Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 28.2 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.0 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Belgium, that number is 22.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 31.8 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2023.

be 61.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 5.5% as of 2023.

be 77.4% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Belgium, however, that number is 12.3% as of 2022.

pay a 2.7 times higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Belgium, the top tax rate is 53.7% as of 2016.

Life

be 99.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Belgium, 5.0 women do as of 2020.

be 97.0% 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 Belgium, on the other hand, 3.2 children do as of 2022.

have 68.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belgium, there are 10.8 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 Belgium, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 5.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Belgium, about 91.0% do as of 2021.

be 30.7% 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 Belgium, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 28.4% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 11.1% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 2.3 times more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Belgium spends 6.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department.

Belgium: At a glance

Belgium is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 30,278 sq km. Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Political divisions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. Its capital, Brussels, is home to numerous international organizations including the EU and NATO.
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How big is Belgium compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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