Afghanistan vs Iran
Afghanistan vs Iran: Median age
Median age in 2023: 16.9 years in Afghanistan and 32.9 years in Iran, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Iran, by 15.9 years, or 1.94 times that in Afghanistan.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Iran has been higher since 1973, when it overtook Afghanistan.
- In 2023, Afghanistan ranked 219 and Iran ranked 108 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Afghanistan at 34.8 years and Iran at 51.9 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Afghanistan | Iran | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16.9 | 32.9 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 16.8 | 32.3 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 16.6 | 31.8 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 16.4 | 31.3 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 16.2 | 30.8 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 16.1 | 30.3 | 29 |
| 2017 | 15.9 | 29.7 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 15.7 | 29.2 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 15.5 | 28.7 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 15.3 | 28.2 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 15.1 | 27.7 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 15 | 27.2 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 14.8 | 26.6 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 14.6 | 26.1 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 14.5 | 25.5 | 27 |
| 2008 | 14.3 | 25 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 14.2 | 24.4 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 14.1 | 23.8 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 14 | 23.2 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 13.9 | 22.6 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 13.9 | 22 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 13.9 | 21.4 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 13.9 | 20.8 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 14 | 20.2 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 14.1 | 19.6 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 14.2 | 19 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 14.3 | 18.4 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 14.4 | 17.9 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 14.6 | 17.5 | 24 |
| 1994 | 14.7 | 17.1 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 14.8 | 17.1 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 14.9 | 17.3 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 14.9 | 17.2 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 15 | 17.2 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 15.1 | 17.1 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 15.1 | 17.1 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 15.2 | 17.2 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 15.2 | 17.2 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 15.3 | 17.2 | 22 |
| 1984 | 15.4 | 17.3 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 15.5 | 17.4 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 15.6 | 17.5 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 15.7 | 17.4 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 15.8 | 17.2 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 15.9 | 17.2 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 16 | 17.2 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 16.2 | 17.2 | 21 |
| 1976 | 16.3 | 17.1 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 16.4 | 17 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 16.5 | 16.9 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 16.6 | 16.8 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 16.7 | 16.7 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 16.8 | 16.6 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 17 | 16.5 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 17.1 | 16.5 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 17.3 | 16.4 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 17.4 | 16.4 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 17.5 | 16.5 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 17.5 | 16.6 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 17.6 | 16.8 | 21 |
| 1963 | 17.6 | 17 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 17.7 | 17.3 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 17.8 | 17.6 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 17.9 | 18 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 18 | 18.4 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 18 | 18.8 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 18.1 | 19.2 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 18.1 | 19.5 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 18.2 | 19.7 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 18.2 | 19.9 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 18.3 | 20.1 | 22 |
| 1952 | 18.3 | 20.3 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 18.4 | 20.5 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 18.4 | 20.7 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Afghanistan | Iran | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17.116.9–17.3 | 33.433.3–33.5 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 17.316.7–17.8 | 3433.7–34.2 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 17.416.5–18.2 | 34.534.1–35 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 17.616.4–18.5 | 35.134.5–35.7 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 17.816.5–18.8 | 35.635–36.4 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 1816.6–19.1 | 36.235.3–37.1 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 18.216.7–19.4 | 36.735.7–37.8 | 32 |
| 2031 | 18.417–19.7 | 37.236.1–38.5 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 18.617.2–19.9 | 37.736.4–39.2 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 18.817.4–20.1 | 38.236.7–39.9 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 19.117.6–20.4 | 38.637–40.5 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 19.317.9–20.5 | 3937.3–41.1 | 33 |
| 2036 | 19.518.2–20.7 | 39.437.5–41.7 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 19.718.5–20.7 | 39.837.7–42.4 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 2018.8–20.7 | 40.238–43 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 20.219.1–20.8 | 40.538.2–43.5 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 20.519.5–21 | 40.838.4–44.1 | 34 |
