Number of deaths in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of deaths was 344,195 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of deaths in Afghanistan, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 344,195 deaths for number of deaths in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.8% on the previous year and up 38.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of deaths in Afghanistan peaked at 344,195 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 243,698 deaths, in 2002.
That places Afghanistan 32nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of deaths in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 247,894 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 246,103 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 243,698 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 248,524 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 251,712 deaths | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 253,634 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 258,888 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 258,702 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 251,604 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 249,074 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 248,901 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 249,181 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 253,730 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 255,515 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 264,950 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 274,773 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 280,590 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 280,204 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 295,346 deaths | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 291,669 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 310,666 deaths | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 344,195 deaths | +10.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 250,983 deaths | 243,698 deaths | 258,888 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 269,486 deaths | 248,901 deaths | 295,346 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 327,430 deaths | 310,666 deaths | 344,195 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 19 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 18,260 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of deaths in Afghanistan?
- Number of deaths in Afghanistan was 344,195 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 344,195 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of deaths recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 243,698 deaths in 2002.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of deaths?
- Afghanistan ranks 32nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of deaths rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from all causes in both sexes.