At a glance
Iraq vs Afghanistan: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  Iraq |  Afghanistan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 48,294,533 | 45,400,942 | Iraq 1.1× |
| Population growth rate % per year | +2.1 | +2.7 | -0.7 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 1112026 | 69.52026 | +41.5 |
| Surface area km² | 435,0502023 | 652,8702023 | Afghanistan 1.5× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 25.62024 | 352024 | -9.4 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 4.22024 | 5.72024 | -1.5 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | -0.3 | -1.2 | +0.9 |
| Urban population % of population | 69.92025 | 25.92025 | +44 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 101 | 102.1 | -1.1 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 72.42024 | 66.32024 | +6.1 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 3.222024 | 4.762024 | -1.54 |
| Median age years | 21.1 | 17.4 | +3.7 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 18 | 40 | -22 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 362025 | 42.62025 | -6.5 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 3.42025 | 2.42025 | +1 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $254.37B2025 | $17.78B2024 | Iraq 14× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $5,4102025 | $4172024 | Iraq 13× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 15.52025 | 13.42025 | +2.1 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 0.32025 | -6.62024 | +6.9 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 238.72024 | 12.072024 | Iraq 20× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 5.182024 | 0.282024 | +4.9 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 1,5062023 | – | – |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 1.12021 | 202022 | -18.9 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 1.92023 | 1.92023 | +0 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 7992022 | 1,1622022 | Afghanistan 1.5× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 120.52022 | 432022 | +77.5 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 81.52024 | 16.12024 | +65.4 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 100.12024 | 60.12024 | +40 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and Iraq minus Afghanistan for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
Iraq compared with Afghanistan
Iraq has a live population of about 48,294,533 (#34 in the world) and Afghanistan about 45,400,942 (#36), so Iraq has 1.1 times as many people as Afghanistan. Iraq is growing at 2.1% a year and Afghanistan at 2.7%.
By area Afghanistan is larger: 652,870 km² against 435,050 km², which gives population densities of 111 people per km² in Iraq and 69.5 in Afghanistan.
Iraq's economy is worth $254.37B (2025) and Afghanistan's $17.78B (2024); per person that is $5,410 in Iraq versus $417 in Afghanistan, so the average Iraq resident produces 13 times as much.
Life expectancy is 72.4 years in Iraq and 66.3 in Afghanistan; women have 3.2 children on average in Iraq compared with 4.8 in Afghanistan; the median age is 21.1 versus 17.4 years.
69.9% of Iraq's people live in cities against 25.9% in Afghanistan; 81.5% use the internet in Iraq and 16.1% in Afghanistan; CO₂ emissions per person are 5.2 t in Iraq and 0.3 t in Afghanistan.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, Iraq or Afghanistan?
By population Iraq is bigger: 48,294,533 people versus 45,400,942 (live estimates, October 2026). By area Afghanistan is larger (652,870 km² vs 435,050 km²).
Which has the larger economy, Iraq or Afghanistan?
Iraq: GDP of $254,367,293,538 versus $17,778,508,876 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2024).
Where do people live longer, Iraq or Afghanistan?
Life expectancy at birth is 72.4 years in Iraq and 66.3 years in Afghanistan, a difference of 6.1 years in favour of Iraq.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
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Afghanistan vs YemenSources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.