Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 23.9 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Ecuador, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.

be 3.6 times more likely to be obese

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

Economy

make 7.2 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $14,300 as of 2023.

be 76.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Ecuador, that number is 3.4% as of 2023.

be 53.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Ecuador, however, that number is 25.2% as of 2022.

pay a 75.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Ecuador, the top tax rate is 35.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 89.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Ecuador, 66.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.5 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Ecuador, it is 93.9% as of 2022.

be 82.7% 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 Ecuador, on the other hand, 18.1 children do as of 2022.

have 48.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Ecuador, there are 17.7 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 Ecuador, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 93% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 4.2 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Ecuador, about 76.0% do as of 2021.

be 24.7% 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 Ecuador, that number is 95% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 87% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 45.2% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Ecuador, that number is 8.5% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 27.6% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Ecuador spends 3.7% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador.

Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 276,841 sq km. What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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