Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 16.3 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Burma, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 72 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.6 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Burma, the GDP per capita is $5,300 as of 2023.

be 80.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Burma, that number is 2.8% as of 2023.

be 54.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Burma, however, that number is 24.8% as of 2017.

Life

be 71.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Burma, 179.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.4 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Burma, it is 89.1% as of 2019.

be 68.6% 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 Burma, on the other hand, 32.9 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 Burma, there are 15.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 2.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Burma, about 44.0% do as of 2021.

be 11.5% 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 Burma, that number is 85% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 81% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 13.6% 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 Burma, that number is 74% of people on average (94% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 31.0% less on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Burma spends 2.0% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 76.1% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Burma, that number is 3.7% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Burma: At a glance

Burma is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 653,508 sq km. Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; in 1948, Burma attained independence from the British Commonwealth. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. In response to widespread civil unrest, NE WIN resigned in 1988, but within months the military crushed student-led protests and took power. Multiparty legislative elections in 1990 resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory. Instead of handing over power, the junta placed NLD leader (and Nobel Peace Prize recipient) AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, 2000 to 2002, and from May 2003 to November 2010. In late September 2007, the ruling junta brutally suppressed protests over increased fuel prices led by prodemocracy activists and Buddhist monks, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations. In early May 2008, Burma was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which left over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless. Despite this tragedy, the junta proceeded with its May constitutional referendum, the first vote in Burma since 1990. Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community, saw the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party garner over 75% of the seats. Parliament convened in January 2011 and selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. Although the vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers, the government has initiated a series of political and economic reforms leading to a substantial opening of the long-isolated country. These reforms have included allowing ASSK to contest parliamentary by-elections on 1 April 2012, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, reaching preliminary peace agreements with 10 of the 11 major armed ethnic groups, enacting laws that provide better protections for basic human rights, and gradually reducing restrictions on freedom of the press, association, and civil society. At least due in part to these reforms, ASSK now serves as an elected Member of Parliament and chair of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility. Most political parties have begun building their institutions in preparation for the next round of general elections in 2015. The country is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2014.
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