls
Ethnic group "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2004)[39]
"A survey of the Afghan people" (2004)[38]		 "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2005)[39] "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2006)[39] "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2007)[39] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2007)[38] "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (2009)[39] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2012)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2014)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2018)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2019)[38]
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 the official languages of Afghanistan.[5]

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[40] Pre-1992 estimates including both L1 and L2 speakers[35][41][42]
Dari Persian (incl. Eastern, Hazaragi & Aimaqi) 78% 37-62% (incl. 25-50% Eastern, 9% Hazaragi & 3% Aimaqi)
Pashto (incl. Northern and Southern) 50% 35-50%
Uzbek 10% 9%
English 6%
Turkmen 2% 500,000 speakers
Urdu 1%
Pashayi 1%
Nuristani 1%
Arabic 1%
Balochi 1% 200,000
1 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[40]

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%).[38][39]

Religion

Main article: Religion in Afghanistan
Religion in Afghanistan (2015)[43]
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.[44]

National opinion polls (religion)
Religion "A survey of the Afghan people" (2004)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2006)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2007)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2008)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2009)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2010)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2011)[38] "A survey of the Afghan people" (2012)[38]
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

  1. ^ a b "Afghanistan Population (2021) - Worldometer".
  2. ^ a b c d e "Afghanistan". World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Afghanistan". United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Afghanistan". UNESCO. 27 November 2016. from the original on 10 May 2017.
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    • "Afghanistan in 2019 – A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. p. 277. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021. D-14. Which ethnic group do you belong to?
    • (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. p. 243. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018. D-14. WHICH ETHNIC GROUP DO YOU BELONG TO?
    • "Afghanistan in 2012 – A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. p. 182. (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. Ethnicity Status
    • "Afghanistan in 2010 – A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. 2010. pp. 225–226. (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011. D-9. Which ethnic group do you belong to? SINGLE RESPONSE ONLY Pashtun 48%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 9%, Hazara 10%, Turkmen 2%, Baloch 1%, Nuristani 1%, Aimak 2%, Arab 2%
    • "Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. (PDF) from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. The 2009 survey interviewed 6,406 Afghans (53% men and 47% women)
    • "Afghanistan in 2010 – A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. The 2008 survey interviewed 6,593 Afghans...
    • "Afghanistan in 2007 – A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. 2010. pp. 225–226. (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011. The 2007 survey interviewed 6,406 Afghans, Which ethnic group do you belong to? SINGLE RESPONSE ONLY Pashtun 55%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 8%, Hazara 15%, Turkmen 8%, Baloch 1%, Nuristani 1%, Aimak 1%, Arab 1%
    • (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. pp. 83–88. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. A total of 6,226 respondents were surveyed in the study, out of which 4888 (78.5%) were from the rural areas and 1338 (22%) were from the urban areas. Ethnicity: Pashtun 40.9, Tajik 37.1, Uzbek 9.2, Hazara 9.2, Turkmen 1.7, Baloch 0.5, Nuristani 0.4, Aimak 0.1, Arab 0.7, Pashayi 0.3
    • "Afghanistan in 2004 – A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. 2004. (PDF) from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. The 2004 survey interviewed 804 Afghans, Which ethnic group do you belong to? Pashtun 40%, Tajik 39%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 6%, Turkmen 1%, Baloch 0%, Nuristani 1%, Aimak 0%, Arab 1%, Pashaye 0%, Other 1%.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g "ABC NEWS/BBC/ARD poll - Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (PDF). ABC News. Kabul, Afghanistan. pp. 38–40. (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
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  41. ^ "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages". Ch. M. Kieffer. Encyclopædia Iranica. from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2010. A. Official languages. Pashto (1) is the language most spoken in Afghanistan. The native tongue of 65-70% of the population. Persian (2) is the native tongue of 30-35% of Afghans. Persian is split into numerous dialects.
  42. ^ . SIL International. Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  43. ^ "Afghanistan, Religion and Social Profile".
  44. ^ "Nearly 99% Of Hindus, Sikhs Left Afghanistan in Last Three decades". TOLOnews. 20 June 2016.
  45. ^ "Last Jew in Afghanistan en route to US: report". The New Arab. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  46. ^ Mehrdad, Ezzatullah (16 July 2019). "Kabul, with Jewish population of 1, still suffers from widespread anti-Semitism". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 September 2021.

Further reading

  • Banting, Erinn. Afghanistan the People. Crabtree Publishing Company, 2003. ISBN 0-7787-9336-2.
