Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 25.1 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Lebanon, that number is 79 years (77 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.8 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Lebanon, that number is 32.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 6.2 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Lebanon, the GDP per capita is $12,300 as of 2023.

be 19.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Lebanon, that number is 11.6% as of 2023.

be 49.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Lebanon, however, that number is 27.4% as of 2011.

Life

be 96.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Lebanon, 21.0 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 Lebanon, it is 95.1% as of 2018.

be 93.3% 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 Lebanon, on the other hand, 7.0 children do as of 2022.

have 63.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Lebanon, there are 12.6 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 Lebanon, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 4.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Lebanon, about 87.0% do as of 2021.

be 30.7% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Lebanon, 100% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 41.4% less on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Lebanon spends 1.7% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 48.4% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Lebanon, that number is 8.0% of GDP as of 2020.

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

Lebanon: At a glance

Lebanon is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 10,230 sq km. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war that resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria has long influenced Lebanon's foreign policy and internal policies, and its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. The Lebanon-based Hizballah militia and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal, and fought a brief war in 2006. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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