| 2041 | 20.719.8–21.1 | 41.138.6–44.5 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 2120.2–21.2 | 41.438.7–45 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 21.220.6–21.3 | 41.739–45.5 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 21.521–21.5 | 41.939.2–45.9 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 21.721.4–21.6 | 42.239.4–46.3 | 35 |
| 2046 | 2221.7–21.8 | 42.439.6–46.7 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 22.221.8–22.2 | 42.739.9–47.1 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 22.522–22.5 | 42.940.1–47.4 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 22.822.1–22.9 | 43.240.4–47.7 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 2322.2–23.2 | 43.540.6–48.1 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 23.322.5–23.6 | 43.740.9–48.4 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 23.622.7–23.9 | 4441.2–48.7 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 23.822.9–24.2 | 44.341.5–49 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 24.123.2–24.5 | 44.641.9–49.2 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 24.323.4–24.7 | 44.942.2–49.5 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 24.623.6–24.9 | 45.242.4–49.7 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 24.923.8–25.2 | 45.542.7–50 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 25.123.9–25.5 | 45.943–50.4 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 25.424–25.8 | 46.243.4–50.6 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 25.624.2–25.9 | 46.543.7–50.9 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 25.924.4–25.9 | 46.944–51.2 | 38 |
| 2062 | 26.124.7–25.9 | 47.244.4–51.5 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 26.424.8–26 | 47.644.7–51.8 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 26.625–26.2 | 47.945–52.1 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 26.925.1–26.3 | 48.345.2–52.3 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 27.125.3–26.7 | 48.645.3–52.6 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 27.425.4–27.2 | 4945.5–53 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 27.625.6–27.5 | 49.345.6–53.4 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 27.925.7–27.8 | 49.545.7–53.7 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 28.125.9–27.9 | 49.745.7–54.1 | 39 |
| 2071 | 28.326–27.9 | 49.945.8–54.5 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 28.626.3–28.1 | 5045.8–54.9 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 28.826.5–28.5 | 50.145.8–55.3 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 2926.7–28.7 | 50.245.8–55.6 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 29.326.9–28.9 | 50.245.8–56 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 29.527.1–29.3 | 50.345.8–56.3 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 29.827.2–29.7 | 50.345.8–56.6 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 3027.3–30 | 50.345.7–56.9 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 30.227.3–30.3 | 50.345.7–57.2 | 40 |
| 2080 | 30.527.4–30.5 | 50.345.7–57.4 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 30.727.5–30.8 | 50.345.7–57.7 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 30.927.7–31 | 50.245.7–58 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 31.227.8–31.2 | 50.245.6–58.2 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 31.427.9–31.6 | 50.245.7–58.5 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 31.628.1–31.9 | 50.245.7–58.7 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 31.828.2–32.3 | 50.345.7–58.8 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 32.128.3–32.3 | 50.345.7–59 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 32.328.4–32.4 | 50.445.7–59.2 | 41 |
| 2089 | 32.528.6–32.8 | 50.545.7–59.3 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 32.728.8–33.2 | 50.645.8–59.4 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 32.928.9–33.5 | 50.745.9–59.5 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 33.229.1–33.8 | 50.845.9–59.5 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 33.429.3–34.1 | 50.946–59.5 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 33.629.5–34.2 | 51.146–59.4 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 33.829.7–34.2 | 51.246–59.4 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 3429.9–34.3 | 51.446.1–59.5 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 34.230–34.4 | 51.546.1–59.6 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 34.430.2–34.6 | 51.646.1–59.6 | 42 |
| 2099 | 34.630.4–34.6 | 51.846.2–59.7 | 42 |
| 2100 | 34.830.5–34.6 | 51.946.2–59.8 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Afghanistan vs Iran
Health
- Life expectancyAfghanistan: 66 years in 2023Iran: 77.7 years in 2023
- Child mortalityAfghanistan: 5.3 per 100 live births in 2024Iran: 1.1 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityAfghanistan: 44 per 1,000 live births in 2023Iran: 9.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterAfghanistan: 30% in 2022Iran: 94.2% in 2022
- DepressionAfghanistan: 4.14% in 2017Iran: 5.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateAfghanistan: 9.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Iran: 5.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationAfghanistan: 41.5 million people in 2023Iran: 90.6 million people in 2023
- Population growthAfghanistan: 2.85% a year in 2023Iran: 1.12% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateAfghanistan: 4.84 births per woman in 2023Iran: 1.7 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationAfghanistan: 25.9% in 2025Iran: 77.4% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overAfghanistan: 2.4% in 2023Iran: 7.9% in 2023
- Net migration rateAfghanistan: -1.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Iran: 2.9 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingAfghanistan: 1.83% of GDP in 2021Iran: 2.09% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsAfghanistan: $8.55M in 1977Iran: $7.45B in 2025
- Military spending per personAfghanistan: $7 in 2021Iran: $80 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingAfghanistan: 5% of government spending in 2020Iran: 11.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelAfghanistan: 165,000 people in 2020Iran: 650,000 people in 2020
- National powerAfghanistan: 0.29% of world capability in 2022Iran: 1.64% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersAfghanistan: 1.82% of the labour force in 2020Iran: 2.35% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsAfghanistan: 65 million TIV in 2021Iran: 42 million TIV in 2024
- Arms exportsAfghanistan: 1 million TIV in 1992Iran: 80 million TIV in 2025