  • Caroe, Olaf (1958). The Pathans: 500 B.C.-A.D. 1957. Oxford in Asia Historical Reprints. Oxford University Press, 1983. ISBN 0-19-577221-0.
  • Dupree, Nancy Hatch. An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Air Authority, Afghan Tourist Organization, 1977.
  • Elphinstone, Mountstuart. 1819. An account of the kingdom of Caubul, and its dependencies in Persia, Tartary, and India: Comprising a view of the Afghaun nation, and a history of the Dooraunee monarchy. Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, and J. Murry, 1819.
  • Habibi, Abdul Hai. 2003. "Afghanistan: An Abridged History." Fenestra Books. ISBN 1-58736-169-8.
  • Hopkins, B. D. 2008. The Making of Modern Afghanistan. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. ISBN 0-230-55421-0.
  • Reddy, L. R. Inside Afghanistan: end of the Taliban era?. APH Publishing, 2002. ISBN 81-7648-319-2.
  • Amy Romano. A Historical Atlas of Afghanistan. The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003. ISBN 0-8239-3863-8.
  • Vogelsang, Willem. The Afghans. Wiley-Blackwell, 2002. Oxford, UK & Massachusettes, USA. ISBN 0-631-19841-5.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to People of Afghanistan.

May 04, 2023
demographics, afghanistan, this, article, about, population, country, afghanistan, ethnic, groups, ethnic, groups, afghanistan, population, afghanistan, around, million, 2023, nation, composed, multi, ethnic, multilingual, society, reflecting, location, astrid. This article is about the population of the country of Afghanistan For ethnic groups see Ethnic groups in Afghanistan The population of Afghanistan is around 41 million as of 2023 1 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 Uzbeks Nuristanis Aimaq Turkmen Baloch and some others which are less known 6 7 8 Together they make up the contemporary Afghan people Demographics of AfghanistanAfghanistan population pyramid in 2023Population41 403 465 2023 1 Growth rate2 34 2016 Birth rate38 3 births 1 000 population 2016 Death rate13 7 deaths 1 000 population 2016 Life expectancy63 2 years 2019 2 3 male63 3 years female63 2 yearsFertility rate5 33 children born woman 2015 Infant mortality rate66 3 deaths 1 000 live births 4 Age structure0 14 years42 3 male 6 464 070 female 6 149 468 15 64 years55 3 male 8 460 486 female 8 031 968 65 and over2 4 male 349 349 female 380 051 Sex ratioAt birth1 05 male femaleUnder 151 03 male female15 64 years1 04 male female65 and over0 87 male femaleNationalityNationalitynoun Afghan s Major ethnicPashtun Tajik Hazara Uzbek and othersLanguageOfficialPersian Dari 5 and PashtoSpokenPersian Dari Pashto Uzbeki and otherPopulation fertility rate and net reproduction rate United Nations estimates Approximately 46 of the population is under 15 years of age and 74 of all Afghans live in rural areas 4 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 4 The average life expectancy of the nation was reported in 2019 at around 63 years 2 3 and only 0 04 of the population has HIV 7 Persian Dari and Pashto are both the official languages of the country 5 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 7 Multilingualism is common throughout the country especially in the major cities Up to 89 7 of the population practices Sunni Islam and belongs to the Hanafi Islamic law school while 10 15 are followers of Shia Islam 7 9 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 Contents 1 Population statistics 1 1 Historical 1 2 Current and latest 1 3 Age structure 1 4 Population growth rate 1 5 Urbanization 1 6 Sex ratio 2 Vital statistics 2 1 UN estimates 2 2 Fertility and births 2 3 Structure of the population 2 4 Life expectancy 3 Development and health indicators 3 1 Literacy 3 2 School life expectancy primary to tertiary education 3 3 HIV AIDS adult prevalence rate 3 4 HIV AIDS people living with HIV AIDS 3 5 HIV AIDS deaths 3 6 Major infectious diseases 4 Ethnic groups 5 Languages 6 Religion 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksPopulation statistics EditFurther 