Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 19.5 years longer

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

be 5.5 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Iraq, that number is 30.4% 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 Iraq, the GDP per capita is $12,600 as of 2023.

be 57.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Iraq, however, that number is 23.0% as of 2014.

pay a 25.0% lower top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Iraq, the top tax rate is 15.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 87.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Iraq, 76.0 women do as of 2020.

be 34.3% more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Iraq, it is 50.1% as of 2018.

be 81.3% 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 Iraq, on the other hand, 19.6 children do as of 2022.

have 30.7% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iraq, there are 23.7 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 the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Iraq, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 2.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Iraq, about 49.0% do as of 2021.

be 29.8% 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 Iraq, that number is 99% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 67.1% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Iraq, that number is 5.1% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 62.1% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Iraq spends 4.7% of total GDP on education as of 2016.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Ministry of Finance.

Iraq: At a glance

Iraq is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 437,367 sq km. Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011.
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