Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 5.8 times the population of Afghanistan: 255.22 million people against 43.84 million (2025).
Pakistan's economy is 23 times the size of Afghanistan's, at $407.31B versus $17.78B.
Per person, Pakistan is the wealthier of the two: $1,596 against $417 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Afghanistan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $407.31B | $17.78B | 2025 / 2024 | $373.07B / $17.15B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,596 | $417 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.9% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: -6.6% | 2025 / 2024 | 12.6% / — |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.4% | 13.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $172 | 2025 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $133 | $72 | 2024 / 2020 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 43.84 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 49.47 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 17.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 4.66 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.8 yrs | 66.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 57% | 16% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 652,230 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 67.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 180 Mt | Lower: 11 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.7 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $278.25M | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 1.8% | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 165,000 | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.9%.
Pakistan runs the hotter price environment: 3.5% inflation versus -6.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour Afghanistan: $172 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Afghanistan is the younger society: median age 17.3 versus 20.6 years.
Life expectancy is 1.5 years longer in Pakistan (67.8 vs 66.3).
Pakistan is considerably more urbanized: 40% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Internet adoption is higher in Pakistan (57% vs 16% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 35% larger than Afghanistan: 881,912 km² versus 652,230 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 67.
Military
Pakistan spends 37 times as much on defence as Afghanistan: $10.17B versus $278.25M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 1.8%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 165,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Afghanistan?
- Pakistan is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Afghanistan covers 652,230 km², so Pakistan is 35% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Afghanistan?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 43.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Afghanistan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Pakistan is richer: $1,596 against $417. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $17.78B for Afghanistan.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Afghanistan?
- Pakistan spends more: $10.17B versus $278.25M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).