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 10 Historical Edit 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 11 According to the 1876 census Kabul had a population of 140 700 people 12 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 13 In 1979 the total population was reported to be about 15 5 million 14 15 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 16 It is assumed that roughly 600 000 to as high as 2 million Afghans may have been killed during the various 1979 2001 wars 17 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 16 Current and latest Edit Main article List of cities in Afghanistan As of 2021 the total population of Afghanistan is around 37 466 414 7 18 which includes the 3 million Afghan nationals living in both Pakistan and Iran 19 About 26 of the population is urbanite and the remaining 74 lives in rural areas 7 Afghanistan s Central Statistics Organization CSO stated in 2011 that the total number of Afghans living inside Afghanistan was about 26 million 19 and by 2017 it reached 29 2 million Of this 15 million are males and 14 2 million are females 20 The country s population is expected to reach 82 million by 2050 21 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 Edit Population pyramid 2016 0 14 years 40 62 male 7 562 703 female 7 321 646 15 24 years 21 26 male 3 960 044 female 3 828 670 25 54 years 31 44 male 5 858 675 female 5 661 887 55 64 years 4 01 male 724 597 female 744 910 65 years and over 2 68 male 451 852 female 528 831 2020 est Population growth rate Edit 2 34 2021 7 country comparison to the world 39 Urbanization Edit Young Afghans at a music festival inside the Gardens of Babur in Kabul urbanisation population 26 of the total population 2020 rate of urbanisation 3 37 annual rate of change 2015 20 Sex ratio Edit 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 2020 Vital statistics EditUN estimates Edit Period Population thousands Live births thousands Deaths thousands Natural change thousands CBR1 CDR1 NC1 TFR1 Life expectancy in years IMR11950 7 480 365 284 82 48 9 37 9 10 9 7 25 27 73 285 81951 7 572 372 283 89 49 1 37 3 11 8 7 26 27 96 283 61952 7 668 378 281 97 49 3 36 6 12 7 7 26 28 45 278 81953 7 765 385 280 105 49 5 36 0 13 5 7 27 28 93 273 91954 7 864 390 280 110 49 6 35 6 14 0 7 25 29 23 269 41955 7 972 397 278 119 49 8 34 8 15 0 7 26 29 92 264 11956 8 088 404 277 127 49 9 34 3 15 7 7 27 30 41 259 31957 8 210 411 277 134 50 0 33 7 16 4 7 26 30 95 254 41958 8 334 418 276 143 50 1 33 0 17 1 7 27 31 51 249 51959 8 468 425 275 150 50 2 32 5 17 8 7 28 32 04 244 91960 8 622 434 275 159 50 3 31 9 18 4 7 28 32 54 240 51961 8 790 443 276 168 50 4 31 3 19 1 7 28 33 07 236 21962 8 969 453 277 177 50 6 30 8 19 7 7 29 33 55 232 21963 9 157 464 278 186 50 7 30 4 20 3 7 30 34 02 228 21964 9 356 475 279 196 50 8 29 9 21 0 7 30 34 49 224 31965 9 565 486 281 205 50 9 29 4 21 5 7 31 34 95 220 61966 9 783 499 282 216 51 0 28 9 22 1 7 32 35 45 216 61967 10 010 511 284 227 51 1 28 4 22 7 7 34 35 92 212 91968 10 248 524 286 238 51 1 27 9 23 3 7 36 36 42 209 11969 10 494 537 288 250 51 2 27 4 23 8 7 39 36 91 205 31970 10 753 550 289 261 51 1 26 9 24 2 7 40 37 42 201 51971 11 016 564 291 273 51 2 26 4 24 8 7 43 37 92 197 71972 11 287 577 292 285 51 1 25 8 25 3 7 45 38 44 194 01973 11 575 592 293 299 51 1 25 3 25 8 7 49 39 00 190 11974 11 870 608 294 313 51 1 24 8 26 4 7 53 39 55 186 21975 12 157 621 295 326 51 0 24 2 26 8 7 54 40 10 182 21976 12 425 635 296 339 50 9 23 7 27 2 7 56 40 65 178 31977 12 687 648 295 353 50 9 23 2 27 7 7 59 41 23 174 21978 12 939 661 310 350 50 8 23 9 26 9 7 60 40 27 172 71979 12 986 671 328 343 50 7 24 8 25 9 7 61 39 09 171 71980 12 487 661 317 344 50 5 24 2 26 3 7 59 39 62 167 81981 11 155 614 289 326 50 3 23 6 26 7 7 57 40 16 163 61982 10 088 521 266 255 50 1 25 6 24 5 7 55 37 77 165 21983 9 951 504 252 252 50 1 25 1 25 0 7 54 38 19 161 41984 10 244 507 303 204 50 2 30 0 20 2 7 51 33 33 169 71985 10 512 537 315 222 50 6 29 7 20 9 7 52 33 55 166 41986 10 448 541 253 288 50 7 23 7 27 0 7 52 39 40 150 31987 10 