Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 21.2 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

be 4.1 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Colombia, that number is 22.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 9.4 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Colombia, the GDP per capita is $18,800 as of 2023.

be 33.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Colombia, that number is 9.6% as of 2023.

be 32.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Colombia, however, that number is 36.6% as of 2022.

pay a 65.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Colombia, the top tax rate is 33.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 87.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Colombia, 75.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Colombia, it is 95.6% as of 2020.

be 88.9% 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 Colombia, on the other hand, 11.7 children do as of 2022.

have 56.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Colombia, there are 14.9 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 people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Colombia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 4.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Colombia, about 73.0% do as of 2021.

be 27.7% 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 Colombia, that number is 98% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 88% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 41.9% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Colombia, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 69.0% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Colombia spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN).

Colombia: At a glance

Colombia is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 1,038,700 sq km. Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A nearly five-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government, but continue attacks against civilians. Large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. In November 2012, the Colombian Government started formal peace negotiations with the FARC aimed at reaching a definitive bilateral ceasefire and incorporating demobilized FARC members into mainstream society and politics. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.
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How big is Colombia compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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