Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in American Samoa instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 21.7 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In American Samoa, that number is 75 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 5.6 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in American Samoa, the GDP per capita is $11,200 as of 2016.

be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In American Samoa, that number is 29.8% as of 2005.

Life

be 90.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Afghanistan, approximately 104.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In American Samoa, on the other hand, 10.1 children do as of 2022.

have 54.1% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In American Samoa, there are 15.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In American Samoa, about 40.3% do as of 2021.

be 30.5% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In American Samoa, 100% of people do as of 2020.

be 30.8% less likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022. In American Samoa, that number is 59% of people on average (60% in urban areas, and 45% in rural areas) as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

American Samoa: At a glance

American Samoa (sometimes abbreviated AS) is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 224 sq km. Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was not reached by European explorers until the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
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How big is American Samoa compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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