323 535 245 290 50 8 23 3 27 6 7 53 39 84 146 51988 10 383 532 208 324 51 0 19 9 31 0 7 53 43 96 136 01989 10 673 546 203 343 51 2 19 0 32 1 7 53 45 16 131 11990 10 695 567 204 364 51 4 18 4 33 0 7 57 45 97 127 01991 10 745 556 193 363 51 8 17 9 33 8 7 61 46 66 123 41992 12 057 579 192 387 51 9 17 2 34 7 7 67 47 60 118 31993 14 004 698 199 499 52 0 14 8 37 2 7 72 51 47 110 81994 15 456 789 222 567 52 2 14 7 37 5 7 72 51 50 107 01995 16 419 853 231 622 52 1 14 1 38 0 7 71 52 54 104 21996 17 107 887 233 654 51 9 13 6 38 2 7 71 53 24 101 21997 17 789 914 237 677 51 4 13 3 38 1 7 67 53 63 98 91998 18 493 940 251 690 50 9 13 6 37 3 7 64 52 94 97 01999 19 263 968 240 728 50 4 12 5 37 9 7 60 54 85 93 42000 19 543 996 243 753 49 7 12 1 37 6 7 53 55 30 90 82001 19 689 969 232 737 49 0 11 7 37 3 7 45 55 80 88 42002 21 000 980 229 751 48 2 11 3 36 9 7 34 56 45 85 82003 22 645 1 063 240 823 47 4 10 7 36 7 7 22 57 34 82 62004 23 554 1 097 243 854 46 3 10 3 36 1 7 07 57 94 79 92005 24 411 1 099 241 858 45 3 9 9 35 3 6 91 58 36 77 52006 25 443 1 137 246 891 44 7 9 7 35 0 6 72 58 68 74 92007 25 903 1 157 247 910 43 9 9 4 34 5 6 53 59 11 71 92008 26 427 1 092 232 859 41 5 8 8 32 7 6 38 59 85 69 22009 27 385 1 129 234 895 41 2 8 5 32 6 6 24 60 36 67 22010 28 190 1 148 233 914 40 6 8 3 32 3 6 10 60 85 64 82011 29 249 1 158 230 927 39 9 7 9 31 9 5 96 61 42 62 32012 30 466 1 217 235 983 40 0 7 7 32 3 5 83 61 92 60 02013 31 541 1 248 236 1 013 39 6 7 5 32 1 5 70 62 42 57 82014 32 716 1 275 241 1 034 39 1 7 4 31 7 5 56 62 55 56 32015 33 753 1 316 249 1 067 38 8 7 3 31 5 5 41 62 66 54 52016 34 636 1 316 245 1 070 37 9 7 1 30 9 5 26 63 14 52 52017 35 643 1 332 251 1 081 37 3 7 0 30 3 5 13 63 02 49 42018 36 687 1 356 256 1 100 36 9 7 0 29 9 5 00 63 08 47 82019 37 769 1 378 257 1 121 36 5 6 8 29 7 4 87 63 57 46 72020 38 972 1 402 277 1 126 36 1 7 1 28 9 4 75 62 58 45 82021 40 099 1 441 295 1 146 35 8 7 3 28 5 4 64 61 98 44 71 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 birthsSource 22 Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues Fertility and births Edit Total Fertility Rate TFR Wanted Fertility Rate and Crude Birth Rate CBR 23 Year CBR Total TFR Total CBR Urban TFR Urban CBR Rural TFR Rural 2010 35 6 5 1 34 7 4 5 35 9 5 22015 36 8 5 3 4 4 35 8 4 8 3 7 37 1 5 4 4 6 Fertility data by province DHS Program 24 Province Total fertility rate 2015 Kabul 4 6Kapisa 4 8Parwan 5 7Wardak 4 2Logar 4 2Nangarhar 6 4Laghman 7 3Panjshir 3 2Baghlan 4 4Bamyan 5 4Ghazni 2 8Paktika 5 3Paktia 5 2Khost 5 6Kunar 6 8Nuristan 8 9Badakhshan 5 3Takhar 5 7Kunduz 4 4Samangan 5 1Balkh 5 5Sar e Pol 4 8Ghor 5 8Daykundi 5 2Urozgan 8 8Zabul 5 1Kandahar 6 5Jawzjan 3 9Faryab 6 2Helmand 4 7Badghis 6 6Herat 4 8Farah 5 4Nimruz 5 4Structure of the population Edit An Afghan family from the Pashtun tribe 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 25 Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group 2012 Age Group Male Female Total Total 13 044 400 12 455 700 25 500 100 1000 4 2 422 244 2 556 304 4 978 548 19 525 9 1 941 363 1 880 407 3 821 770 14 9910 14 1 556 158 1 401 695 2 957 853 11 6015 19 1 276 563 1 140 810 2 417 373 9 4820 24 1 059 939 1 009 807 2 069 746 8 1225 29 843 967 864 738 1 708 705 6 7030 34 678 577 745 534 1 424 111 5 5835 39 598 045 652 326 1 250 371 4 9040 44 546 102 533 524 1 079 626 4 2345 49 495 190 440 789 935 979 3 6750 54 435 143 354 633 789 776 3 1055 59 360 394 275 468 635 862 2 4960 64 281 627 209 152 490 779 1 9265 69 204 376 150 137 354 513 1 3970 74 141 729 102 048 243 777 0 9675 79 91 164 64 658 155 822 0 6180 84 55 446 38 699 94 145 0 3785 56 373 34 971 91 344 0 36Age group Male Female Total Percent0 14 5 919 765 5 838 406 11 758 171 46 1115 64 6 575 547 6 226 781 12 802 328 50 2165 549 088 390 513 939 601 3 68Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group 01 VII 2020 26 Age Group Male Female Total Total 15 981 303 15 408 868 31 390 171 1000 4 2 853 288 2 743 103 5 596 391 17 835 9 2 542 405 2 379 618 4 922 023 15 6810 14 2 220 065 2 026 796 4 246 861 13 5315 19 1 840 432 