Population in largest city in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Population in largest city was 4.88 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population in largest city in Afghanistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Afghanistan is 4.88 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Afghanistan peaked at 4.88 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 285,352, in 1960.
Afghanistan ranks 42nd of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 362,818 | 285,352 | 449,585 | 10 |
| 1970s | 668,201 | 471,891 | 932,388 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.22 million | 977,824 | 1.48 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.90 million | 1.55 million | 2.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.84 million | 2.40 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.69 million | 3.29 million | 4.11 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.53 million | 4.22 million | 4.88 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More urban development data for Afghanistan
- Population in the largest city 42.9% (2025)
- Population density 63.56 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.88 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guidel 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Afghanistan?
- Population in largest city in Afghanistan was 4.88 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.88 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 285,352 in 1960.
- How does Afghanistan rank for population in largest city?
- Afghanistan ranks 42nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.