Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Urban area long term, annual growth rate was 4.44 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.44 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
8th
of 202 countries
All-time high
8.45 % change on previous year
in 1993
All-time low
-4.94 % change on previous year
in 1981
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 4.44 % change on previous year for urban area long term, annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan peaked at 8.45 % change on previous year in 1993 and was at its lowest, -4.94 % change on previous year, in 1981.
That places Afghanistan 8th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 3.85 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 3.8 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1953 | 3.73 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 1954 | 3.66 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1955 | 3.59 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 1956 | 3.53 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 3.44 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1958 | 3.37 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 3.27 % change on previous year | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 3.09 % change on previous year | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 3.01 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 2.93 % change on previous year | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 2.85 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 2.78 % change on previous year | -2.5% |
| 1966 | 2.68 % change on previous year | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 2.73 % change on previous year | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 2.84 % change on previous year | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 2.86 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 2.91 % change on previous year | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 2.94 % change on previous year | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 3.2 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 1973 | 3.35 % change on previous year | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 3.13 % change on previous year | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 2.82 % change on previous year | -9.6% |
| 1976 | 2.59 % change on previous year | -8.4% |
| 1977 | 2.34 % change on previous year | -9.6% |
| 1978 | 1.86 % change on previous year | -20.5% |
| 1979 | 1.01 % change on previous year | -45.5% |
| 1980 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1981 | -4.94 % change on previous year | — |
| 1982 | -3.79 % change on previous year | -23.2% |
| 1983 | -4.26 % change on previous year | +12.2% |
| 1984 | -4.19 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 1985 | -3.65 % change on previous year | -12.9% |
| 1986 | -3.08 % change on previous year | -15.7% |
| 1987 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 1988 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1989 | 0 % change on previous year | — |
| 1990 | 0.8053 % change on previous year | — |
| 1991 | 6.09 % change on previous year | +655.9% |
| 1992 | 7.99 % change on previous year | +31.3% |
| 1993 | 8.45 % change on previous year | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 7.45 % change on previous year | -11.9% |
| 1995 | 5.76 % change on previous year | -22.7% |
| 1996 | 4.04 % change on previous year | -29.9% |
| 1997 | 2.81 % change on previous year | -30.3% |
| 1998 | 2.2 % change on previous year | -21.7% |
| 1999 | 2.38 % change on previous year | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 3.1 % change on previous year | +29.9% |
| 2001 | 5.31 % change on previous year | +71.4% |
| 2002 | 5.27 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 5.25 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 5.24 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 5.24 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 4.48 % change on previous year | -14.6% |
| 2007 | 4.41 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.34 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 4.28 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 4.22 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 5.67 % change on previous year | +34.4% |
| 2012 | 5.55 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 5.44 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 5.33 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 4.69 % change on previous year | -12.1% |
| 2016 | 4.56 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 4.5 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 4.45 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 4.4 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 2.19 % change on previous year | -50.3% |
| 2021 | 4.66 % change on previous year | +112.9% |
| 2022 | 4.6 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 4.54 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 4.49 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 4.44 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 4.44 % change on previous year is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.94 % change on previous year, 1.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 4.44 % change on previous year is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.85 % change on previous year, 2.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +655.9% | 0.8053 % change on previous year | 6.09 % change on previous year |
| 2021 | +112.9% | 2.19 % change on previous year | 4.66 % change on previous year |
| 1987 | +100.0% | -3.08 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year |
| 1980 | -100.0% | 1.01 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year |
| 2001 | +71.4% | 3.1 % change on previous year | 5.31 % change on previous year |
| 2020 | -50.3% | 4.4 % change on previous year | 2.19 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.58 % change on previous year | 3.27 % change on previous year | 3.85 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 2.9 % change on previous year | 2.68 % change on previous year | 3.2 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.61 % change on previous year | 1.01 % change on previous year | 3.35 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.39 % change on previous year | -4.94 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8 % change on previous year | 0.8053 % change on previous year | 8.45 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.69 % change on previous year | 3.1 % change on previous year | 5.31 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.88 % change on previous year | 4.22 % change on previous year | 5.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.15 % change on previous year | 2.19 % change on previous year | 4.66 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 5 Madagascar 4.61 % change on previous year compare
- 6 Vanuatu 4.51 % change on previous year compare
- 7 Burkina Faso 4.5 % change on previous year compare
- 9 Niger 4.42 % change on previous year compare
- 10 Ethiopia 4.35 % change on previous year compare
- 11 Burundi 4.33 % change on previous year compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan?
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate in Afghanistan was 4.44 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban area long term, annual growth rate recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 8.45 % change on previous year in 1993.
- What is the lowest urban area long term, annual growth rate recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.94 % change on previous year in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for urban area long term, annual growth rate?
- Afghanistan ranks 8th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area long term, annual growth rate rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban area long term, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban area long term. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Urban area over the long-term HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban area long term. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.