1 727 287 3 567 719 11 3720 24 1 371 188 1 463 797 2 834 985 9 0325 29 1 079 117 1 177 555 2 256 672 7 1930 34 828 055 818 313 1 646 368 5 2435 39 674 920 661 949 1 336 869 4 2640 44 577 135 611 016 1 188 151 3 7945 49 480 700 511 608 992 308 3 1650 54 381 772 396 026 777 798 2 4855 59 320 024 308 966 628 990 2 0060 64 286 732 229 605 516 337 1 6465 69 222 590 161 851 384 441 1 2270 74 150 436 99 412 249 848 0 8075 79 70 271 42 288 112 559 0 3680 84 48 540 26 549 75 089 0 2485 33 633 23 129 56 762 0 18Age group Male Female Total Percent0 14 7 615 758 7 149 517 14 765 275 47 0415 64 7 840 075 7 906 122 15 746 197 50 1665 525 470 353 229 878 699 2 80Life expectancy Edit total population 63 2 years 2019 2 3 27 country comparison to the world 214 male 63 3 years 2019 2 female 63 2 years 2019 2 Life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan Period Life expectancy inYears Period Life expectancy inYears1950 1955 28 6 1985 1990 47 71955 1960 31 1 1990 1995 51 71960 1965 33 4 1995 2000 54 21965 1970 35 6 2000 2005 56 91970 1975 37 8 2005 2010 60 01975 1980 40 4 2010 2015 62 31980 1985 43 6 2015 2020 63 2Source UN World Population Prospects 28 Development and health indicators EditMain articles Health in Afghanistan Healthcare in Afghanistan and Education in Afghanistan Gathering of students in 2006 at a school in Nangarhar Province Literacy Edit Definition People over the age of 15 that can read and write Total population 43 2018 7 Male 55 5 Female 29 8 School life expectancy primary to tertiary education Edit total 10 years male 13 years female 8 years 2018 HIV AIDS adult prevalence rate Edit 0 04 2015 7 HIV AIDS people living with HIV AIDS Edit Up to 6 900 2015 estimate 7 29 In 2008 health officials in Afghanistan reported 504 30 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 31 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 32 There are approximately 23 000 addicts in the country who inject drugs into their bodies using syringescountry comparison to the world 168 HIV AIDS deaths Edit Up to 300 2015 estimate 7 Major infectious diseases Edit Degree of risk high Food or waterborne diseases bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea hepatitis A and typhoid fever Vector borne diseases malaria Animal contact diseases rabiesNote WH5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country it poses a negligible risk as of 2009 citation needed Ethnic groups EditFurther information Ethnic groups in Afghanistan In recent years a nationwide distribution of Afghan e ID cards e Tazkiras began The ethnicity of each citizen is provided in the application This process is expected to reveal the exact figures about the size and composition of the country s ethnic groups 33 Article Four of the Afghan Constitution mentions 14 ethnic groups by names but some Afghans belong to other such groups 6 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 Ethnic groups in Afghanistan Ethnic group Image Estimate based on the ethnicity of Afghan MPs in 2010 2013 estimate 34 Pre 2004 estimates 35 36 37 Pashtun 38 5 42 38 44 Tajik Qizilbash 21 3 27 25 26 3 of this 1 is Qizilbash Hazara Sayyid 24 5 figure includes Sayyids 9 12 19 Uzbek 6 9 6 8 Aimak 3 2 4 500 000 800 000 individualsTurkmen 1 2 3 2 5 Baloch 0 5 2 100 000 individualsOthers Pashai Nuristani Arab Brahui Kurds Pamiri Gujjar etc 4 9 4 6 9 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 38 39 Answers regarding ethnicity provided by 804 to 13 943 Afghans in national opinion polls Ethnic group Afghanistan Where Things Stand 2004 39 A survey of the Afghan people 2004 38 Afghanistan Where Things Stand 2005 39 Afghanistan Where Things Stand 2006 39 Afghanistan Where Things Stand 2007 39 A survey of the Afghan people 2007 38 Afghanistan Where Things Stand 2009 39 A survey of the Afghan people 2012 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2014 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2018 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2019 38 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 