Updated
Overview
Afghanistan has 4.1 times the population of Tajikistan: 43.84 million people against 10.79 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $17.78B for Afghanistan and $17.66B for Tajikistan.
Per person, Tajikistan is the wealthier of the two: $1,637 against $417 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Afghanistan | Tajikistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $17.78B | $17.66B | 2024 / 2025 | $17.15B / $14.21B |
| GDP per capita | $417 | Higher: $1,637 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.9% | Higher: 8.4% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: -6.6% | 6.0% | 2024 / 2016 | — / — |
| Unemployment | 13.4% | Lower: 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 28 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $172 | $140 | 2020 / 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $72 | Higher: $74 | 2020 / 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 43.84 million | 10.79 million | 2025 | 49.47 million / 10.59 million |
| Population growth | 2.8% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 17.3 yrs | 22.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.66 | 2.99 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 yrs | Higher: 71.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 26% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 16% | Higher: 56% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 652,230 km² | 143,100 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 67.2/km² | 75.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 11 Mt | Lower: 11 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 1.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $278.25M | $246.39M | 2021 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2021 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 165,000 | 17,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Tajikistan is growing much faster: 8.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Tajikistan runs the hotter price environment: 6.0% inflation versus -6.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour Afghanistan: $172 against $140 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Afghanistan is the younger society: median age 17.3 versus 22.2 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Tajikistan (71.9 vs 66.3).
Internet adoption is higher in Tajikistan (56% vs 16% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Afghanistan is 4.6 times the size of Tajikistan: 652,230 km² versus 143,100 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $278.25M (Afghanistan) and $246.39M (Tajikistan).
Afghanistan fields the larger armed forces: 165,000 personnel against 17,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Afghanistan bigger than Tajikistan?
- Afghanistan is larger by land area. Afghanistan covers 652,230 km² while Tajikistan covers 143,100 km², so Afghanistan is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Afghanistan or Tajikistan?
- Afghanistan has the larger population: 43.84 million versus 10.79 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Afghanistan richer than Tajikistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Tajikistan is richer: $1,637 against $417. Total GDP tells a different story: $17.78B for Afghanistan versus $17.66B for Tajikistan.
- Who spends more on their military, Afghanistan or Tajikistan?
- Afghanistan spends more: $278.25M versus $246.39M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).