Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Azerbaijan instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 20.5 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Azerbaijan, that number is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.6 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Azerbaijan, that number is 19.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 10.7 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Azerbaijan, the GDP per capita is $21,300 as of 2023.

be 60.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Azerbaijan, that number is 5.6% as of 2023.

be 91.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Azerbaijan, however, that number is 4.9% as of 2015.

pay a 25.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Azerbaijan, the top tax rate is 25.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 93.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Azerbaijan, 41.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.7 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Azerbaijan, it is 99.8% as of 2019.

be 77.6% 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 Azerbaijan, on the other hand, 23.5 children do as of 2022.

have 67.3% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Azerbaijan, there are 11.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 17.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Azerbaijan, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 4.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Azerbaijan, about 85.0% do as of 2022.

be 26.9% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Azerbaijan, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 70.3% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Azerbaijan, that number is 4.6% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 48.3% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Azerbaijan spends 4.3% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Ministry of Taxes.

Azerbaijan: At a glance

Azerbaijan is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 82,629 sq km. Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized in 1923 as an autonomous republic within Soviet Azerbaijan after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the territory's status. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia, is the framework established to mediate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Corruption in the country is widespread, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced and infrastructure investment has increased substantially in recent years due to revenue from oil and gas production, reforms have not adequately addressed weaknesses in most government institutions, particularly in the education and health sectors.
Read more

How big is Azerbaijan compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Azerbaijan.or Afghanistan It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.