lt 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 lt 0 5 Others Pashayi Nuristani Kurdish Arab Qizilbash 3 3 1 5 2 1 3 3 2 2 3 Don t know 1 Languages EditDari and Pashto are both the official languages of Afghanistan 5 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 40 Pre 1992 estimates including both L1 and L2 speakers 35 41 42 Dari Persian incl Eastern Hazaragi amp Aimaqi 78 37 62 incl 25 50 Eastern 9 Hazaragi amp 3 Aimaqi Pashto incl Northern and Southern 50 35 50 Uzbek 10 9 English 6 Turkmen 2 500 000 speakersUrdu 1 Pashayi 1 Nuristani 1 Arabic 1 Balochi 1 200 0001 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 languagenote 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 40 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 38 39 Religion EditMain article Religion in Afghanistan Religion in Afghanistan 2015 43 Religion PercentSunni 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 44 Islam 100 of the total population Sunni Muslim 84 7 89 7 7 9 Shia Muslim 7 9 15 7 9 others 0 00001 Baha is 0 Sikhism 43 Hinduism 0 Zoroastrianism 0 Christianity 0 Judaism 0 45 46 Buddhism 0National opinion polls religion Religion A survey of the Afghan people 2004 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2006 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2007 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2008 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2009 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2010 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2011 38 A survey of the Afghan people 2012 38 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 Edit Afghanistan portal Culture of Afghanistan Turks in Afghanistan Tajiks in Afghanistan Afghan Turkmens Afghan KurdsReferences Edit a b Afghanistan Population 2021 Worldometer a b c d e Afghanistan World Health Organization WHO Retrieved 1 March 2021 a b c Afghanistan United Nations Development Programme UNDP 2020 Retrieved 1 March 2021 a b c Afghanistan UNESCO 27 November 2016 Archived from the original on 10 May 2017 a b c Article Sixteen of the Constitution of Afghanistan 2004 Archived from the original on 28 October 2013 Retrieved 25 July 2012 From among the languages of Pashto Dari Uzbeki Turkmani Baluchi Pashai Nuristani Pamiri alsana Arab and other languages spoken in the country Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state a b Critics New Categories on Afghan IDs Will Incite Ethnic Tension TOLOnews 17 March 2021 Retrieved 17 March 2021 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Afghanistan The World Factbook CIA Retrieved 1 March 2021 Lieven Anatol 21 April 2016 What Chance for Afghanistan The New York Review of Books Archived from the original on 22 April 2016 a b c d Chapter 1 Religious Affiliation The World s Muslims Unity and Diversity Pew Research Center s Religion amp Public Life Project 9 August 2012 Archived from the original on 26 December 2016 Retrieved 4 September 2013 Lieven Anatol 2021 An Afghan Tragedy The Pashtuns the Taliban and the State Survival Global Politics and Strategy 63 3 7 36 doi 10 1080 00396338 2021 1930403 CENSUS ii In Afghanistan Encyclopaedia Iranica Gazetteer of Afghanistan VI p 333 Kandahar Newsletter 10 August 1891 IOR L P amp S 7 63 1295 United Nations and Afghanistan UN News Centre Retrieved 29 December 2013 Archived 31 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Chapter 2 The Society and Its Environment PDF Afghanistan Country Study Illinois Institute of Technology pp 105 06 Archived from the original PDF on 3 November 2001 Retrieved 12 October 2010 a b Population U S Library of Congress 2008 Archived from the original on 19 July 2011 Retrieved 12 October 2010 Afghanistan 1979 2001 Archived from the original on 5 March 2011 Retrieved 12 October 2010 Afghanistan Worldmeters worldmeters info Retrieved 30 May 2019 a b Mohammad Jawad Sharifzada ed 20 November 2011 Afghanistan s population reaches 26m Pajhwok Afghan News Archived from the original on 1 January 2013 Retrieved 5 December 2011 Hamdard Azizullah 