Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 18.2 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

be 13.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Afghanistan, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 1.3% of people as of 2020.

be 3.7 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 24.9 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 13.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

be 35.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

be 81.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Guyana, 112.0 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 Guyana, it is 88.8% as of 2021.

be 78.9% 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 Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

have 51.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 4.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Guyana, about 85.0% do as of 2021.

be 26.5% 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 Guyana, that number is 97% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 96% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 64.5% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 55.2% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

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

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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