Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 19.3 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Guatemala, that number is 73 years (71 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.9 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guatemala, that number is 21.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.3 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Guatemala, the GDP per capita is $12,700 as of 2023.

be 81.2% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guatemala, that number is 2.7% as of 2023.

pay a 65.0% lower top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Guatemala, the top tax rate is 7.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 84.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Guatemala, 96.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.2 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Guatemala, it is 83.3% as of 2021.

be 75.0% 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 Guatemala, on the other hand, 26.2 children do as of 2022.

have 37.4% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guatemala, there are 21.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 16.2% 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 Guatemala, that number is 99% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 2.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Guatemala, about 51.0% do as of 2021.

be 24.2% 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 Guatemala, that number is 95% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 58.1% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guatemala, that number is 6.5% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Superintendence of the Tax Administration.

Guatemala: At a glance

Guatemala is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 107,159 sq km. The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.
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How big is Guatemala compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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