10 May 2017 Afghan Population 29 2 Million pajhwok com Archived from the original on 11 October 2017 Afghanistan Population Reference Bureau Population Reference Bureau Archived from the original on 2 December 2013 Retrieved 29 December 2009 World Population Prospects Population Division United Nations United Nations Retrieved 13 July 2022 The DHS Program Quality information to plan monitor and improve population health and nutrition programs PDF Archived PDF from the original on 19 October 2014 Retrieved 30 June 2014 STATcompiler statcompiler com Retrieved 17 February 2020 United Nations Statistics Division Demographic and Social Statistics United Nations Archived from the original on 31 March 2016 Demographic Yearbook 2020 New York United Nations Statistics Division Retrieved 18 May 2022 Life expectancy in Afghanistan rises past 60 years Pajhwok Afghan News 30 November 2011 Archived from the original on 14 May 2012 Retrieved 5 December 2011 World Population Prospects Population Division United Nations Retrieved 15 July 2017 50pc surge in HIV cases says Dalil Pajhwok Afghan News 3 December 2011 Archived from the original on 23 May 2013 Retrieved 5 December 2011 Children at risk of contracting HIV AIDS in Afghanistan Archived 30 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine 1 December 2008 Over 1 300 HIV cases registered in Afghanistan Pajhwok Afghan News 1 December 2012 Archived from the original on 23 May 2013 Retrieved 2 December 2012 AIDS patients have doubled in Kandahar Official Pajhwok Afghan News 2 December 2012 Archived from the original on 23 May 2013 Retrieved 3 December 2012 Abasin Zaheer ed 26 May 2013 Senators stress caution in ID cards issuance Pajhwok Afghan News Archived from the original on 12 June 2014 Retrieved 4 May 2013 The World Factbook cia gov Archived from the original on 14 October 2013 Retrieved 11 January 2022 a b The World Factbok Afghanistan The World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency University of Missouri 15 October 1991 Archived from the original on 27 April 2011 Retrieved 20 March 2011 Ethnic divisions 50 Pashtun 25 Tajik 9 Uzbek 12 15 Hazara minor ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks Turkmen Baloch and others Language 50 Pashtu 35 Afghan Persian Dari 11 Turkic languages primarily Uzbek and Turkmen 4 thirty minor languages primarily Balochi and Pashai much bilingualism Ethnic Groups Library of Congress Country Studies 1997 Archived from the original on 10 January 2009 Retrieved 8 October 2010 PEOPLE Ethnic divisions The World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency University of Missouri 22 January 1993 Retrieved 20 March 2011 Pashtun 36 Tajik 43 Uzbek 4 Hazara 4 7 minor ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks Turkmen Baloch and others a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p See Afghanistan in 2019 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation p 277 Archived from the original PDF on 15 September 2021 Retrieved 15 September 2021 D 14 Which ethnic group do you belong to Afghanistan in 2018 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation p 243 Archived from the original PDF on 7 August 2019 Retrieved 31 December 2018 D 14 WHICH ETHNIC GROUP DO YOU BELONG TO Afghanistan in 2012 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation p 182 Archived PDF from the original on 15 November 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 Ethnicity Status Afghanistan in 2010 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation 2010 pp 225 226 Archived PDF from the original on 19 July 2011 Retrieved 20 March 2011 D 9 Which ethnic group do you belong to SINGLE RESPONSE ONLY Pashtun 48 Tajik 25 Uzbek 9 Hazara 10 Turkmen 2 Baloch 1 Nuristani 1 Aimak 2 Arab 2 Afghanistan in 2009 A Survey of the Afghan People PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation Archived PDF from the original on 7 September 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 The 2009 survey interviewed 6 406 Afghans 53 men and 47 women