Net migration in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Net migration was -74,404 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Afghanistan, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Afghanistan is -74,404, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 68.8% on the previous year and up 74.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Afghanistan peaked at 1.20 million in 1992 and was at its lowest, -2.00 million, in 1981.
Afghanistan ranks 201st of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,606 | — |
| 1961 | 6,109 | +134.4% |
| 1962 | 7,016 | +14.8% |
| 1963 | 6,681 | -4.8% |
| 1964 | 7,079 | +6.0% |
| 1965 | 10,695 | +51.1% |
| 1966 | 3,563 | -66.7% |
| 1967 | 6,824 | +91.5% |
| 1968 | 3,333 | -51.2% |
| 1969 | 2,029 | -39.1% |
| 1970 | 4,458 | +119.7% |
| 1971 | -12,801 | -387.1% |
| 1972 | -4,050 | -68.4% |
| 1973 | -3,030 | -25.2% |
| 1974 | -20,009 | +560.4% |
| 1975 | -44,418 | +122.0% |
| 1976 | -85,430 | +92.3% |
| 1977 | -83,115 | -2.7% |
| 1978 | -117,186 | +41.0% |
| 1979 | -525,413 | +348.4% |
| 1980 | -1.17 million | +123.5% |
| 1981 | -2.00 million | +70.2% |
| 1982 | -500,998 | -74.9% |
| 1983 | -172,797 | -65.5% |
| 1984 | 248,224 | -243.7% |
| 1985 | -208,685 | -184.1% |
| 1986 | -343,397 | +64.6% |
| 1987 | -345,535 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | -56,263 | -83.7% |
| 1989 | 18,296 | -132.5% |
| 1990 | -458,737 | -2607.3% |
| 1991 | 32,782 | -107.1% |
| 1992 | 1.20 million | +3552.4% |
| 1993 | 1.15 million | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 315,206 | -72.6% |
| 1995 | 52,505 | -83.3% |
| 1996 | 4,072 | -92.2% |
| 1997 | -21,215 | -621.0% |
| 1998 | 7,380 | -134.8% |
| 1999 | -32,400 | -539.0% |
| 2000 | -1.03 million | +3066.6% |
| 2001 | -212,872 | -79.3% |
| 2002 | 860,349 | -504.2% |
| 2003 | 247,317 | -71.3% |
| 2004 | -269,194 | -208.8% |
| 2005 | 250,971 | -193.2% |
| 2006 | 57,673 | -77.0% |
| 2007 | -851,298 | -1576.1% |
| 2008 | 215,753 | -125.3% |
| 2009 | -60,602 | -128.1% |
| 2010 | -167,460 | +176.3% |
| 2011 | 384,486 | -329.6% |
| 2012 | 68,628 | -82.2% |
| 2013 | 18,119 | -73.6% |
| 2014 | 233,913 | +1191.0% |
| 2015 | -286,314 | -222.4% |
| 2016 | -143,049 | -50.0% |
| 2017 | -71,491 | -50.0% |
| 2018 | -36,753 | -48.6% |
| 2019 | 9,159 | -124.9% |
| 2020 | 143,634 | +1468.2% |
| 2021 | -548,784 | -482.1% |
| 2022 | -647,402 | +18.0% |
| 2023 | -48,958 | -92.4% |
| 2024 | -44,089 | -9.9% |
| 2025 | -74,404 | +68.8% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's -74,404 is below the median for low income countries, which is -7,704, 9.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's -74,404 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -581, 128.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +3552.4% | 32,782 | 1.20 million |
| 2000 | -3066.6% | -32,400 | -1.03 million |
| 1990 | -2607.3% | 18,296 | -458,737 |
| 2007 | -1576.1% | 57,673 | -851,298 |
| 2020 | +1468.2% | 9,159 | 143,634 |
| 2014 | +1191.0% | 18,119 | 233,913 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5,594 | 2,029 | 10,695 | 10 |
| 1970s | -89,099 | -525,413 | 4,458 | 10 |
| 1980s | -453,348 | -2.00 million | 248,224 | 10 |
| 1990s | 224,660 | -458,737 | 1.20 million | 10 |
| 2000s | -78,787 | -1.03 million | 860,349 | 10 |
| 2010s | 923.8 | -286,314 | 384,486 | 10 |
| 2020s | -203,334 | -647,402 | 143,634 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More financial sector data for Afghanistan
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.006 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0044 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.006 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Afghanistan?
- Net migration in Afghanistan was -74,404 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.20 million in 1992.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.00 million in 1981.
- How does Afghanistan rank for net migration?
- Afghanistan ranks 201st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.