Afghanistan in 2010 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation Archived PDF from the original on 5 September 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 The 2008 survey interviewed 6 593 Afghans Afghanistan in 2007 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation 2010 pp 225 226 Archived PDF from the original on 13 August 2011 Retrieved 20 March 2011 The 2007 survey interviewed 6 406 Afghans Which ethnic group do you belong to SINGLE RESPONSE ONLY Pashtun 55 Tajik 25 Uzbek 8 Hazara 15 Turkmen 8 Baloch 1 Nuristani 1 Aimak 1 Arab 1 Afghanistan in 2006 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation pp 83 88 Archived from the original PDF on 13 April 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 A total of 6 226 respondents were surveyed in the study out of which 4888 78 5 were from the rural areas and 1338 22 were from the urban areas Ethnicity Pashtun 40 9 Tajik 37 1 Uzbek 9 2 Hazara 9 2 Turkmen 1 7 Baloch 0 5 Nuristani 0 4 Aimak 0 1 Arab 0 7 Pashayi 0 3 Afghanistan in 2004 A survey of the Afghan people PDF Kabul Afghanistan The Asia Foundation 2004 Archived PDF from the original on 6 September 2012 Retrieved 28 November 2012 The 2004 survey interviewed 804 Afghans Which ethnic group do you belong to Pashtun 40 Tajik 39 Uzbek 6 Hazara 6 Turkmen 1 Baloch 0 Nuristani 1 Aimak 0 Arab 1 Pashaye 0 Other 1 a b c d e f g ABC NEWS BBC ARD poll Afghanistan Where Things Stand PDF ABC News Kabul Afghanistan pp 38 40 Archived PDF from the original on 28 June 2011 Retrieved 29 October 2010 a b Languages the World Factbook AFGHANISTAN v Languages Ch M Kieffer Encyclopaedia Iranica Archived from the original on 29 April 2011 Retrieved 10 October 2010 A Official languages Pashto 1 is the language most spoken in Afghanistan The native tongue of 65 70 of the population Persian 2 is the native tongue of 30 35 of Afghans Persian is split into numerous dialects Languages of Afghanistan SIL International Ethnologue Languages of the World Archived from the original on 30 January 2009 Retrieved 18 September 2010 Afghanistan Religion and Social Profile Nearly 99 Of Hindus Sikhs Left Afghanistan in Last Three decades TOLOnews 20 June 2016 Last Jew in Afghanistan en route to US report The New Arab 7 September 2021 Retrieved 17 September 2021 Mehrdad Ezzatullah 16 July 2019 Kabul with Jewish population of 1 still suffers from widespread anti Semitism The Times of Israel Retrieved 9 September 2021 Further reading EditBanting Erinn Afghanistan the People Crabtree Publishing Company 2003 ISBN 0 7787 9336 2 Caroe Olaf 1958 The Pathans 500 B C A D 1957 Oxford in Asia Historical Reprints Oxford University Press 1983 ISBN 0 19 577221 0 Dupree Nancy Hatch An Historical Guide to Afghanistan 2nd Edition Revised and Enlarged Afghan Air Authority Afghan Tourist Organization 1977 Elphinstone Mountstuart 1819 An account of the kingdom of Caubul and its dependencies in Persia Tartary and India Comprising a view of the Afghaun nation and a history of the Dooraunee monarchy Printed for Longman Hurst Rees Orme and Brown and J Murry 1819 Habibi Abdul Hai 2003 Afghanistan An Abridged History Fenestra Books ISBN 1 58736 169 8 Hopkins B D 2008 The Making of Modern Afghanistan Palgrave Macmillan 2008 ISBN 0 230 55421 0 Reddy L R Inside Afghanistan end of the Taliban era APH Publishing 2002 ISBN 81 7648 319 2 Amy Romano A Historical Atlas of Afghanistan The Rosen Publishing Group 2003 ISBN 0 8239 3863 8 Vogelsang Willem The Afghans Wiley Blackwell 2002 Oxford UK amp Massachusettes USA ISBN 0 631 19841 5 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to People of Afghanistan National Statistic and Information Authority NSIA Archived 11 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine Afghanistan USAID Afghanistan Naval Postgraduate School Afghan refugees in Pakistan UNHCR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Demographics of Afghanistan amp oldid 1152813926, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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